Let Us Rise Up And Build

The concept of ‘rising up and building’ comes from Nehemiah 2:18. Nehemiah wanted to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the wall after the city had been burnt and broken down.

The call to ‘rise up and build’ is an encouraging rally to action. The words ‘let us’ inspire a spirit of community, working together and volunteering. I like the words ‘rise up’ best of all. It makes me think of all of us, sitting in a state of apathy, trying to motivate ourselves to do a job that has been sitting around for a while. It’s a little like trying to get off the couch when it’s late and you can’t be bothered doing the dishes.

It’s not always from within us that we get this resistance to rising up. We can get roadblocks or hindrance from others. It can be from outside the ecclesia (church) or from other Christadelphians. It can be quite hard to carry on and stay motivated and enthusiastic. We have all had times in our life when we have tried to start something positive. Sometimes you get constantly pushed back or given negative feedback or just insulted.

Nehemiah 4:1-3 When Sanballat heard that Nehemiah was rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, "What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble -- burned as they are?"

You can hear the scorn and sarcasm in these comments. Most of us get a sense of déjà vu reading this; we have all experienced this kind of attack or mocking. Nehemiah doesn’t retaliate or argue back or defend himself. He just prays to God.

Some verses that are helpful when you are trying to get on with the job of ‘rising up’ and ignoring negativity:

1. Expect negativity. People are people.

Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick

Matt 5:11-12 People will insult you and hurt you. They will lie and say all kinds of evil things about you because you follow me. But when they do, you will be happy. 

Psa 41:6 When one of them comes to see me, he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander; then he goes out and spreads it around.

2. Think about the end goal

Matt 5:11-12 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because you have a great reward waiting for you in heaven. People did the same evil things to the prophets who lived before you. 

3. Don’t return evil for evil

1 Pet 3:9 Don’t be hateful and insult people just because they are hateful and insult you. Instead, treat everyone with kindness. You are God’s chosen ones, and he will bless you.

4. Remember that God is the judge

Rom 14:10-12 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

5. Check your motivation

1 Pet 3:6 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behaviour in Christ may be put to shame.

6. Jesus showed us how to do it (this verse is my all time favourite!)

1 Pet 2:20-21 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 favour with God…Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.

The last part of the phrase ‘and build’ is the focus. How can we get out of the negative cycle of criticism or apathy? Just get on with it! Noah builds an ark, Solomon built a temple, Jesus built an ecclesia (church). Find something positive to do and just do it. 

You're invited....

"HOW EXCELLENT IS YOUR NAME"

Come and join us for an evening of song & praise

Saturday 21st October

5.30pm - Dinner to start

RSVP 0405 703 804 for catering purposes. Thank you!

Things I wish Jesus Never Said

It’s interesting that there are a whole bunch of movies, books and sermons out there are titled ‘Things I Wish Jesus Never Said’. I think this is because Jesus gives us a lot of very difficult commandments… love your enemies, renounce all possessions, and forgive again and again.

In addition, Jesus says, “if you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

Can we really say we keep Jesus commandments?

If we really love Jesus, we will do what he says. We will visit the widows, give our money to the poor, treat everyone equally, and tell everyone we know about him, not worry about tomorrow and spend our lives as a servant for others.

Here are some of the commandments we are given that perhaps we wish Jesus never said.

Then Jesus said to the man who had invited Him, “When you host a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or brothers or relatives or rich neighbours. Otherwise, they may invite you in return, and you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. (Luke 14:13)

If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them. (Luke 7:3-4)

But just because they are hard to take, does that mean we shouldn’t take them literally? If we don’t do these things, does it mean that we don’t love Jesus?

There was a really interesting and controversial viral video by Jefferson Bethke entitled, Why I Hate Religion, but Love Jesus. Here’s a section from it.

“They can’t fix their problems, and so they just mask it

Not realizing religion’s like spraying perfume on a casket

See, the problem with religion is it never gets to the core

It’s just behaviour modification, like a long list of chores

Like, “Let’s dress up the outside, make it look nice and neat”

But it’s funy that’s what they used to do to mummies while the corpse rots underneath…

Because if grace is water, then the Church should be an ocean

It’s not a museum for good people- it’s a hospital for the broken”

I find this poem really thought provoking. It’s interesting that often we don’t keep Jesus commandments, and it is obvious to people like Bethke and I worry it is obvious to others who visit us. It is the total opposite of what God intended for our religion to be. Jesus wanted our “light to shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt 5:16).

If we did love Jesus, we wouldn’t be living how Jefferson describes ‘masking our problems’; we would be confessing our faults, not hiding them.

Confess your faults to each other (James 5:16)

We wouldn’t be worried about our outward appearance looking ‘nice and neat’ but rather focusing on becoming godlier and doing good.

Your beauty shouldn’t come from outward adornment…but from beauty within. (1 Pet 3:3-4)

Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Matthew 23:28)

Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. (Matthew 7:20)

We would be welcoming to the broken, not just asking the good people to join our display.

For there is no partiality with God. (Rom 2:11)

If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," doesn't this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives? (James 2:3-4)

Most of all, we wouldn’t be consumed with these petty problems and we wouldn’t be causing people to hate religion. We should be focusing on the positive.

I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. (Ecc 3:12)

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. (James 1:27)

So this week, let’s try aim to be better at taking Jesus’ commandments literally, to be more welcoming and giving, to be more forgiving and ultimately, to be more like God.

Being Contented with Contentment

Contentment is something we all struggle with. Contentment is an attitude that says, ‘I will be satisfied with what God has given me.’

Remember the old RTA advertisement about drink driving?

STOP. THINK.

Sometimes in life, we need to look around us and appreciate where we are, the support we do have and the things we own. But most of all, we need to remember the blessing of a future hope.

There is a story of a Mr. Prentergast, who was drinking late one night and made an impromptu decision to rob and burn down a house. It was only later that he discovered that it was his own house he had burgled and set alight.

He later commented, “I had no idea I had so many valuable possessions!” Sometimes we need to gain our perspective back and realise how many possessions and blessings we have. Let’s reset and stop today and think about all the things God has done.

We are told to stop and think and ‘do this is remembrance of him’. Psa 103 talks about the things we can be grateful to God for:

1.    Forgiveness

As far as the eastern horizon is from the west, so he removes the guilt of our rebellious actions from us. V12

Back then, they believed that the earth was flat. So this is a picture of God pushing our sins so far to the west and so far to the east that it falls off the end of the earth. What else does he do for us?

Lam 3:22-23 The LORD's loyal kindness never ceases; his compassions never end. They are fresh every morning; your faithfulness is abundant!

Every new morning, we can be confident that God forgives us all over again because of his kind compassion.

2.    Healing

Psa 103:3 He is the one who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases.

This is a tricky verse! Does god always heal our diseases? No. It is broader healing, v4 goes on to talk about deliverance from death.

3.    Redemption

Isa 53:4 But he lifted up our illnesses, he carried our pain; even though we thought he was being punished, attacked by God, and afflicted for something he had done.

It is Jesus removes our illness ultimately. What is God, God is love. and there is an amazing viral video of this concept here. Mercy is NOT getting as our sins deserve. Grace is receiving what we DON’T deserve.

So this is all good head knowledge, but how can we literally become more content?

1.   Become grateful.

Focus on the good things in your life, not on the things you don’t have. Write a literal list of all the good things in your life. This exercise will shift your focus back to contentement.

2.   Take control of your attitude.

We are all guilty of thinking ‘when I get ____ then I will be happy!” Your happiness is not based on what you have, it is based on a decision to be happy.

3.   Don’t satisfy discontentment with acquisitions.

As a major shopaholic, I am the most guilty of this. Feeling down? Go buy a new dress. Not happy with your hair? Get a haircut. Etc etc. We have gotten into the habit of satisfying our discontent by spending more money. We need to break this habit and understand that material posessions never satisfy the desires of your heart. Understand, accept and try to deal with the root cause of your discontentment.

4.   Stop comparing yourself to others.

Social media makes this particularly hard in this day and age. We are constantly exposed to the best filter of people’s lives. People who appear to be better off, who appear to have a better life. Don’t compare the worst of ourselves with someone else’s highlight real. You are great, just as you are!

5.   Give.

Focus on someone else. Give money, time, your talents to help someone else out. Book a trip overseas to go on mission work or sponsor a child here. 

Matt 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

New Sunday School and Playroom

This last couple of weeks, we have busily been preparing for some exciting new programs. We were pretty excited to be starting Sunday School today and had a fabulous time setting up and getting everything ready. This week is also our first playgroup, where children will come and join in free-play activities. We have purchased some fabulous new toys and set up the kids 'playroom' (as they call it). They had a great time learning about creation today, singing songs, making craft and playing games. The children are eagerly looking forward to playgroup on Tuesday morning with all of our fabulous new toys. Thanks very much to Storytime for their generous donations! If you are looking for either a low-key and relaxed environment for your children to play (playgroup) or a safe place for them to learn about God (Sunday School), then please contact us for more information. 

In Search of Happiness

We've all watched the movie, maybe we've read a self-help book on how to be happy or possibly when you think of being happy you just think of Pharrell Williams' song. 

It seems easy to be happy when we are on Summer holidays, looking back over a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. But how can we be happy all the time? How can we get this year started in a positive way?

Mark Williamson in his article in the Guardian said, "We’re constantly bombarded with messages about what makes for a good life. Advertisers tell us it comes from owning and consuming their products. The media associate it with wealth, beauty or fame. And politicians claim that nothing matters more than growing the economy. But do any of these things really bring lasting happiness?"

Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Any happy person will tell you that happiness is a choice. Each day we wake up, we decide to be happy or unhappy. With all the uncertainty in the world, or even in your day, YOU are in charge of your mind. Try to focus on the positive, be grateful for what you do have and find different ways to bounce back. 

Psa 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

God is the key to our happiness on earth. We can't blame others for our unhappiness. We can't get happy by purchasing things. We can't get happy by having a seemly perfect life. As Jim Carrey said, "I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it's not the answer".

Some tips for happiness?

Eph 3:12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.

Prov 15:13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.

1. Forgive more.

2. Don't worry about things you can't control.

3. Treat others as you would like to be treated.

4. Do meaningful things with your life.

5. Feel part of something bigger. 

For more practical ideas read this article.

Terms and Conditions

"All special offers quoted are limited and subject to availability. The terms and conditions compiled in this document are subject to change without notice. It is the responsibility of the any person seeking to rely on the information by visiting our website or by contacting our phone number. "

How many times have we heard this spiel following an advertisement?

Any special offer has terms and conditions. If you don't check these, you may get caught out by something you weren't aware of. God has a special offer for all of us. Our God has his own terms and conditions in his official documents. However, there is no misleading information or limiting of availability. God's special offer is open to anyone who wants it.

Ex 3 is all about Moses coming to meet God. It is the story of the burning bush. When Moses approaches the bush, he learns about God's terms and conditions for freeing his people from slavery. He was freeing Israel because he wanted to.

God didn't have to forgive our sins. He wants to!

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

God is a god of promises. Even during hard times, we can rely on him to fulfil his promises. He isn’t going to have a ‘get out clause’ or let us down at the end. John makes his promise clear, ‘whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life’.

God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Num 23:19)

We’ve all been let down by people before, politicians who lie, family that promises and forgets and friends who use words but not actions. Thankfully, our salvation is based on God's promises. It is not based on whether we feel 'saved' or not. Sometimes we feel unworthy, unholy….like God wouldn’t want us as our children, or that his promises wouldn’t apply to me because I am such a sinner. Martin Luther wrote a lovely poem on this:

“Feelings come and feelings go,

And feelings are deceiving;

My warrant is the Word of God--

Naught else is worth believing.

Though all my heart should feel condemned

For want of some sweet token,

There is One greater than my heart

Whose Word cannot be broken.

I'll trust in God's unchanging Word

Till soul and body sever,

For, though all things shall pass away,

HIS WORD SHALL STAND FOREVER!”

We might not feel we deserve God’s love or the eternal life he promises, but thankfully it is not up to us. His terms and conditions ask us to believe in Him and his son and He will give us life.

Seminar Update & see you tomorrow!

So last week, we had a really fabulous time looking at 'Is There More To Life?' We began the evening with a lovely meal and it was nice to give everyone a chance to relax and get to know each other before the seminar. 

Simon then lead us in some thoughts on how it’s very easy to go through your whole life, through each stage and ask, “Is this it…there’s got to be more to life than this."

Bernard Levin, who is regarded as Briton’s best and most famous journalist (until his death in 2004) wrote:

“Countries like ours are full of people who have all the material comforts they desire, together with such non-material blessings like a happy family, yet they lead lives of desperation, understand nothing but the fact that there is a hole inside them and that however much food and drink they pour into it, however many motorcars and television sets they stuff it with, however many well-balanced children and loyal friends, they parade around the edges of it…it aches.”

Russell Brand said this, “Drugs and alcohol are not my problem. Reality is my problem. Drugs and alcohol are my solution to fill up a hole inside me.” And looking back, I think many of us experience a hole in our life, a sort of hunger that can’t be satisfied, possibly a spiritual hunger. 

Most, if not all of us experience that feeling. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life”. What he was saying was that I am the one who can satisfy this spiritual hunger, that nothing else satisfies.

You have probably heard the well-known story of a nanny from Sweden. One time, the children she was looking after were having a big fight. She ran upstairs and what she meant to say is, “What on earth are you doing?” But what she actually said was, “What are you doing on earth?”

What a great question, “What are you doing on earth?” In other words, where have I come from, where am I heading? Who am I? What is the point of my life? Is there any real meaning and purpose to life? Can I be happy?

These are the most important questions of life. A lot of people spend their life trying to find out the ultimate meaning and purpose of life.

Simon then went on to talk about if God doesn't exist, then life is ultimately meaningless. One of my favourite quotes from the evening was by CS Lewis.

How true these statements are! 

Tomorrow night, we look in more detail at how we know that God exists and what proof is out there. Last week, we looked at the Fibonacci Sequence and this week we will look at even more amazing things that seem to have been explicitly designed. I would suggest that if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it is worth considering calling it a duck!

For more information on our seminars click here. Please come tomorrow night, we would love to see you! It doesn't matter if you missed the first one. See you at 6.30pm tomorrow (200 Gimberts Road Morisset). 

About Life

Still time to book in or think about coming to our About Life seminars. Free dinner, interesting thoughts and discussion. Come and see what it's all about! Click here for more information.

Lazarus, come forth!

Today we were lucky enough to have James come and talk to us about John 11. He shared with us that it has been a couple of years since his wife died. It was an emotional morning looking at trial, why it happens, how we can glorify God in the middle of it and looking forward to a happier time.

Chapter 10 is all about the works that bear witness that Jesus is the son of God. In chapter 12 it is about Mary anointing him ready for burial. John 11 is then a very pivotal chapter. When Jesus, in John 11:4, hears that Lazarus is sick he sees this as an opportunity to show the glory of God. Maybe he had already talked and planned this with God. v41 says, "Father I thank you that you have heard me."

John 5:25 Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and IS NOW HERE, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

Why did Jesus allow this to happen? Why did he deliberately wait 2 extra days before he left? He could have healed Lazarus before he died, was he being insensitive?

John 11:15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. v40 Jesus said to Martha, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?"

How did Lazarus dying bring about the glory of God? Well in Rom 4:20-21 we hear that Abraham gives glory to God by having a strong faith and being fully convinced that God is able to do what he promised.

Rom 8:28 And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

This verse can bring an incredible amount of comfort. Ultimately, our trials will lead to good if we love God. In John 11, Jesus is trying to remind them the love is important. The word 'LOVE' is used 4 times.

Our love for God can grow deeper through trials. We allow our hope to be in God and God alone.

When Martha is positive that Jesus can heal her brother she directly quotes John 9:30. Maybe she was there for the healing of the blind man and truly knew that, 'Whatever you ask from God, he will give you'.

Resurrection isn't something we should focus on in the future it is something we should focus on everyday. v26 whoever lives and believes in me, will never die.

v35 Jesus wept. He understands that we are sad and trials are hard. He feels everything we go through and he cares. But ultimately, he wants us to know that trials work to bring ultimate good.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

The chapter goes on to talk about his sisters who were worried that Lazarus would be stinking in the grave and didn’t understand why Jesus would want to go near his grave. Maybe they thought that it would be too late. Do we ever doubt that God can bring about his promises? God can take a person from corruption and bring them unto life.

In the kingdom, the last enemy to be destroyed will be death. Jesus cried with a LOUD VOICE, "Lazarus, come forth!"

This takes our minds directly to the last days when the ‘Lord himself will come down from heaven with a LOUD SHOUT...and the dead in Christ will rise from their graves.’ 1 Thess 4:16

Lazarus walks out, bound hand and foot in his grave clothes. What a fitting symbol of mortality. In the kingdom, mortality will be loosed. Acts 24 talks about Jesus loosening the pains of death. Here, Jesus asks to unbind him, take off the grave clothes and let him go. What a beautiful reminder of the kingdom, where we can leave sin and mortality behind us and enter our new lives.

As a result of this moment, so many believed in him which is what glorifying God is all about. In chapter 12 they had a special supper with Jesus, sat around and ate and drank with Jesus, their lives forever changed. We did this same simple act this morning and though we each have trials to bear, we remember that soon our grave clothes will soon be taken off and we will be free.