Category: Devotions

Maria Skobtsova began her early life as an atheist then a catholic and then by a fresh look at the humanity of Christ became a Christian. Her and her father helped many Jews escape the Nazi occupation. On Easter Sunday 1945 at the Ravensbruck concentration camp she took the place of a Jewish woman who was going to the gas chamber only one day before the Red Cross liberated the camp. She spoke these words as she went, “Lord, I am your messenger. Throw me like a blazing torch into the night.” Maria looked like Jesus.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28 v 19)

Christ came to die. In His death we see the glory of God.

It is what happened to the apostles.

The church wants to live, God wants the church to die. To die is to look like Jesus.

Richard Wurmbrand: 14 years in a communist Romanian prison “A man really believes not what he recites in a creed, but only the things he is ready to die for.” Richard looked like Jesus.

Come to Jesus and he will fix all your problems is lightweight.

We follow a cause, a purpose which needs devotion, focused and disciplined Christians.

Those baptised into the Son understand this.

They have surrendered. They have died so they no longer live but Christ lives in them. They look like Jesus.

When I think about the complexity of the Trinity, the three-in-one God, my mind cannot understand, but my heart feels wonder in abundant satisfaction. It is as though my heart, in the midst of its euphoria, is saying to my mind, There are things you cannot understand, and you must learn to live with this. Not only must you learn to live with this, you must learn to enjoy this.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19)

This is not a formula for when baptising. Jesus is not saying this is what I want you to say but He is speaking of a changed identity by being baptised as clothes are changed washed in dye.

That’s what Jesus meant.

It is essential that disciples of God know God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. One God 3 Persons.

It matters not who you are, where you have come from, what you have done, your identity can change so much that you become unrecognisable almost.

Take for example, Moses. A murderer, a man with a speech impediment and probably some attitude problem. A man in the back and beyond of where he should have been. Trained in Egypt, should have risen to stardom but is now looking after sheep, wasting 40 years of his life.

Exodus 3: The angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush … and God called to him from within the bush “Moses”.

And so we stand before the Father, Son and Spirit just as Moses stood before God, the angel of the Lord and the fire and we are bewildered, unexplainable, beyond words.

All we can say and all God wants us to say is “Here I am” and in that way we are enticing His identity. Here I am who are you?

“I am who I am” I am everything, all that is needed, in control, overall.

Here I am, on this day, in this time of struggle, a child, young person, mid-life, retired.

Here I am married, divorced, single.

Here I am in this circumstance, catastrophe, confusion, contradictions.

 Here I am in my boredom, brilliance of opportunity, in this bereavement.

Here I am I am not anywhere else, I wish I was, but I’m here.

To hear His words, ‘I am who I am’.

To know Him as Father.

There is so much we can know through Gods Word about the Father but I want to show you 2 things importantly:

He is the Father of creation. Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart or “Create a Genesis week in my life” (Message)

Broken, sinful, failed heart. Here I am, it’s a mess, but you are the Father of all creation and you can speak things into existence, you can shape and form this life, you can create something from nothing. Give Him your chaos.

He can take nothing and create something, He can also take the bad and the ugly and through a process of evolution produce something beautiful and glorious.

He is the Father of Adoption. Romans 8:15 “you received the Spirit of adoption.”

You have an enemy who is trying to get you to believe what he is saying to you. For what you believe you are is what you are and who you think you are is what you do. Why did sin happen? Adam didn’t know who he was, tried to become someone. The accuser said “If you do this then you will be like God.”

He should have said “stupid snake I am already like God. Why try and become what I already am?” But he didn’t and he became what God had not intended.

You are a child of God, belonging to Him, adopted to Him.

God wants you plunged into Him, thrown into a relationship that you can know but whose name is far too mysterious for you.

Your identity soaked into His identity.

A baptism of mystery and meaning.

Of closeness and transcendence.

Baptised into the Father.

I feel a nudge to ask these questions: Are you baptised in water as an adult believer? Maybe this next year, 2022, you will start by being baptised? Or maybe you will encourage others to do so?

In baptism we are initiated, crowned, chosen, embraced, washed, adopted, gifted, reborn, ‘killed’, and thereby sent forth and redeemed. We are identified as one of God’s own, then assigned our place and our job within the kingdom of God. Baptism is an act of worship; Baptism is a reminder that we cannot save ourselves; Baptism is an external expression of an internal reality; Baptism publicly announces that we are not ashamed of Christ.

Can you imagine instead of Easter, Pentecost or some other special event where a group are baptised that it is every Sunday? Can you imagine every service holding a baptism for someone who came to Christ that week? Is this too weird to imagine? Is this wrong? Is this beyond our imagination?

The Greek definition of the word baptism is a washing or purification by means of water (from baptismos = to immerse, submerge or dip). Water baptism is the submersion of a Christian believer in water, it is symbolic of the death and resurrection of Jesus and the believer’s death to sin and new life in Jesus. It is symbolic of cleansing and is also a command of Jesus.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28 v 19)

It is a command given to us. Jesus obviously intended baptism.

Can you imagine next year being full of stories of baptisms?

Happy Boxing Day!

Across this whole world of ours billions are saying these 2 words today, ‘Happy Christmas!’

I pray it may be so for you.

Wherever you are right now, in the furthest corner of the world, ‘He’s got the whole world in His hands” and He’s got you!

Jesus instructs his disciples, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28 v 19)

To disciple an ethnos (nations) means to transform the existing culture into a new culture of God’s kingdom. Where do you live? The home? The neighbourhood? Who is round your Christmas table today?

Every tribe has its own language, rules of practice, location and most hate other tribes and outsiders.

Today of all days the fact that Jesus came into this world is the greatest sign that we should also go into our world. Today find some time to commit to doing so from this moment on. That you too can be incarnated into your world. Or maybe Jesus will send you beyond your world into another unknown place to you.

Who is God calling you to reach?

Focus on specific people groups, not just geographic areas, ethnic groups, not political countries. A group that is bound together by a common culture, language, values, socio-economic or ethnic identity. Target un-evangelised and under-evangelised groups where there are no Christian witness present, or no indigenous Christian community within that group of sufficient size to complete the task of evangelising that group without outside assistance. What about the Samaritans? The people you might prefer not to work among but who very much need to know about Jesus; people who may live near you but who are culturally very distinct from you. Give special attention to the hidden people groups who are isolated and hidden from other groups living nearby.

Why?

Because it’s Christmas!

I met a Pastor this week. She’s not qualified in the sight of authorities, she’s not a Reverend, she’s not been to Bible College but God is using her to build a church and she is doing really well at it! She is passionate, committed and is throwing her whole life into the work of God. She is a joy and a walking lesson for many a Pastor! During the conversation she said that her biggest givers and participants were those who were not Christians yet. Those who were following her had not yet professed Christ. Isn’t that refreshing?! Disciples on the path to their conversion.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28 v 19)

Jesus tells his disciples to GO.

This letter was written by Southern Baptist Missionary to Iraq, Karen Watson, prior to leaving for the Middle East. The letter was dated March 7, 2003. Karen was killed, along with four other missionaries, on March 15, 2004.

Dear Pastor Phil and Pastor Roger:

You should only be opening this letter in the event of my death.

When God calls there are no regrets. I tried to share my heart with you as much as possible, my heart for the nations. I wasn’t called to a place. I was called to him. To obey was my objective, to suffer was expected, his glory my reward, his glory my reward.

One of the most important things to remember right now is to preserve the work….I am writing this as if I am still working with my people group.

I thank you all so much for your prayers and support. Surely your reward in heaven will be great. Thank you for investing in my life and spiritual well-being. Keep sending missionaries out. Keep raising up fine young pastors.

In regards to any service, keep it small and simple. Yes, simply, just preach the gospel….Be bold and preach the life-saving, life-changing, forever-eternal gospel. Give glory and honor to our Father.

The Missionary Heart:

Care more than some think is wise.

Risk more than some think is safe.

Dream more than some think is practical.

Expect more than some think is possible.

I was called not to comfort or success but to obedience….There is no joy outside of knowing Jesus and serving him. I love you two and my church family.

In his care,

Salaam, Karen

To make disciples it may cost you your whole life as with Karen or it will cost you the kind of life you could have chosen, like my Pastor friend.

The disciple of Jesus loves to invest, they know what it is to pour out their life, they coach, mentor, demonstrate, ‘do what I do’ to others.

We must carry on where Jesus has left. Let your “do” and your “teach” match together. It is your calling. This is what it is to make disciples.

Think about what happens after you have gone. What have you left behind? Is there anyone going to carry on what you are doing? Is there anyone who is speaking the language of love that you speak? Or does everything die when you die?

There are things in you that need to be revealed. You operate out of these beliefs, values and goals. There is a hidden DNA in you that people only see the benefit of. Reveal what is hidden. What is most important in life? How do you do what you do? Why do you say what you say?

Don’t pass on all that is in you to people who will not do anything with it. Give it to those who will also follow. Give to people who will go further than you and do and say more than you. Build a legacy that reaches far and beyond you would ever possibly achieve on your own.

Look not through the eyes of man. Look at potential. Look for the willing. Look for those who will follow. Find some people. Choose someone.

There will come a day when you will no longer be here, you will have been taken to heaven. Until that day carry on. Until that day do the work. Until that day speak up and speak out. For when that ‘day’ comes then your opportunity will be gone. But your work will carry on.

The disciple makes disciples who make disciples. Are you that disciple? Are you that Pastor or that missionary who both know what it is to lay their life down?

Their relationship with their mother was estranged. They knew she had come from a wealthy background but it had made no impact on the lives of brothers Geza and Zslot Peladi. They literally lived in a cave near Budapest for many years selling scrap metal to survive.

But then in 2009 everything changed. Charity workers tracked them down and informed the brothers that they had inherited a substantial portion of their late maternal grandmother’s $6.6 billion fortune. And just like that, two destitute brothers, should they want to, could call a castle their home when all they had ever known was a cave.

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”  (Matthew 28 v 18)

How many of us live like we are in a cave when the castle is our home?

How many of us struggle under the weight of sin even though the Redeemer has paid the price and we are forgiven?

How many of us have minds burdened by the unkindness of others, the social media lies and we have no mental space to meditate on God?

All authority. That is who we are following.

All authority. That is who is inside our lives.

All authority. That is who is on our lips.

He is the Ancient of Days, the Creator, with the Father and nothing was made that has been made without Him.

He was given authority, and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed (Daniel 7)

We cannot contain Him to a time and a place and a nation. We cannot hold on to Him, He is beyond our grasp, we cannot understand all that there is to know about Him, He is beyond our capability to think. He is pre-existent, before Abraham was born, I am!

The Jews saw only the historical manifestation and not the eternal person.

Jesus did not begin 2000 years ago, that was just when the incarnation took place. He had no beginning. He was before beginning. Because of this we can say He has seen it all and He knows it all.

There have been no accidents in your life, neither your birth, nor your death, nor anything in between. He knows the beginning and the end for each one of us.

We can invite Jesus into our existence – but there is a far greater invitation. An invitation for us to live our lives in His pre-existence.

Come out of the cave and move into the castle.

Let us walk in the authority given by God. The heaven sent confidence that we are on earth to do His purposes. We are not controlled by any other force whether by man and their hidden agendas or by the evil one with the attacks of fear and doubt. No one can take this authority it belongs to God. It can be wasted and given away but not robbed.

No one has greater authority than Jesus.

No one can move you. I know who I am because I know who He is and what He wants for me.

No one can shake you. Psalm 62:2 “Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I shall never be shaken.”

No one can take your joy. John 16:22 “no one will take away your joy.”

No one can take you from the Lord. John 10:28 “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

No one has the right over you, they can change your circumstance perhaps, they can attack you, but no one can move you from your freedom to choose Him and to remain in Him. No one.

Your place is the castle not the cave.

Here comes what appears to be a disappointing verse:-

When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said … (Matthew 28 v 17-18)

The disappointing word of course is ‘doubted’, it is the English word for distázō.

‘They’ were the Eleven. But who were the ‘some’? This has led to so many views and I am sure many have greater thoughts on this than me today. However, what I know about myself is there are many times when I have been in that same place. I have been on my knees, hands in the air, worshipping the resurrected King.

That has been my position, my stance.

But equally I have had times when I would describe my position as a ‘double-stance’ (and that is what the word means).

I have been shifting between two positions, uncertain and so stuck in the middle.

So here’s the point:-

From a distance some worshipped and some shifted between positions of worship/belief and uncertainty. “Then (and let me add the words ‘and so’) Jesus came to them …”

His coming to them effects them, orientates them, commands them and gives them purpose. That’s what the presence of the Lord does even today.

The Great Commission moved them from the uncertainty of who He was, what He had done, who they were and what they should do now to the significance of living in His resurrection. His move to them would bring authority, the vision and their mission strategy and also the promise of His presence continually.

Some days we find ourselves unable to worship from a distance.

There are many today waking to uncertainty for so many reasons.

Jesus come to them by the power of your Spirit.

Move closer.

Let your presence envelop.

Speak words of purpose and direction.

Amen.

“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.” (Matthew 28 v 16)

Do you see it? Do you see what is wrong with this verse?

It is the first time Matthew records it.

Eleven.

Judas has betrayed Jesus and has hanged himself.

The Twelve are no more.

The pain of seeing a loved one die; or a lover not love you anymore; a friend who walks away to another friend; we know this. Yesterday I spoke with a Pastor who felt like he had been stabbed in the back. He had been. The Twelve are eleven.

This band of brothers have denied, deserted their rabbi and are now on their way to that place.

Do you have a place, a room, your designated space away from it all?
When the last few weeks have been a whirlwind.
When you have denied, failed and run away from your Lord.
When you have become confused and cannot explain what has just recently happened.
When God has spoken to you and directed you but still you really don’t know what He is saying.
When you have no idea of the future.
When you cannot explain what is going on in your life.
Have you got somewhere to go to?
They knew the mountain. Amongst all the mountains around the Sea of Galilee they knew the one he was going to meet them on.

Jesus is about to commission them into the whole world but before he does that he needs to position them away from their defeat.

Today, whatever has happened to you, perhaps you feel a sense of injustice, life is unfair. Maybe you feel a failure.

Jesus would have you to go to a place, a chair, a room, a map, a hill overlooking your town and city, there is a place where the important person isn’t you. Where you can look over your Galilee and see how God has used you before and you can see the transformation of people’s lives that He has done. In that position He is preparing you to go again and realise that this life isn’t about you or what you gain or about the people you keep. They are all temporary. This life is about you following Christ and what He has done before He will do again. So get ready for your commissioning is here. Find that place again.

The conspiracy theory on what happened to Jesus runs alongside the truth of the resurrection right to this day. Matthew is writing his gospel approximately 30 years after the events and running alongside the Church’s presentation of the good news of Jesus is this conspiracy of the stolen body. Even today amongst the Jews and especially Islam they believe that either Jesus never died on the cross or that this happened …

“While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day. (Matthew 28 v 11-15)

The problem is no one has ever been able to find the body of Jesus!

Conspiracy theories are often easier to believe than the truth. To believe the truth then often that means you will personally be impacted in a way that is demanding of you. (If Jesus was resurrected then I was wrong about him not being the Messiah).

Conspiracy theories have to explain away compelling evidence and that takes faith. Some of the guards go and tell the religious leaders what had happened: the earthquake, the stone moved, the appearance of a brilliant light (angel) and the empty tomb. So it may be easier because it is less demanding however it is still asking for faith to turn away from the truth.

Conspiracy theories are founded on a position that must not be moved. The religious leaders have maintained throughout the last few years that Jesus ministry was satanically led. This is unmovable. They cannot be wrong for if they are then their position not just their belief is removed.

Conspiracy theories are risky. If the soldiers had truly fallen asleep then they are in danger of losing their own life (Acts 12:19). The religious leaders convinced them that that once again they could turn Pilate away from any judgment as they had done with Jesus. The leaders had a hold over the soldiers.

Conspiracy theories have holes. If the soldiers were asleep how do they know the disciples stole the body? These same disciples who had deserted Jesus had now come back to risk their life in breaking through the Roman guard, really?

Conspiracy theories are a fight for control. Those who have the power. Those who are in control. Those who call the shots. Those who have the titles. They don’t like it when the cultural atmosphere changes. They don’t want to lose their hold over others. They don’t want to be ordinary. They don’t want to be humbled.
From the virgin birth to the resurrection many will say it didn’t happen and for those who say it did, well, they just may face opposition from those who face losing the most if it is true.
If this is true then how does it affect me?
The story of Jesus challenges some, it is more than a story, it is a game-changer. Some will throw the board-game in the air if they don’t get their own way.
Christmas and Easter, the highlights of that story can be difficult times for those re-telling it and for those who feel they are more important than they actually are.

Conspiracists are still with us.

Ever heard that? Ever said it? ‘I told you so!’

Things Jesus didn’t say!

“Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” (Matthew 28 v 9-10)

Jesus didn’t call the disciples ‘failures’ or ‘deserters’ though that is what they had done.

We are flawed but we are ‘brothers and sisters’ of Jesus.

Today across the world Christmas services will be held. People will be attending that perhaps don’t usually go to church. The prayer for today will be that they will meet Jesus, they will hear Jesus, they will worship Jesus, they will obey Jesus and they will be brought into the family of Jesus. No matter who they are or what they have done … brothers … sisters.

“Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.” (Hebrews 2 v 11)

Jesus who knows everything about us is not ashamed to call us brother or sister.

“Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:35).

So I’m not going to chastise you or shame you. I will reiterate the angelic message to obey. Here is your commission, ‘Go’ and in doing so you will go as my sibling.