First Peter 2–More still

Posted on 26/09/2023 | Leave a comment

In Peter’s first letter and verse 18 we now come to what are sometimes called the “household codes” we find in some New Testament letters. These are typical of apostolic texts that are properly interpreted today only by understanding first centry Roman Empire contexts. These first-Christians lived within these social and domestic limits. They were urged to follow these codes within their overall commitments to following Christ.

18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. 19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds  favor with God.

Today we Christians do not have to be subject to codes like these. As we saw in the last post, verse 16 we are to “live as free men . . .”. Yes, we have the laws of our country which we are to follow. The whole intent of Peter writing is for his hearers to present an excellent presence in their world. We should do and be the same! That’s the whole tenor of Peter’s letter. As we saw last time Peter reminds us that Jesus “is your example, and you must follow in his steps.”(1 Peter 2:21)

Although today we do not have any similar structures, we can be guided by the Christian values that Peter promoted. He (like Paul in his letters) was not requiring anything new but addressing an existing social system in the Roman world.

Peter’s aim was to strengthen the importance of imitating Christ in household relationships, in spite of Roman culture. These passages can point us to Jesus.

It is essential to read these household codes together and not individually. When Peter writes “Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands” (3:1) we must notice the context to understand what Peter meant by “in the same way.” there’s zero in the the preceding paragraph about men and women—it’s about masters and slaves. Paul put it similarly in his letters.

We must not impose modern-day marital dynamics using ancient social constructs. Wives in the Roman world, under pater familias, were regarded as chatels of their husbands and could be disposed of by the head.

s Gordon Fee explains in his “The Cultural Context of Ephesians 5:18-6:9: 

“In this kind of household, the idea that men and women might be equal partners in marriage simply did not exist. Evidence for this can be seen in meals, which in all cultures serve as the great equalizer. In the Greek world, a woman scarcely ever joined her husband and his friends at meals; if she did, she did not recline at table (only the courtesans did that), but she sat on a bench at the end. And she was expected to leave after eating, when the conversation took a more public turn.”

In their day, we can see just how radical Peter and Paul must have sounded when they instructed husbands to love their wives as much as Christ loved the church and to be willing to give their lives for them!  Or to remember that they too are slaves to Christ and have a master in heaven. Or not to provoke their children, but to be patient with them.

How sad that words that would have sounded so liberating to those who first heard them are today so often used to oppress and silence. The teachings of Peter and Paul under the Gospel encouraged multitudes of women into Christian communities.

So once again, our central question: Is the point of the household codes to declare pater familias the only godly household structure for all of time, or is the point of the household codes to declare Jesus Christ as the example to be followed no matter the societal norms? 

Let’s talk more next time.

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1 Peter 2 –more

Posted on 07/09/2023 | Leave a comment

As we look at Peter’s first letter to people in various places we see how he was encouraging them, preparing them for a most important, earth-shattering event was to take place. The Jerusalem temple and the Jewish religion as known for centuries, would be destroyed and replaced by a new creation (Mat 21:33-46). This would impact them and many Jews where they lived.

Here we look at the next section of chapter 2 beginning at 2:11-12:

Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles (pagans)

, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Here Peter calls on his readers to be excellent people as they live before an observing pagan society. They are to be different, just if they were foreigners and exiles who stand out in contrast to those who live participating in sinful desires. By calling them foreigners and exiles he is not suggesting anything like the escapist mentality seen in songs like this:

This world is not my home, I’m just a-passing through . . . . . . . And I Can’t Feel At Home anymore.’.

NO. The Holy Spirit is calling us today to live exemplary lives before a watching world. While God has put us here in this world, this is our home now. Paul wrote about being at home here in the body as useful for others though to be with Christ is far better. (Phil 1:22-25). At home here we are to be the ‘light of the world’ and the ‘salt of the earth’. Dispensationalism is a gross error and demon inspired with its ‘get me outta here’ mentality. This terrible doctrine has made countless Christians powerless and failures. That idea is far from the prayer of Jesus we find in John 17:15-18.

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

Did you notice that Peter wrote ‘that they may glorify God on the day of visitation’? The original Greek strongly implies Peter was referring to the (second) Coming of Jesus! Compare this phrase to a similar used by Jesus in Luke 19:44. All the more reason for these people to be full of good deeds if Jesus was coming to visit his audience! (NASB footnote explains ‘I.e. Christ’s coming again in judgment’.)

 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. 15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. 17 Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

Here Peter in these five verses continues to focus on their having exemplary behaviour because of ‘the Lord’s sake’. There are human institutions that are there in the Roman world to prevent lawlessness and chaos. Note he says these are sent by him’ (God)! This was at a time when believers were subject to persecution. It is always doing the will of God to do right. At least we today should be thankful to God if these powers maintain good law and order.

Clearly, Peter believed that believers were free under the gospel of the kingdom. But such freedom must not mean we are free to do evil but free to be doing right. They then, and we today, are to see ourselves as ‘bondslaves of God’—what a fantastic privilege—we are not bondslaves of men!

Why ‘honour all people’? Supremely because all bear the image of God. We don’t have to honour their deeds or character. But we are to love our brothers and sisters in Christ.

‘Fear God’ is such a short command but so significant. It is the loss of the fear of God in people today that has led to the disappearance of morality. If there is no fear of God we have lost the basis for decency, goodness. Anything goes. Whatever I can get away with. If there is no fear of God, there can be no love of God. There is no higher authority than God. As Matthew Henry commented, ‘It is the fear, not so much of punishment as of his disapprobation; not so much the dread of suffering as the dread of doing wrong.’ It is the fear I felt lest while nursing in amy arms my newborn child she should slip out of my arms.

Honour the king, Peter enjoins his hearers. For us, we may be very devout in private but if our actions seen by people in society regarding lawful authority are defective and not proper it will be seen as of little value.

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Now here’s an amazing miracle

Posted on 27/08/2023 | 2 comments

by ~ Chris G. Bennett (UK)

For those of you who haven’t known me long, here is a healing testimony from 2009 in Denmark — when I was being launched into ministry by my mentor.

I was in Denmark, ministering one evening in 2009, I think it was. We were in a prayer meeting and we were asked by a lady, called Bente, if we would come to Copenhagen to pray with her husband Frank as he was very depressed.

A serious storm which closed all the bridges was stilled around the house while we were praying — but that’s another story.

Frank was a Christian biker who had been involved in a very serious accident. He, and his Harley, were mown down by a van driven, I believe, by a lady doctor, who saved his life at the scene!

He was very severely injured — shattered legs and many minor injuries. The Royal Copenhagen Hospital had told him that he’d never walk without help nor without pain again.

Just to give you an idea, one leg was so badly broken that it was now five inches shorter than the other!

Curvature of the spine had set in and many other injuries had manifested which “couldn’t be healed” — they gave Frank no hope — only drugs to lessen the pain.

The next day, three of us arrived at Frank’s second floor apartment in a Copenhagen suburb. Fortunately for him the lift worked. Frank was standing on his balcony, leaning on two walking sticks.

My mentor, Peter, called out to him, “Are you Frank?”

“Yes!”

“Are you ready to be healed?”

“Yes!”

Frank met us at the door. He had great difficulty manouvering even round his home. We learned that he’d just spent an enormous sum on hand-made built-up shoes that would allow him to walk a bit easier, but the hospital had told him that he’d only get worse until he ended up wheelchair bound and a hopeless cripple.

Peter, John, and I, our ‘team’ on that trip, prayed then turned to Frank. Peter called out words of knowledge — John and I prayed and ministered to Frank.

We sat him on a chair. We prayed first for his shortened leg. We knew something special was about to happen when his shortened leg grew those five inches!

The hair stood up on our necks!

Then we stood Frank up and I watched his spine straighten out — like dominoes, each vertebrae clicked back into its proper position!

He squared his shoulders and everything came up straight! He stood — straight.

For the next hour, Peter called a condition, John and I ministered, Frank was healed of 20-odd injuries and conditions.

Tinnitus, knee problems, various other leg and ankle problems, pelvic misalignment, double vision, various aches and pains — every single one was healed by first revelation, then by laying on of hands and prayer!

Frank began, gingerly at first, then confidently, walking around. He laid his two sticks down saying, “I no longer need these!”

We were all praising God. We left him and Bente singing praises.

The next day, Frank had a hospital appointment to discuss further therapy to help him maintain mobility.

The consultants didn’t even recognise him as he walked, unaided and completely upright into the office.

At Franks request, all medical checks to verify his miracle were formally attested and passed to a Christian doctor in Frank’s Church.

The consultant admitted to his miracle. What happened? “Jesus has healed me!”

He is a walking, talking miracle!

He still lives in the Copenhagen area; still rides a big Harley Davidson; still runs a Christian biker ‘gang’ spreading the good news of Christ among bikers.

Glory to God!!

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First Peter chapter 2—More

Posted on 20/08/2023 | Leave a comment

As we look at Peter’s letter to people in various places we see how he was encouraging them, preparing them for a most important, earth-shattering event was to take place. The Jerusalem temple and the Jewish religion as known for centuries, would be destroyed and replaced by a new creation (read Matthew 21:33-46). This would impact them and many Jews where they lived. Here we look at the second half of chapter 2. In this part of his letter, let’s look at several behaviour matters Peter calls on his readers. Please let’s start by reading verses 11-12 . . .

Peter dubbs his readers “temporary residents and foreigners” who must live exemplary lives in their society and amonng their neighbours. Note how this is linked in with ‘preserving their eternal souls’. Like us today, they were on Planet Earth for a very brief time. We too face a very short stay in this world. It’s as though we were aliens–‘Just a passin’ through’–we are en-route—as though merely on a journey. It is so important to reflect on how short our time is here. This ‘time’ cannot be compared to the eternal life we will experience, just no comparison. Right?

He continues the need of honorable behavior, so that their neighbours when they face their Maker, their Judge, they will have to give honour to God. Just imagine that all the unbelieving people we deal with and have related to in our lifetime will be forced to acknowlege God’s glory and his work in our lives! Now look at verses 13-17 . . .

Peter continues the theme of believers showing the best of behavior as believers “for the Lord’s sake”. The Lord’s sake is the important part. We live in His world and this is the day He has made. This is emphasised in v. 15 “the Lord’s will”. It’s all about the behaviour of Christians being seen as exemplory in the place where they (we) live. So our critics have no leg to stand on. We too must live a law-abiding life before a watching world.

Although you are free, he says (v16), yet don’t forget that you are God’s slaves! So important to understand we are free. This is very applicable for us today. We must never use that freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect is due to everyone: the family of believers and especially the fear of God. Obey the law and rules of the road. Respect the king? Which one? Yes, King Jesus!

Then follows vs 18-20 about relationships between slaves and masters. In the ancient world slaves were an essential part of the ecomony, In the Roman world there were more slaves than free. Was this God’s will? Of course not, and in due time slavery would be discontinued though it remains in our world today. It was the law that slaves obeyed masters, their ‘owners’.

That word ‘submit’comes up a few times here. The Greek original is hypertasso which according to Strong’s can carry the idea of a voluntaryattitude, giving in, cooperating, or assuming responsibility. Still for us today if we are employed and have an obligation to do what the boss tells you.

Note v.19-21: “God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment.” Like those first century believers we might have to suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, following Christ’s example and “follow in his steps.”

Thus as Jesus (v22) never sinned or deceived anyone. Because he did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor must we. “He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly”. We are called to do the same, though our conditions have changed vastly compared to the Roman world.

In V 24 here are two exciting and wonderful promises: Because “he personally carried our sins in his body on the cross” the result is that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right! How good is that!

But not only that: By his wounds you are healed. Not will be healed some day. Not provisionally healed. Not possibly healed. Not maybe healed. Not were healed . But are healed!

What a great declaration this is (v25) . . . “Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.” These two verses wonderfully echo Isaiah 53:5-6.

Let’s talk some more again next time.

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First Peter-Chapter 2

Posted on 10/08/2023 | 1 comment

As we look at Peter’s first letter to people in various places we see how he was encouraging them, preparing them. Preparing them for what?

A most important, earth-shattering event was to take place. Terrible judgment was about to come on many back there in Jerusalem and Judea. The fabulous temple there and the Jewish religion as known for centuries, would be destroyed and replaced by a new creation (Mat 21:43-46). This would impact them and many Jews where they lived. Here we look at the first half of chapter 2.

In this part of his letter, Peter calls on his readers to thirst for the “pure milk of the word like newborn babies, if they have tasted the kindness of the Lord” and put aside all malice, envy, slander, hypocrisy etc.

Think how much the Lord has blessed us all abundantly! There’s much more. So let’s keep thirsting after the pure milk of God’s word to grow our salvation!  So important to long for the word of God. Look, it doesn’t matter how mature we think we are. The Lord’s blessing is inexhaustible. He wants us!

Yes, grow up in your salvation. Salvation is not merely getting newborn, started. There’s a big future idea, a whole of life growth of our salvation, as Peter reminded them several times in his letter.

So where to go? Peter says go to Jesus. Where else? Jesus is the One to come to—his open arms. He is the “chosen and precious.” Quoting from Isaiah 28, Peter identifies Jesus as like the most important stone in a building. That’s the cornerstone. It has to be laid exactly, in line, dead level, plumb. Then the building will follow the right design.

“Look, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious cornerstone and who believes in him shall not be disappointed”.

Jesus said if you don’t gather with him, you are scattering (Luke 11:23). Do you want to be building for God? Well, you have to strictly follow the playbook! Jesus is “the living stone that was rejected by men but chosen by God”. You have to build on the true rock, His words. Anything else is on sand. Anything else is useless. What God has not planted will be pulled up by the roots (Mat 15:13). This is serious.

This building design called for these newborns to be stones too—living stones! Each was being built up into a spiritual house for a special role of offering up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus.

And so are we today—part of the house that He is building, against which the gates of hell will not stand.

Peter wrote (v7) this precious situation belongs to the followers of Jesus. Quoting Psalm 118:22, he showed that the stone which rejected, actually became the very head of the corner! Then he added that others stumble because they are disobedient to the word not following the designer. For these, Jesus the precious stone was “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence” (Isa 8:14) and doom awaits them.

These “builders”—the disobedient, were the unbelieving Jews of that generation and their system, those who rejected their messiah, that wicked generation.

He goes on to tell his readers (v9) “you are a chosen race, you are a royal priesthood, you are a holy nation, you are the people of God’s own possession! Peter used those very same terms as did Moses (Deut 7:6) applying them to these newborn Gentiles and Jews. There was a whole new creation being formed here, a whole new nation with the bad tenants, Jewish elites and their fleshly system will be destroyed as Jesus had foretold in Mat 21:43 and Mat 23, and a new spiritual one will be formed.

Why are his readers new-born? That they “may proclaim the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” That is our role, our privilege today.

We are the Israel of God (Gal 6:16).

Peter recalls what the prophet Hosea wrote prophetically “once you were not a people but now you are the people of God. You once had not received mercy but now you have received mercy” (Hosea 1:10). This points to a mostly Gentile readership. These newbies are the true people of God! And so are we who believe today.

Applause!

All this came from the pen of Peter, a Jewish born fisherman, but now since born from above through the resurrection of Jesus with whom he had walked for 3 years, a mere 30 years had past.

Only 30 years previously Peter could never forget when they nailed Jesus to the cross and then God raised Him up 3 days later as He had foretold.

We struggle to grasp the reality, to feel, to enter in to those historic scenes—it all happened so long ago.

Peter’s readers were the forerunners of a totally new society having great responsibility, never seen before. So Peter urges them, aliens and strangers, to keep their behavior excellent among the outsiders. They may be slandered as evil by others but will see their good deeds and glorify God in the day of visitation that is coming soon.

This phrase ‘day of visitation’ is fascinating. Peter had in mind an ‘end-times’ event (see 1 Pet 4:7).

The glorious light of God’s people show that God’s judgments are righteous and this will be acknowledged in the coming judgment.

So their behaviour would be very important.

Let’s talk more about that next time.

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First Peter Letter 1

Posted on 08/08/2023 | Leave a comment

We were looking at an amazing scriptural letter by St Peter who described himself as an apostle (a sent messenger) of Jesus Christ. He wrote to people he describes as ‘aliens, strangers’—they didn’t belong here. How can that be?

He wanted to encourage them, to prepare them, for a most important, earth-shattering event was soon to take place. Terrible judgment was about to come on many back in Jerusalem and Judea. The temple and the Jewish religion as known for centuries, Judaism, would be destroyed and replaced by a new creation. This would also seriously impact them and many traditional Jews where they lived.

We read they were in various places, scattered throughout Pontos, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. These were real places in the Ancient World. It’s interesting if you check Acts chapter 2 you find those same places mentioned among the many other regions, from which people had come to Jerusalem for the Jewish Feast of Pentecost. Acts 2 describes how on that day the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them.

So Peter was addressing some of those same people who had heard him proclaiming on that day some 25 or 30 years previously. These would have gone back to their homelands and no doubt bore witnesses for Jesus by the power of the Spirit where they lived.

Peter calls them chosen by God the Father, sanctified by the Holy Spirit and sprinkled with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. This was amazing thinking for a man who was still ‘Jewish’ (as most early believers were) to put Jesus alongside the Holy Spirit and the eternal living Lord God, the Father. One God.

Here we see a a typical salutation of a letter in the Ancient World.

Peter then reminded them about the living hope that they had through Christ’s resurrection. The resurrection is the basis of the way, the truth and the great story of Jesus. Without the resurrection there would be no faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There would be no Christians.

They had been truly reborn through God’s great mercy! We are all utterly dependent on his mercy. Born again to a living hope through Jesus’ resurrection of Jesus. Remember that happened only 25 or 30 years previous to his writing!

For us, it’s now 2000 years ago. That time lapse makes it harder for us but for these people it was fresh in their memory.  Just think, you can remember so many things clearly that happened 25 or 30 years ago in your life.

Jesus had been killed and then came alive!

Peter’s readers are described as a possessing an inheritance that is reserved safely in heaven for them. They were already enjoying that sure hope! They were strangers and aliens here on Earth, like we are today but there’s an inheritance waiting for us who believe that’s reserved for us in heaven too! What a fabulous investment.

In the meantime, these aliens were protected by the power of God through faith for a full salvation he says is ‘ready to be revealed in the last time’.  They believed they were in the ‘last days’ when their salvation would be revealed.

Peter mentioned this idea of the ‘last time’ several times in his writings. This salvation ready to be revealed the original word is apocalypse. That brings to mind the time of the end. Peter saw his writing as fitting into that period. His readers could greatly rejoice in this understanding, even though now for a ‘little while’, short time—not a long, long time.

A little while and then things will radically change for them. If this mighty change was in a little while for them, how can it be soon for us today?

For a short time they will have various trials. Difficulties will prove the genuineness of their faith. Really it’s when we are subject to trials that our faith is is proven, tried out.

That experience, that assurance is much more precious than gold which is perishable. Peter reminded them that the testing by fire would be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation (apocalypse) of Jesus Christ.

 His appearing, his coming and Peter goes on to say that although you have not seen him you love him and though you do not see him now you believe in him and you greatly rejoice with joy in express expressible and full of glory.

He went on to talk more about this wondrous salvation now experienced by God’s people.  All those OT prophets prophesied of the grace that would come. They tried to work out this mystery. We had studied them together—how they accurately foretold the coming of the messiah and the suffering that he would experience.

They never experienced what these Peter wrote to had experienced. Even the angels in heaven were ignorant of what those early believers understood. So us also today!

In view of what will take place ‘in a little while’, Peter goes on to appeal to them to modify their behaviour, to prepare themselves for action, and fix their hope completely on the grace about to be brought to you at the revelation (apocalypse) of Jesus Christ.

Clearly they were expecting the coming, the revealing, of Jesus within their lifetime.  They must not be conformed to the former life which they had in their ignorance. and so they needed to conduct themselves appropriately during the (very short) time of their stay on the Earth.

Today you and I must be prepared. We too must live appropriately. We also are not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from a futile way of life inherited from our forebears. We too have just a little while here! The Father will impartially judge according to each person’s work, Peter reminds us.    For “all flesh is as grass and withers. But the word of the Lord abides forever.”

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Has Jesus Returned?

Posted on 24/07/2023 | Leave a comment

Reading Matthew 16:27-28

27For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.28“Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

What Jesus said here is quite sensational. It may shock you. Let’s take a closer look.

Mathew 16:24 gives us the context: He spoke these words to his disciples after seriously challenging them to follow Him in discipleship and soon after Peter’s great confession (Mat 16:18).

Son of Man. Jesus used this as a unique title and far more than any other, even the familiar ‘Messiah’ or ‘Son of God’. He was identifying Himself with Daniel 7. The disciples and Galileans whom Jesus lived among knew the Old Testament and understood that Jesus was referring to the book of Daniel (7:13-14). When Jesus used this title when making bold claims He didn’t need to explain it’s importance. It was because He claimed to be the Son of Man He was accused of blasphemy and condemned to death (see Mat 26:63-64).

going to come. Jesus told his disciples plainly He would very soon come again and that would mean the coming of the kingdom of God –see also Mat 10:23 and Mat 24:34.

in the glory of His Father with His angels. See similar use of words in Mat 24:30 and Mat 25:31.

repay every man according to his deeds. If you are a disciple take note! This fits the context.

truly: the original word is ‘amen’ which Jesus usually reserves to introduce a teaching which is likely to cause unbelief, shock and wonder in his hearers. When we read something Jesus introduces with this word we should sit up and listen very carefully.

some of those standing here: it is very important to note who is the audience and that it was not spoken to us today. Not all of this group but some would be alive at his return.

This passage gives the reader today a plain ‘either-or’ when interpreting how it it is fulfilled.

There are two possibilities What do you think? Which of these two do you believe?

  1. Jesus has fulfilled this extraordinary prophecy and his coming has already occurred
  2. some of that original audience hearing these words are still alive today!

The truth can only be one or the other—which is true?

This challenge also can be put like this:

If the entire original audience are not alive today, then Jesus has fulfilled it!

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Craig’s Amazing Story

Posted on 07/05/2023 | Leave a comment

I read this story today on “Praying Medic” Telegram channel. Extraordinary.

On Tuesday 11 April 2023 I experienced a near-drowning, and it was only through the intercession of God that myself and my young son survived and are alive today. My family (wife and two sons) were on a short family holiday on the South Coast of New South Wales. We were on the last day of our holiday and I took our sons to the beach to play and go for a swim in the surf.

Surf conditions on the day were not good, and at nearby Shellharbour, there was a swell of 10 feet (3.1 metres) on the day. We played safely in the shallow surf about 5 metres or less from the shore for 1-2 hours. I could see sand being churned heavily about 10 metres to the right of us and assumed this was a strong rip which was being generated by the heavy swell and strong currents.

We steered clear of this area. My eldest son asked if we could go deeper into the water, and against my better judgement, I agreed. We waded out a few more metres, and unbeknownst to me, the rip was wider and stronger than expected, and we were both caught in the rip. We were both ocean-facing and were unaware that we were in the rip for about 30-60 seconds, until we could not touch the bottom (the rip had pulled out all the sand from the sandbar).

I turned around and saw we were about 30 metres from shore. I quickly realised the gravity of the situation and knew we were in the rip (my family and I have watched probably too many episodes of Bondi Rescue over the years). I raised my hand to signal for help and yelled to my youngest son and one other person on the beach for help. My hand was in the air for maybe 5-10 seconds, and I yelled at my son to “swim across!” to try and escape the rip.

As my hand was in the air, a local man called Dean (who was a former lifesaver) was driving by together with his wife, who was a former nurse. They were driving on a road that overlooks the beach, when they saw myself and my son in the rip. He recognised my hand in the air as a sign of distress, and they quickly pulled over and he ran down to the beach. My son and I are good swimmers, but the strength of the rip going back out to the ocean combined with the relentless large waves on top resulted in us being constantly rolled under – like being in a washing machine.

After what seemed like 5-10 minutes of struggling in the rip, I was taking in significant amounts of water and could not surface for air. I remembered thinking “I didn’t think I would go out this way.” I knew I had about 1-2 minutes of life left, and the faces of my family – my wife and my two sons – flashed before me underneath the waves. I felt pangs of regret that I would not be there to see them grow up. I have read stories about fathers who die and leave their wife and children behind. I did not want to be one of those fathers.

Though I was not afraid of dying. As a deeply spiritual person, I look forward to returning home to God when He calls me, and I have read of many beautifully divine near-death experiences over the decades. But I felt it was not my time. I had a choice between giving up and leaving this life or fighting and staying here. For my family, I made the choice to stay. I came to the surface and prayed to God for help.

I remember stretching my left arm out in a short break between the waves and looking up at the clouds. My prayer for help was not strong; it was desperate and failing. Shortly after, another set of waves pummelled and rolled me underneath the waves, and I came up one last time.

At that moment, Dean appeared in the waves next to me. I didn’t know who he was or where he came from, but I could tell he was a strong swimmer and I felt my prayer was answered. He told my son and I to lie on our backs (to help conserve energy and to also try and help float closer to shore with the help of the breaking waves).

Dean had to make the difficult choice of saving my son or I, as the rip and the surf were too strong and he was unable to save both of us at the same time. He had to make a choice about who had the best chance of survival, and he made the right choice and went to save my son.

One more set of waves rolled over me, and I remember being tossed around in the ocean like a rag doll. I could not reach the surface for air, and at this moment I lost consciousness and blacked out under the waves. Eyewitnesses told me that Dean grabbed my son as he laid on his back in the surf and swam with him across the rip, and then fought their way back to near shore, to a point where my son could stand on the sand and rocks and get to the beach himself.

Dean turned back to the ocean and could see I was still in the waves, but he realised that if he attempted to swim out and rescue me, that he would likely not survive himself as he was heavily fatigued and had taken in seawater himself in the first rescue.

Over the next 5 to 10 minutes as I was unconscious in the waves, I was somehow pulled sideways out of the rip (which should have taken me further out to sea, which is where rip currents normally flow) and carried across another stretch of water where I was positioned closer to some nearby rocks which extended from the beach out into the water. From the shore, Dean realised he had a chance to get closer and ran out onto the rocks.

Another set of waves broke – which could have taken me further out, or closer to the rocks. By the grace of God, they carried me directly towards Dean, and at that moment the waves stopped and the sea pulled back to reveal a rock ledge that Dean was able to step down on and reach out to grab me. He pulled me out of the surf and dragged me back across the rocks to safety.

By this time some others had gathered on the beach, and two other men ran out onto the rocks to assist Dean in helping to carry me back across the rocks to the beach. I was brought to the shore, and as I hit the sand I regained consciousness. I struggled to breathe and I had taken in a lot of water, but I was alive. My rescuer(s) carried me further up the beach to a local lifesaver, who had come across from a neighbouring beach with an oxygen tank. My oxygen levels were critically low and Dean’s wife (a former nurse) assisted with administering oxygen.

I began to recover and vomited heavily a number of times to expel the seawater from my stomach. By this time paramedics had arrived (three ambulances) along with police (three cars) as well as a helicopter. Paramedics assisted in stabilising me, and I was loaded into an ambulance for transfer to the local base hospital. I was taken to the emergency department where I was put on a high flow oxygen ventilator and given other treatment to help bring my oxygen levels back to normal. I had swallowed a lot of seawater and my left lung had partially collapsed and had taken in water. I also suffered kidney failure and the doctors said later that the initial blood test analysis resembled someone who was clinically dead and resuscitated. After three days in hospital recovering, I was discharged, and I am now home and fully recovered.

I am grateful. God’s Hand was evident in many ways on that day. From Dean (a former lifesaver) passing at the exact time I had my hand in the air for help and then turning up in the waves less than a minute after praying for help, to him rescuing my son and then having the ocean carry me directly to him for a second rescue, God saved our lives that day. The waves should have smashed me against the rocks, but the waves were stilled. The sea made way for me to be pulled out of the ocean and rescued. I was dragged across rocks away from the surf and my back should have been full of cuts and bruises, but my back was unmarked.

Hospital doctors said my blood test results resembled someone who was clinically dead and then resuscitated (though no resuscitation was performed). The emergency department doctors told my wife I would likely be on oxygen for at least a couple of weeks (if not months). By God’s grace (and the many prayers that were offered for me) I was on oxygen for only two days. My lungs were healed quickly and my kidneys have regained full working function.

The message in all of this is that we need to trust and surrender to God, all of the time – and not just call to Him when we are in trouble. Start your day with prayer and surrender. Bend your knee before Him first thing in the day and invite Him into your life. Ask Him to be part of your day and guide and protect you in everything you do.

The currents of life will sometimes carry you in unexpected directions, but He can lift you out of danger and carry you to safety. The sea obeyed His command without question that day, and when you give God power to act in your life, miracles can happen. PRAISE GOD.

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The Judgment of the Sheep and Goats

Posted on 06/02/2023 | Leave a comment

We read in Matthew 24, Jesus’ disciples asked Him two questions (Mat 24:3) and we read His answers in what is known as the Olivet Discourse which runs from Mat 24:4 and ends in Mat 26:1. We read many promises, encouragements and warnings in answer to His disciples’ questions.

Remember the original Greek has no chapters and there is no break in the discourse—the three parables in Matthew 25 are certainly part of the Olivet Discourse and in it Jesus gives some light to the disciples’ question “when will these things be . . . ?” (Mat 24:3a)

Like the other parables of Jesus in the Olivet Discourse, this parable is set in the context of Israel and the Jews and belongs to when Jesus returns. The scenes are Jewish, of Israel, not worldwide. Jesus words are addressed to the Jews of His day, not to us! The scriptures are written FOR us not to us

These parables are part of the encouragements Jesus gave to his disciples to not give up.

Many scholars say this as a reference to “the last judgment” which they place at the end of history. Does scripture ever say this? Does the Bible even call it The Last Judgment? I think not. This judgment passage is contextually set in the coming of Jesus: “when the Son of Man comes . . . .”

Who are the people of these two groups?  They are certainly not us today!

These represent people who had claimed to follow Jesus. Both ‘sheep’ and ‘goats’ were in the ‘sheepfold’ of the ekklesia. But when “the chief shepherd appears (his coming) who knows his own sheep and calls them by name” (John 10:27), he could easily separate the sheep from the goats.

Of course, Scripture teaches that all people who ever have been or shall be in the world will be judged. But what is described in this passage and demanded by the context, only concerns the many 1000’s who had  opportunity to react to Jesus’ words or to the ministry of ‘his brothers’ before his return (see John 1:11f).

So just who are ‘the least of these brothers of mine’ who are represented in this parable?

Consistently throughout the Gospel of Matthew, these are those who do His Father’s will (e.g., Mat 12:49-50). It refers to those who carry the good news of the Kingdom of God, Jesus’ disciples, His representatives, from the greatest to the least. Thus He told the disciples (Mat 10:1-42), not to take provisions with them but to rely on the hospitality of those who would receive them in His name. He ends declaring, “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” (Mat 10:42) Not just the ‘least’ but ‘anyone’!

See Hebrews 2:11,17: “He is not ashamed to call His own ‘His brothers”. Note also Acts 9:4-5 where Jesus identified with persecuted believers saying to Saul “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”

It is a serious error to teach that Jesus in this parable meant the poor and disadvantaged. Of course, Jesus’ people are called to render help to anyone in need. Paul put it well: “So then, while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”

Jesus spoke these words on the Mt of Olives that day, to encourage the disciples, reminding them of the sufferings and persecutions they would endure (Mat 10, 24:9-13). In the days to come, many would come to their aid when they are imprisoned, thirsty, homeless, naked, etc. The Book of Acts and the apostles’ letters record numerous instances of this. Likewise many would reject them and even persecute them.

Take away: Be encouraged in following Jesus and be active supporting those who are His representatives!

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Jesus’ Return–When, What Do You Expect?

Posted on 31/01/2023 | 5 comments

Did you know this? Jesus prophesied to his disciples many awesome, enormous, life-changing events would take place within the lifetime of his Jewish contemporaries: Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. (Mat 24:34) ‘All these things’ included:
the once ever, terrible great tribulation
the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, judgment on the very heart of Judaism
the awesome appearing of the sign of the Son of Man (Jesus) in the sky
the mourning and distress of the tribes (i.e., the Jews) of the land (i.e., Judea)
the unimaginable sight of the Messiah coming on the clouds with power and great glory. (24:30)

What then did those apostles expect from those words of Jesus spoken on the Mount of Olives that day?

The letters of the NT bear consistent statements showing that they believed Jesus’ return was close, coming within the lifetime of many, just as he promised. Dozens of statements by these authors demand a change in our thinking. Here are just a few: Acts 2:14-20; 1 Cor 10:11; Heb 1:2, 9:26, 1 Pet 1:20. All these texts limit them to the first century. Peter wrote “the end of all things was at hand” for him and his readers (1 Pet 4:7). John insisted that it was the “last hour” (1 John 2:18).

I have some questions to ask you if you are still waiting for Jesus’ return.

First. If his coming was close for them, how can it be close for you, 2000 years later on? That’s nonsense!

Second. Were Jesus and the writers of the New Testament mistaken? Yes? No?

Third. Just what are you expecting to experience at the return of Jesus? The end of the world, history, time?

    Look. That is a man-made idea. The ‘end’ or ‘last days’ in the NT refers to the end of an era, an age, not the end of time or the end of the world! This is a terrible stumbling block to people reading and understanding the meaning of Jesus’ words. The original text is not confusing or unclear about the meaning of ‘end’. The Jews thought in terms of ‘this age’ and the ‘age to come’ (e,g., Mat 12:32).

    Fourth. Just what do you expect to see at the return of Jesus? A physical Jesus coming on the clouds?

      The NT teaches that He forever sits at the right hand of power, masked by dark clouds of glory and “who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see” (1 Tim 6:16). Seeing him, John fell ‘like a dead man’ (Rev 1:17). Many assume he would be seen by human eyes and so then imagine he has not yet come. Deception! That’s another man-made idea. Now, we hear this absurd idea that at the end of the age, the earth /universe will undergo a radical renovation and the righteous of the ages, physically resurrected from the dead, will live on this “restored” earth. Is that what you believe? Where is the Biblical evidence?

      History tells us what was actually seen by people in the first century, AD66:

      A star resembling a sword; a comet for a whole year; At the feast of unleavened bread, during the night, a bright light shone round the altar and the temple, so that it seemed to be bright day, for half an hour; a few days after that feast “Before sunset chariots and troops of soldiers in their armor were seen running about among the clouds, and surrounding of cities.” Josephus, Jewish Wars, b.6, 9, 3.

      The Roman historian Tacitus reported “There had been seen hosts joining battle in the skies, the fiery gleam of arms, the temple illuminated by a sudden radiance from the clouds. The doors of the inner shrine were suddenly thrown open, and a voice of more than mortal tone was heard to cry that the Gods were departing. At the same instant there was a mighty stir as of departure.”

      Now, I hear from people who just long to leave this planet, and to be free of bodies that are sick and broken. The mainstream news depresses people and news of loss, tragedy and WW3 threats can be overwhelming. Many are discouraged by the delayed Rapture. It’s 50 years since ‘The Late Great Planet Earth’ was published. Keeping the faith becomes more challenging for them each day. They cry ‘will Jesus EVER rescue us from this dreadful world gone haywire?”

      That’s why many believers have a negative mindset. That doesn’t help anyone. That’s why so many are so darkened in the mind focusing on the bad all the time, mocking those that see Jesus ruling for ever. All they do is proclaim the inevitable victory of evil. There is a dark veil over their mind. Their focus is on the evil in this world, and not on the glorious gospel and Kingdom of God which triumphs and is eternal.

      Do you reject scripture if it goes against your denomination? or have you been programmed to see things by “group think” within your evangelical tradition? Cognisant dissonance? Are you reading the NT as if it were spoken TO you and not the original readers in context? No. We must understand how the original audience would have understood the texts. But the purveyors of error insist that it was written to us, arguing that prophecies and events from the 1st century are to be fast-forwarded to our day! That’s nonsense, right?

      We need to change our thinking from bad teachings and this deadly escape theology, these ‘get me outta here’ attitudes. Doom and gloom. This may be difficult for many, I get it. Everyone needs to realise that we have been lied to—the greatest deception being about Jesus’ return. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God (Col 3:1). That’s where He is right now and that’s where our victory lies! (Rev 1:5) Let’s start living joyously in the Kingdom of God!

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