The Power of Silence - Elijah Pt.1

Have you ever felt like God doesn't listen to your prayers?

That when you pray, it feels like nothing is happening? 

Do you just feel like you're talking to yourself?

Well you're not alone. I think we've all felt like that at some point if we're being honest. But don't stop reading now, because I've got good news! It's found in 1 King's 19, verses 11-13. Check it out:

The Lord said to Elijah, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Elijah was a guy who was used to seeing God answer his prayers in spectacular, crazy ways. The type of answers that literally turned heads. God provided food for Elijah through ravens. Elijah saw God raise a widow's son from the dead. Elijah saw God cast down fire from Heaven on Mount Carmel. Proper insane stuff!

BUT I believe that the most significant event in Elijah's life occurred in the passage we just read above - when God actually revealed Himself to Elijah in his time of trouble and need. God - the all powerful, all knowing, Creator of the Universe. You'd think that it would be pretty impressive to see God revealing Himself, right?! But did He do it through a great song and dance? Was there a big fireworks display? No. God didn't reveal Himself through the wind, or through the earthquake, or through the fire. He chose to reveal Himself through a gentle whisper. In the silence.

I think it's important to remember that God is at work even in the silence. Even when we don't get a clear answer to our prayer. Even when we think we're just talking to ourselves. Even when prayer seems like a one-way conversation. God is listening, and He is working.

At Youth Fellowship tonight, we spent some time praying about our hopes, expectations and fears for the year ahead. Giving them over to God in prayer, and committing this year to Him. There was no wind, there was no earthquake, there was no fire. But God was present and He is at work in our prayers.

'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.

- Zechariah 4 v 6

As we thought about prayer, and we prayed for one another this evening, I'd ask you to also be praying for our YF. We'd really appreciate it! Come along to YF next Sunday at 7.15pm to look at another awesome episode from Elijah's life in 1 Kings 18 v 16 - 46. You're very welcome!

The Part of the Bible We Don't Read

There's probably two different types of passages that I tend to skim over, or skip altogether, whenever I'm reading my Bible. It's not because I don't agree, or because they offend me. It's because in all honesty, forgive me, but they're tedious and rather boring. Are you the same as me? Aren't there parts of the Bible that we tend to flick past? Without a second thought. Without trying to understand why it is in the scriptures and what it means for us today.

The first type of passage that I treat in this regard is the lists of laws and regulations for the nation of Israel in books such as Leviticus. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for letting our beards grow and avoiding the carcasses of weasels and rats. But I don't find this part of the Bible the most encouraging or interesting. So I flip on past...

The second type of passage I skim over is genealogies. His son was this guy, who was the father of that dude. I never really got the significance of including these family trees in the Word of God. However, a couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine called Geoff blew my mind. He's a great guy, wise and full of insight into the Bible. Especially prophecies.

 Geoff shared that the genealogy in Genesis 5 - one I skipped past many times before - actually was a prophecy about Jesus. Take a look at it. Genesis 5. Still not see it? Just a bunch of names and how long they lived for? Yep, that's what I thought too.

Turns out each of these names mentioned has a meaning in the Hebrew, which actually makes a prophecy when all put together. Check it out below...

Adam - man

Seth - appointed

Enosh - mortal

Kenan - sorrow

Mahalelel - Blessed God

Jared - Shall come down

Enoch - teaching

Methuselah - his death shall bring

Lamech - despairing

Noah - relief

So the old Bible cliche of "everything points to Jesus" really rings true here. Thousands of years before the Son of God is even born, there's a prophecy about Him right in the beginning. Mind blown. I hope this brings you guys as much encouragement as it does to me. God has a plan, and He is always faithful to His promises.

So remember this and be blessed...

Man [is] appointed [to] mortal sorrow; [but] the Blessed God shall come down teaching; His death shall bring the despairing relief.

DON'T FILE AWAY FAITH

Imagine your life to be a filing cabinet. Every drawer on the filing cabinet represents a different aspect of your life, and you open each drawer whenever you need it. So to give a few examples; you've a drawer for when you're in school, a drawer for when you're with family, a drawer for when you're in church. You get the idea. Depending on who you are in each one of these situations, depends on what drawer of the filing cabinet you open. And when
you change context or situation, and you're in a new setting, or with new people, then you close the old drawer, and you open up a new one applicable to that area.

Isn't this quite accurate imagery for our lives? I know it is for mine anyway. We compartmentalise. It's who we are. We put on different masks. For different situations. For different people. It's sad really. Why can't we just be ourselves all the time? Is it fear? Is it shame? Is it guilt? Maybe it's the urge to be someone who we're not? I don't know. I guess it's different for everyone.

Especially as Christians, why do we tend to shut the drawer of our filing cabinet that's labelled 'our walk with God'? Do you find yourself doing this? Because I certainly do. When I'm in youth work mode, I've got the Christian drawer of my filing cabinet out. It's open when I'm at Church. It's open during the summer when I'm busy doing camps and summer schemes. It's open when I read my Bible or pray. But when I'm not doing these things, I realise that I tend to close this drawer of my filing cabinet.

When I'm at football. When I'm on the X-Box. When I'm angry. Why doesn't the Christian drawer stay open? I mean it's stupid really. When I struggle with things, the only one that can help me is God. It makes no sense to battle away at it alone, and to shut God off from it. But that's what we do. That's what I do. We put God in His box, and we pull Him out whenever we need Him. We shut that drawer of the filing cabinet.

What if we left that drawer open all the time? Imagine if we allowed God to truly take over every aspect of our lives! The good, the bad, the downright sinful. This is a great challenge to me personally. Let God into the other areas of our lives, where we tend to shut Him out of. So when we struggle with sin, we can ask God for His help to deal with it, instead of shamefully closing his drawer and pretending He doesn't see.

School was a killer for this. I failed big style. My walk and my talk just didn't match up. I was going to church and youth programmes, and my peers knew I was professing to be a Christian. But my behaviour, my attitude, my words and my actions just didn't reflect it at all. Why? Because I didn't take God with me. I didn't take Him from my church, or from youth, or from my own personal time, into the other areas of my life; like school. And as a result, my life was not a good mirror of Christ.

My challenge to you is the same one I write to myself. Leave God's drawer of the filing cabinet open. Don't shut Him off. Allow Him into all areas of your life. To help with the struggles, to shine in the darkness. As Christians, we have an obligation to go all in, 110% for Jesus. If we try to box Him out and compartmentalise our lives, then we are shamefully filing away the glory of the cross.

'And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.'

Colossians 3 v 17

Transformation Latvia

Information or transformation?

That's the key question isn't it? I was presented with this question on Sunday morning by my minister. He asked why do we read the Bible? For information or knowledge? Or for life change and spiritual transformation?

It got me thinking further than spiritual disciplines like reading the Bible. Specifically it got me thinking about our recent mission trip to Latvia. This year was my 6th summer back in Latvia working with kids and youth. But this got me thinking, why am I always going back to Latvia?

Every year we do a camp in July and tell the kids stories from the Bible, share our testimonies with them and have a whole lot of fun together. But does it stop here with information? Is our job done when we have informed them about God and His love? I don't think so... The job is only complete when there is genuine transformation in these individuals lives.

Some of the kids are like family to me, and I've literally saw them growing up before my eyes. I love them! But the reasons for all my trips to Latvia has been to spread the Good News that transforms the hearts and lives of those that I meet. If no change happens, then all I have is good memories. I will have failed if there is no change, no transformation.

Of course it's never us that make the change. It's always the Holy Spirit that truly transforms. But it's about motives, reasons and purpose. I want to put this question to you - information or transformation?

Do you read the bible for information or to be transformed? Do you do mission to transform lives? Do you follow Jesus to have your life transformed? Think about why you do things, and always look to further God's kingdom with a purpose to transform!

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will." 

- Romans 12 v 2

Can't Wait!

"How much of human life is lost in waiting?"

Ralph Waldo Emerson

It's been a while since I have posted on my blog! I've been wild busy with University work, with my youth work, sometimes with watching too much football..! It's not long now until summer. Even sitting in lectures in University today, all I could think about is our last day before summer. I honestly can say that I can't wait. It seems that I'm really looking forward to lots lately...

Can't wait until 18th June - all my Uni work will be handed in. First year done!

Can't wait until 12th June - FIFA World Cup 2014 starts! 30 days of pure footy - 3 games a day!

Can't wait until 11th July - Leaving for Latvia for 2 weeks - Kids camp and community work!

These are just the main 3 right now... But there's lots that I'm looking forward to. What about you? What can you just not wait for?

But it's interesting... How often do we get excited about Jesus coming back? Are we eagerly looking forward to it? Or actually, can we wait?

‘Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.’

Hebrews 9 v 28

A lot of the time, we live our lives as if we had no knowledge of Jesus' return. He will be coming back, but we really don't make the most of our time here on the earth. Believer or not, many times we seem to just be going through the motions. Looking forward to the next highlight of our year to give us a break from the mundane nature of our everyday. 

Make the most of your time that you've been given.

Get to know God - Make God known - Love others

"All things come to him who waits – 

provided he knows what he is waiting for."

 Woodrow T. Wilson

Three Simple Steps to Bearing Fruit

I know that nowadays it's hard for us concentrate for more than 10 seconds on anything, hence why vine videos are so popular. But take a minute to read this passage from John 15. After I've noted down some of my own thoughts.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you.No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in meand my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

Why is it that as Christians we really struggle to see the difference God is making in our lives? I know personally, I feel that a lot of the time pretty distant from God and a rather poor representative for Him. But why?

In this passage in John, Jesus gives us three commands:

1) "Remain in me"

2) "Obey my commands"

3) "love each other"

He also highlights the result of following these simple guidelines:

"This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples"

There is evidence to living a life with God. Fruit. The fruit of the Spirit! Clear godly characteristics that will shine through in our lives as a result of following these 3 instructions. There's a good chance that if you're struggling to see fruit - it's because you're not doing one of these things. I know that's my case anyway.

I challenge you to focus on these 3 things, and

  God will radically change you.

Kissing the badge

What a few days it has been for sport! We had Ireland winning the 6 Nations Championship in Rugby on Saturday! I was able to watch UFC 171 on Saturday night, and then I was able to sit down all day on Sunday to watch Liverpool v.s. United and Spurs v.s. Arsenal. To top it all off, today I was at the School's Cup Rugby final at Ravenhill between Sullivan and Methody.

In case you haven't noticed... I love sports. It's okay if you don't though. Because this post isn't about sports. It's about God. So keep reading!

Of course as a sports fan, and a rather imaginative person, I always find myself day dreaming about scoring the winning goal in a football match or winning the UFC title by knock out. For a guy that likes sports, there is no greater dream! Dreams are all they are however - I have no chance!

But have you ever thought about how great it must feel to accomplish something like that?! Even just to represent your country must be a unbelievable honour. Could you imagine pulling on that green top for Ireland and lining up on the pitch in Paris for the chance at winning the 6 nations?! Amazing...

As Christians we too are all representing. Regardless of sport or country, however, we are all representing Jesus. Every day our life is the game. He is the coach. And we are the players.

There isn't a team in the world, in any sport, that wins all the time. As Christians we too have our tough times, and we also have our good days too. There's struggles, and there's highlights. But all the time, keep in mind, we are representing something much greater than ourselves - our Father, and His Kingdom.

Sometimes I lose sight of this. Of the big picture. I see me, and my life, at the centre of the universe. How small picture! I think my life would change dramatically if I was constantly remembering that I am representing Jesus. Things I wouldn't do. Words I wouldn't say. Perhaps, things and words I would say too! Imagine if your life was one big sports game that everyone could watch.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5 v 14-16

Remember guys, the world is watching. This is our game.

Represent the coach as best as you can!