Missions Paul

How many woke up this morning knowing that today they want to please God?

Here’s a slightly different question:

How many woke up this morning knowing that they are pleasing to God?

In the middle of 50 activities of putting off and putting on the Apostle says this:

“Find out what pleases the Lord.” Ephesians 5 v10

Surely the answer is in the activities he mentions? “Do these things and you will please God.”

Why does Paul say this?

It is because pleasing the Lord is not found in activity.

Ingrained in us is the belief that God is not pleased with us and He wants more from us.

Of course activity is important. Sin hurts others. But sin also hurts us in that we will not love God as much but it will never mean He loves us less.

However, pleasing the Lord is not putting off or putting on. The opposite of pleasing is disappointing and many are fearing God because they don’t want Him to feel this way about them. So they work harder, they do more, they beat themselves up and it is because they fear.

Remember how Paul told us that we were predestined for His glorious grace? (Ephesians 1:5-6) That’s it. That is what pleases the Lord. His glory. That He be made known.

There are 2 key principles that have become the centre of my discipleship. These are my focus:

Live so God is seen

Love so I am not seen.

“9 out of 10 dentists, cats, budgies prefer, say, want ….”
“The deluxe range (which is the same product as the non-deluxe range).”
“Spending makes you HAPPY.”
I love this old advert: “Give your throat a vacation, smoke a fresh cigarette, smoke CAMELS.”

If you love films, then you must watch ‘True Story’. It tells the story of Michael Finkel who through a lot of cost to himself learnt the importance of telling true stories.

If you love dramas, then you must watch ‘The Capture’. It follows British soldier Shaun Emery and a case against him in which CCTV footage plays an important role. Surely CCTV cannot be wrong?!

Just because the story is amazing.
Just because the storyteller is charismatic and amazing.
Just because you desire to be part of the amazing.

Just because it has been amazing whilst it lasted.
It doesn’t make it true.

Next time it sounds unbelievable well just slow things down and check out the facts.

The Apostle says, “for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth.” Ephesians 5 v 9

Truth.

You have many stories I am sure. I recall a man who went to Bible College many years ago for a 12 month course and had his spouse do every single essay for him. He passed, so she did well!

Truth is a person, Jesus.

But Truth can be put under great scrutiny itself. Lies can bring doubt to Truth.

Jesus was on trial for subverting the nation, opposing payment of taxes to Caesar, claiming to be the Messiah and stirring up the people all over Judea with his teaching.

Now here’s the point: You can see elements that are true but they are packaged in lies. There is a distortion of the truth. A misrepresentation of the accuracy of the situation. It is what the father of lies specialises in. All that needs to happen is to convince others to see just a glimpse of the accusation and then the lie has worked.

It is so difficult when people are speaking lies about you or when they believe things about you that are not true.

Here is what I have come to believe:

What is spoken against you is not as established as it may look.

What is spoken to you about someone else is not the evidence of the reality.

The lie against you can lead you into the destiny God has for you, it can become a servant.

It takes wisdom to dissect a lie.

It takes courage to walk through a lie.

Truth sets prisoners free even if they have wrongfully served years in prison.

Untangle the lies and Truth will lead you out.

Truth will bring something beautiful out of the ugliness of the situation.

Search for the Truth amongst the misconception and the path will become clear.

Truth is hard to discover when there is no sacrificial self-awareness.

Put Truth on the cross and wait for Him to rise to a new day.

I am made for Truth.

To know and to act are one and the same. (Samurai proverb)

Up on my Facebook page a few days ago was the picture of our day out at the last Olympics. Unfortunately for me it was horse-jumping which I actually don’t mind but worse than that it was something called Dressage.

Now apparently Dressage is an advanced form of riding and training that tests the horse and rider as they perform difficult manoeuvres based around a horse’s natural movements and tests the accuracy of horse and rider, together with the physical ability, suppleness, responsiveness, balance and obedience of the horse.

For me it just looks like the horse is moving awkwardly. Straight but awkward.

It is awkward only because my perspective is from an amateur position. I know nothing about horses.

But I do know about Church pews and pulpits and those who occupy them. I am concerned that there have been so many deviances from the path that those who walk straight do so in a counter cultural way from what seems to be the norm.

I have heard people talk of a faithful Pastor as someone who could be trusted but who isn’t very successful, who hasn’t had the ability to build anything large and successful.

I have heard people talk of faithful members as people who turn up, sit down but don’t do much.

Being faithful is one aspect of the straight path but can be seen in a derogatory way.

However …

for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness … Ephesians 5 v9

The Apostle continues and says that to show we are Children of the Light we will demonstrate righteousness as the NIV translates the word which actually is the word that is derived from ‘straightness’. To be what I should be.

So often when a Christian is demanding to be seen as right they have lost the argument because they appear not to be what they should be in their efforts to be so. God is perfectly righteous because He is 100% who He should be at any given time. As we live in the light of Him that is our goal.

Throughout history those who speak for God and are sent from Him have been killed, they still are. But throughout history those who believe in God have done the killing, they still do.
A lot is done in the name of God.
There’s a lot of hurt inflicted by people who believe they are right.

Being right isn’t the goal in life for Children of the light but being righteous is. That means how I get there is more important than being there. I go straight. I choose straightness. To be what I should be in light of He who is perfect. That might mean we begin to appear awkward to others. We need to straighten out being straight again.

South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, author of “Made for Goodness” was answering readers questions in the TIME magazine.

 Q: After all you’ve seen and endured, are you really as optimistic as your book, ‘Made for Goodness’, says you are?

 Tutu: I’m not optimistic, no. I’m quite different. I’m hopeful. I am a prisoner of hope. In the world, you have very bad people—Hitler, Idi Amin—and they look like they are going to win. All of them—all of them—have bitten the dust.

For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, Ephesians 5 v9

David referred to himself as a flea on two occasions, a dead dog and a worm.

Moses looked at himself and said he was not up to the task.

Gideon believed he was the weakest.

The list can go on. It seems every Bible hero had to get rid of the worthless things that were clinging to them, that had become the focus of their life and the shaper.

We need to stop thinking negatively, either about ourselves or circumstances. We need to think about our purpose in this world and about Him.

We have a Good Shepherd, Good News and we should be the Good Samaritan. Goodness is the trait of the kingdom of light.

If you have given out more than you have received back then you are venturing into the Goodness.

There needs to be loss in your life for Goodness to emerge.

The loss of loving someone who doesn’t return that love.

The loss of helping those who just take.

Loss because there is no hope of getting anything back from your kindness and generosity.

When you question whether it was worth it; when you ask whether you have been taken for a ride; when you see nothing from your acts of kindness it is then when you are bordering on the entrance of Goodness.

Goodness is a life where you look like God, especially in front of your enemies. They may be ungrateful and they may not recognise what you do but He sees. God can see you identify with Him for this is who He is and what He has done and does today.

So if today you meet that awkward, self-centred, seemingly unavoidable person then be kind. Lose. Be like God and then step into Goodness.

Madam X is an Elim Church planter in an Islamic nation. One Saturday in September 2016 having never been told the truth about Jesus she began to meditate on a verse from the Quran in Surah 1:6 “Guide us in the right path”. Suddenly in the corner of the room a ‘bright light’ filled the room as Jesus revealed His identity to her. She fell to the floor and her life was never the same again! This was noon, it was light, but THE light was so much brighter.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. Ephesians 5 v 8

I have heard first-hand accounts from many who have met Christ and every one of them saw a bright light. The light of Christ is more than just shining brightly in the darkness, any light can do that, but it shines brightly at noon, in the light. That is bright! Christ can penetrate the light, any light. He is brighter than the mid-day sun.

I have been reading of an Afghan woman explaining to a correspondent that the women who continue to wear burqas (the full-body coverings mandated by the Taliban) do so even though they don’t like them and are no longer forced to wear them because: “We have lived in darkness for so long that now we are afraid of the light.”

Some today even though they may have faith cannot see the stars in the sky. They are unable to see the sunrises that happen every day. They only see clouds not the sun, not even the rays through the clouds. The lights have gone out. Actually the light is there, but they cannot see it.
Today come out from the darkness, forgive and let go where that is needed, trust the God of light again. Do not be afraid to change. Do not be afraid to step into the light. He is waiting for you. He has not stopped shining.

When was the last time someone corrected you? What did you do about it?

Therefore do not be partners with them. Ephesians 5 v 7

Who are you hanging around with? (From the Message version).

Don’t let it be with deceptive people.

Choose your friends carefully. Who are you walking with?

We don’t need to hang around people who tickle our ears and who sympathise with our lack.

We need friends who will not deceive us but who are not afraid to speak the truth to us.

Western Christianity is so individualistic. We have our own walk with God, we hear God individually and we make decisions alone. But not so in other parts of the world where community is powerful and decisions are made as a group. Perhaps this is the way it should be. Maybe there would be less mistakes made if others advised us.

It is never too late to bring into your life accountability partners who will continually ask you “Why do you think, speak and behave this way?”

An unchecked, unquestioned man is not a strong man. Strength is not in what you can amass, or the people around you, it is not in a title or a position. It is whether or not you have been bridled.

If you see a destructive flaw in your friend’s life and say nothing then you are no friend.

I had just finished preaching a short series of 4 messages from Malachi and living a life of holiness, when the 2 friends came to see me in my office. “Pastor you are too severe, all this talk of holiness. We are leaving the Church.” Six months later the friends had fallen out with each other and it came to light that they were living an immoral lifestyle.”

The deceivers were trying to mislead me.

Having shared a list of sins (and there will be more) the Apostle says, “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.” Ephesians 5 v 6

Who are the deceivers? It is those people who come and lead you away from the Apostle’s teaching. They will demonstrate that to use people for gain is a blessing; to grab for the riches which do not belong to them is to be rewarded by God; they come with attractive large personalities but it is just a shell of emptiness; their words sound good but they end up being powerless dialogue.

Not everything that you see and hear is what you think you see and hear.

Not every friend is a friend because of what they can bring some are friends for what you can make them.

“No one” are usually “Someone” They are usually good with words, respected leaders perhaps, they may have a following, but it doesn’t make it right.

“No one” can be “Everyone” and there can be a consensus of opinion, but it doesn’t make it right.

The problem is when deception has struck it is hard to see it is deception. The deceived don’t know they are deceived till it is too late.

That is why we tread carefully in the light of God’s wrath which was poured out onto Christ on the cross. We walk in the light of that surrender.

If we live not to gain then we will not be deceived.

The rule of Christ, the sphere of His activity, the realm and presence of God, the Kingdom, only has citizens who have lived for others.

“You can be sure that using people or religion or things just for what you can get out of them—the usual variations on idolatry—will get you nowhere, and certainly nowhere near the kingdom of Christ, the kingdom of God.” Ephesians 5 v 5

The Apostle is very firm on this, “For of this you can be sure” if your life on earth is about you then you will not come into the Kingdom. You may be religious but if your faith is about you becoming someone then forget it. If your focus is not to serve and to help but to get and to gain because you are not thankful for what you have received then forget it. You may think you are in the Kingdom and you may think you will come into it but forget it, you won’t. Others may think you are in the Kingdom because of your personality and charisma but forget it, they are of no help.

You cannot grab what you think you deserve and hold the hand of a God who is generous.

You cannot use people and expect God to use you.

You cannot be a big man and have a big God.

These will get you nowhere.

You may think you are in but you are definitely out.

So how do you get into this Kingdom of Christ and of God?

It is obvious isn’t it? Just look at those words in bold.

God loves and God sends, Christ came and Christ is crucified.

Selfless citizens of the Kingdom.

Michael Jackson sung a deeply profound truth when he said – ‘I’m starting with that man in the mirror, I’m asking him to change his ways. And no message could have been any clearer, if you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make that change.’

Do we want to make our world a better place?

Yes we cry! We just need to change our world. That’s not the gospel of Michael Jackson nor is it of Timothy Keller. He tweeted recently – “Revival occurs when those who think they already know the gospel discover they do not really or fully know it. This leads to repentance and change.”

The Apostle having told them to put off the immorality, impurity, greed, obscenity, foolish talking and coarse joking now says put on thanksgiving.

Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. Ephesians 5 v 4

The word for thanksgiving is eucharistia where we get our Lord’s Supper/Eucharist from.

How many times have we taken communion but we have not been truly thankful?

An old man is on the pier feeding the seagulls, they land all around him, on his shoulders, his hat, feeding off what he had in his bag. Why is this man doing this? Why does he come here every week?
The man is Eddie Rickenbacher, a famous pilot in World War 2. His plane the “Flying Fortress” was shot down in 1942 and no one thought he would be rescued. He and eight passengers survived in 2 rafts for 30 days. They fought thirst, the sun and sharks some of which were 9 feet long. But what nearly killed them was starvation, within 8 days they had no more food left.
But in these rafts they would have a daily devotion to God. One day after a devotion Rickenbacher leaned back with his hat over his eyes to get some sleep. Within a few moments he felt something land on his hat. He knew in an instant it was a seagull. They were hundreds of miles from land, where had it come from? In an instant he grabbed the seagull. They all ate the bird and the intestines they used as fish bait. Rickenbacher never forgot that sacrifice. Every week he went to the pier to feed the seagulls, to say thank you.

We have no choice but to bring thanksgiving, it comes from the sacrifice. His sacrifice of love forces such a response.
When you know you are saved you are thankful.

Thankfulness is missing

• When we are arguing over what we feel is rightfully ours.
• When we do not like our circumstances.
• When we devalue people because we hold them responsible for our circumstances.
• When we are dismissive of people as not helpful to the change of our circumstances.
• When the gospel story is not played out in our lives.

Today give thanks, say it, to God, to someone, to you.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. 

I am not sure who Jack was, but he worked all the time and he was dull.

“Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place,” Ephesians 5 v 4

Again the word only occurs here in the New Testament, eutrapelia, joking.

Have you ever met a Christian who looks like they have never laughed in their life?

Their joy is deep not shallow like ours. It is deep joy. Beyond facial recognition into the deepest recesses of their heart. So deep that only they can see it. They are the barometers of joy. They are fellowship-busters. The ones who turn the lights off and pull the music because nothing good happens after 9pm. They are frivolous-finishers. The decorum brigade. One of my first Annual General Meetings a Church member stood up during question time and gave an opinion, “You are too frivolous Pastor.” I wasn’t actually sure what frivolous meant so it didn’t really hurt me. I hadn’t taken the module on that at Bible College. But I did realise this man wasn’t for too much of anything really.

Throughout history the Church has had appeals to lighten up. To not be so serious. Aquinas, a disciple of Aristotle said, “just as the body needs rest when it is weary, so too does the soul when it becomes overburdened.” Some people are so weighed down with burdens of their life that they really do need to laugh. They should watch the film Patch Adams! It is the true story of Hunter ‘Patch’ Adams who was so determined to become a doctor but who ventured along a different path that others hadn’t, that of using humour.

We need to become like children again and learn to dance and play with creation. A child picks up a dandelion and the adult says the truth, ‘hey you’ve not picked up a flower you’ve picked up a weed.’ And the child throws it down not realising the amazing fun-game of blowing through the dandelion and seeing the explosion of the balls of seeds in the air!

The Apostle is not against eutrapelia but against coarse or crude joking set in the sentence of immorality and impurity.

It is wit which is vulgar. Obscene.

The humour-killing fellowship will use this to gauge what is clean and what is not. In many ways they are right as we live in this world we need to be different, we need to stand out, we need to be seen as changed by Christ.

But I think this is more than a joke which has sexual overtones. In the context which Paul says Put off and Put on and which he will be saying put on thankfulness it is so much more than what kind of ‘knock-knock’ jokes you tell. It is about whether your joking is hurtful or destructive to others. It is not just innuendo but it is to ridicule someone. We should be funny but not hurtful. Wit is wonderful but has boundaries called love and grace. It does not make fun at others expense so that it hurts or embarrasses or abuses them. That is coarse, crude, not fitting for you and me.