Against the Tide - Elijah Pt.2

Ever feel like it's you against the world? Like the moon in a sky full of stars?
Different. Outnumbered. Alone.

Elijah felt the same.

If we flick to 1 Kings 18 v 16-46 in our Bibles, we can read a story about Elijah on Mount Carmel. Elijah was one of the Lord's prophets, but he was living at a time when Israel had abandoned the Lord's commands. The Israelites had instead, under the influence of their King Ahab and his wife Jezebel, turned to follow false gods. One of these false gods was called Baal. They set up shrines to worship Baal, and even had appointed prophets for this false god. Elijah even says “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left". He was different, outnumbered, and alone.

The one true God, the Lord of Israel, wasn't having any of it though. So God sends Elijah to Mount Carmel to meet King Ahab and 450 prophets of Baal, and to deliver a message. Elijah challenges them to a showdown to see who is the real god. Sounds exciting, right? Well it is, so go read the passage and see for yourselves what happens!

But let's for a minute, just focus on Elijah. Didn't he have some guts, some faith, to stand up for God like that? It gets you thinking... how do we stand up for Jesus in our own lives? Here's two points to consider:

1. Think different. Act different. If you read this story in 1 Kings 18, you'll see that the prophets of Baal and Elijah were very different. They believed in different gods, and as a result they acted in a different way. The prophets of Baal were cutting themselves over their sacrifice, while Elijah was pouring water over his to make the challenge even more difficult. Their logics were completely different. I think this is a key question to ask ourselves as followers of Jesus... In our families, with our friends, in school... Are we different from everyone else?

2. What's taken God's place in your life? I guess the second thing to think about is whether or not we're taking a stand for Jesus in our everyday life. Are we thinking differently, speaking differently, acting differently to those around us? If we aren't, then there's something wrong. King Ahab and the Israelites had replaced God with false gods, and perhaps something has taken God's place as first priority in our lives too. Studies? Addictions? Relationships?

Remember to follow the example of Elijah, and be different. 

Take a stand for Jesus.

“We must never be afraid to be a sign of contradiction for the world.” 

― Mother Teresa

Bieber: Building or Body

Let's face it. You either love Justin Bieber, or you hate him. But regardless of what side of the fence you stand on, you can't deny that over the last few years Bieber hasn't exactly been what you would call a saint. So I'm sure I wasn't the only one a little surprised when he opened about his faith in his latest interview, saying 'I just honestly wanna live like Jesus'. 

If you want to check out all that Bieber was saying in interview then follow the link at the bottom of the blog. I would like to focus on, however, one thing that really stuck out to me when reading this interview. While talking about his faith, Bieber explained that it was a relationship with Jesus and that he didn't go to Church. He said, 'You don't need to go to church to be a Christian. If you go to Taco Bell, that doesn't make you a taco.'

While Justin's analogy seems a little silly, I believe it provides us with great topics for discussion. Do you need to go to Church to be a Christian? Should you go to Church as a Christian? Or going right back to basics - actually, what is Church?

Although the answers may not be so black and white after some reflection, I think that these 3 questions are all fundamentally linked. Check it out:

1) Firstly, it's important to determine whether going to Church is a salvation issue. Is church attendance a requisite for eternal life? Do you reach the pearly gates by sitting in the pews every Sunday morning? In other words, by going to Church will you go to Heaven? The simple answer is no. It says in the Bible the only way of getting to Heaven is by asking forgiveness for your sins and accepting Jesus into your hearts. Jesus Himself said in John 14 v 6 - 'I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'.

2) BUT! Before you all think you've now got a lie in every Sunday morning, it's important to remember what the Bible also says about Church. Hebrews 10 v 25 tells us to 'not give up meeting together'. Although you don't need to be in Church to be saved, if you are saved then you should want to be in Church! It's important as Christians to have fellowship with one another, worship God and grow closer to Him through teaching. Church attendance will be a by-product of a serious relationship with Jesus.

3) Finally, it's worth thinking about 'what is Church?'. When you hear the word 'Church', what images fill your head? Big fancy buildings. Stain-glassed windows. The rows of pews and the minister in the pulpit. Actually, 'Church' is not a building. 'Church' is a gathering (or body) of believers, coming together for fellowship with one another and with God. Of course that can be in a building, but it can also be in someone's home. It can be anywhere actually. Paul says 'You are the body of Christ' to the early Christians in 1 Corinthians 12 v 27.

Seems like a lot to think about, right? Well if you only take one thing away from reading this, then take this away and think about this:
there is a difference between being in church and being in Christ. 
You can be in both. You can be in neither. But only one of them offers salvation. Are you in one?


Click for Justin's full interview!

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