True Christian Fellowship

(This blog post is taken from a recent Ladies Bible Study lesson I gave here in Katherine. If it doesn't flow like usual, it's because I couldn't write in all the little extras and rabbit trails I took. It is long, so grab a cup of tea, your Bible, a teachable spirit, a heart excited to learn and read on. God Bless xx)

FELLOWSHIP- This word gets thrown around a lot in Christian circles as we have ‘fellowship’ lunches and ‘fellowship’ meetings, ‘fellowship’ greetings in a church service. I think sometimes we use the word a bit too flippantly without really grasping the true meaning of the word.

The word fellowship, in the Greek, is the word ‘koinonia’ which by definition is communion, joint participation, sharing, having something in common.

The root of this word is Koinos. There are 2 main ideas with this word:

a. “To share together and take part together” in the sense of partnership or participation, and

 b. “to share with”, in the sense of giving to others.

True Christian fellowship involves getting together for spiritual purposes, for sharing needs, for prayer, for discussing and sharing the Word, for encouraging, for comforting and for edifying one another. (Group Bible studies, prayer meetings etc)

These are all important aspects of Christian fellowship and areas that are often lacking in the church today, but even this does not fully comprehend the full meaning of ‘fellowship’ in the New Testament.

In Acts 2:42, we read of the new believers fellowshipping.

Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 2:43-44 KJV - And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

Notice that it says they continued stedfastly in fellowship. Stedfastly means to persevere, to be constantly diligent, to adhere closely to.

So, they devoted themselves not only to the apostles teaching but also to fellowship. And in breaking of bread (so there’s the Baptist lunches!) But they also devoted themselves to prayer. There were some serious prayer meetings going on with these new converts. Fellowship was a priority to these early Christians.

So, let’s look at what fellowship means in our everyday language.

According to the Websters dictionary, fellowship means:

1.    Being a part of a group, a body of people (so, there is our church. A body of people. A group)

2.    It means having or sharing with others certain things in common such as interest, goals, feelings, beliefs, activities, labour, privileges and responsibilities, experiences and concerns.

3.    It can also mean a partnership that involves working together and caring for one another as a company of people, like a company of soldiers or members of a family.

And I think this is where the rubber hits the road. As Christians and fellow believers, we are in a partnership working together towards a common goal, that of reaching the lost with the gospel. We are to be a family. Looking out for one another, caring for one another, exhorting, serving, loving one another.

As we see in the 2^nd definition of fellowship, we are drawn together because of common interests or experiences or activities. There will be people in your circle of Christian friends who you are drawn to because of your commonalities. They like the things you like. They have experienced similar things in life as you. But then there are others that you have nothing in common with. You’re different as chalk and cheese. Or so you think!

Fellowship is firstly a relationship.

In the New Testament, the first thing they had in common was a relationship with Christ. And in a church, it is the one major thing we have in common. Despite all our differences, we have in common our salvation. We are a family because of being a child of God.

Ephesians 4:2-6 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Koinonia or fellowship, was an important word to the apostles and their new converts. It was never used in a secular sense. It always had a spiritual significance. The idea of earthly fellowship, as we seem to know and define it, founded only upon common interests was foreign to the apostles.

Fellowship is firstly a sharing together because of our relationship with God. Fellowship is first and foremost a relationship, rather than an activity. Any activity that follows should come out of that relationship.

I think sometimes we get it backwards. We are drawn to someone because of common interests and we ‘fellowship’ with them and then one day we realise that we have a relationship with Christ in common that really should have been at the forefront. The relationship with Christ should have been the glue, not just the common interests.

Now there is nothing wrong with getting together with friends and sharing together, but when we meet together in the name of fellowship and there is no mention of God’s goodness, then we really shouldn’t call it fellowship.

Yes, we are Christians, so we are a part of God’s family, but if we are not sharing what God has done in our lives and using our time to build each other up in our Christian walk, then we are just having a friendly get together, not a time of fellowship.

1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Our fellowship is with the Father, and with each other.

In Philippians 1, we read a letter from Paul and Timothy to the believers at Philippi.

Philippians 1:3-6 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 

Here we see mentioned the words ‘fellowship in the gospel’. In this case the fellowship is distinctly connected with the gospel and Paul and Timothy are thanking the Philippians for their fellowship in the gospel. But what does that really mean? Fellowship in the gospel?

How are we as Christians to enjoy this kind of fellowship?

Firstly, we can’t have fellowship in the gospel unless we have Christ in common. We also have to be on the same page when it comes to our goal of seeing others come to Christ and preaching the gospel.

To have true fellowship, we are to be comrades, working together. Fellowship requires participation. It requires our time our energy and our resources. Each person bringing to the table what God has enabled them to do.

We are to pray together, to suffer together, to share together. Everyone carrying the load together by doing their specific jobs in order to get the gospel message of Jesus Christ out to the lost world.

Philippians 1:3-6 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 

Fellowship begins with God’s love,

 overflows from God’s love, 

is centred on God’s love and expresses God’s love.

Fellowship in the gospel expresses itself in love. 

Philippians 1:7-8 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

Notice here in these verses that Paul said that he had these Christians in his heart. Not just in his head or on his lips, but in his heart. Sometimes we lack this simple expression of the fellowship of the gospel. Love. We are often critical of one another and judgemental and harsh. But God commands us to love.

John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

How often do we truly love the brethren? And as Christ loved? The Bible clearly states that by our love shall all men know that we are Christ’s disciples. So, when we have love and we show this in our fellowship, we are obeying God’s commands. And this means loving the unlovely. Those Christian sisters and brothers who we find it a struggle to be around. The world is looking on and watching how we treat each other.

One of the most well-known passages of scripture on love is found in 1 Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 13:1-8 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

Fellowship in the gospel also expresses itself in thanksgiving. Paul tells the Philippians that he is thankful for them.  All of them. Despite his rebuke to a couple of women in the church that were out of sorts, he was still thankful for them. (See Phil 4:2)

It’s hard sometimes to be thankful for certain people in the church or other Christians we know casually. There’s a lot of prickly people out there and a large percentage of them are Christians! But being thankful for other brothers and sisters in the Lord helps save us from wrong attitudes like jealousy, resentment, irritation. It’s hard to thank God for someone, sincerely, and be resentful in the same breath. Love the unlovely. God does!

Fellowship in the gospel expresses itself in ministry. What is the ministry to which we are all called? To advance the gospel. 

Philippians 1:12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

When we live our Christian life according to the Bible, we advance the gospel through our testimony. When people around us see our reactions to circumstances that come into our lives, they are either drawn to or drawn away from God. Paul was tested and tried and yet his reactions glorified God and advanced the gospel.

But it’s not only our lives and how we live, it’s also our lips and what we say.

Notice the words “speak” and “preach” in these verses.

Philippians 1:14-18 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

When we testify to others of God’s saving grace, we advance the gospel. By what we say, we can be a testimony and a shining light in a dark world.

And how is it possible to show the fellowship of the gospel? Through the help we are given by the Holy Spirit. To work together for God’s glory, we need the Lord’s help. We are sinful creatures, and we don’t love others as we should, but in order for us to truly fellowship with each other, we need the Holy Spirit working in our lives.

I love that fellowship has no age barrier. Age doesn’t matter in the body of Christ. We are able to fellowship with believers of any age and any season of life. Fellowship can also be enjoyed with people of different cultures. It’s amazing how you can sit through a service in a language you can’t understand, yet still feel a sweet spirit and have fellowship with the believers. It’s Christ we have in common. Our relationship with Christ is what joins us together.

I mentioned that fellowship is firstly a relationship. A relationship with Christ. Fellowship is also a partnership. The Greek word also means to share together in the sense of a partnership. We are automatically co-partners in God’s work here on earth.

” Relationship describes what we are: a community of people bound together by our common life and the blessings that we share together through our relationship with Christ.”

“Partnership describes how we are related to each other in that relationship: we are partners in a calling in which we are to work together in a common purpose to obtain common objectives for the glory of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ”

Look at these verses in relation to fellowship being a partnership:

Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Philippians 2:1-4 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

The partnership these Christians had, saw them continuing daily of one accord, which translated, means unanimously or of one mind. They had one mind, one spirit. Wouldn’t that be great if people could say that of our churches? Oh, that we could be of one accord and of one mind.

We have to develop the art of communication. We need to be able to share our burdens and also our passions and dreams with other believers and we need to learn to listen to what others are saying so we can minister to each other. We also need to be able to communicate on a spiritual level.

Sure, it’s great to have common interests but we really need to communicate about spiritual things and reach a deeper level of fellowship built on our relationship with Christ.

In order for us to have true Christian fellowship, we need to be first devoted to God’s Word and to his will and then we need to be devoted to caring for one another.  We need to be willing to share with each other what we have learned and what Christ means to us.

Fellowship is firstly vertical. Our relationship with Christ. And then it is horizontal. Our relationship with others. We need to strive towards developing a deeper level of fellowship that goes beyond earthly commonalities and reaches upwards towards Christ then outwards to our brethren.

 

“Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same tuning fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So, one hundred worshipers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become 'unity' conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.” A.W.Tozer

 

 

Look for God in Everything

  

In recent weeks, I have struggled with ongoing sickness, financial uncertainty, confusion, frustration and a never-ending list of questions to the Lord that seem to go unheard and unanswered.

My voice cries out, “God, where are you?”. “Where are you in all this mess?”

As I’ve fought against fear and doubt, consciously deciding each and every day to trust the Lord and wait on him, the questions still arise, and the overwhelming thoughts hang overhead.

What do we do when we can’t see God in our situation? How do we face each day feeling like God is not listening or aware of our needs?

We go to the Word of God, and we get down on our knees, humbly and sincerely asking him to reveal himself to us.

We search the scriptures looking for comfort and help, and we ask God to speak to us and to speak to our fears and our confusion. We ask for his peace and for his wisdom.

If we truly believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he is the Creator, sustainer, life-giver, redeemer and Saviour, then we know, that God is there. He is everywhere. We don’t need to ask, “where are you?” because he is right there.

He is the Alpha and Omega. The beginning and the end. He’s not going anywhere. And we can’t hide from him. As the Psalmist so beautifully puts it:

Psalm 139:7-10 - Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

What I have to remind myself of continually, is that I need to see God in everything. I need to look for God’s hand in every circumstance. I need to remember that he is always there and because of this, he has his hand in and on everything. He is in control, and he is aware of everything I’m going through.

God is up on the mountaintops, and he is down in the valleys. God is in the trying circumstances and in the exciting, happy moments. He is moving and working behind the scenes and although I may not see evidence of his hand, I can have faith that he is there.

I need to look for God’s hand in every detail of each and every day.

Just as we can see his hand in creation, as we gaze upon a beautiful sunset, or marvel at the intricacies of a delicate flower, or feel the wind on our skin as we breathe in an ocean breeze as it washes over our feet, just as we see his hand upon creation, we can have the calm assurance that his hand is upon our lives and the situations we find ourselves in.

Instead of asking, “Where are you, God?”, I should be asking, “What is it you want to teach me in this?”

I think that if I can only learn to see God’s hand in every circumstance, if I purposely look for his presence in my daily life, if I can trust in what I know of him, then, I can learn to be content and accept the crosses (as I so often see them), that he places in my life.

Philippians 4:11 KJV - Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Contentment doesn’t come naturally; it has to be learned. It’s something we will struggle with until we reach heaven. It is a day by day, submitting to God and trusting him with what he sends into our lives, seeing him in all our circumstances, believing that everything comes from his hand and has a purpose.

If I choose to see God in my sickness, my financial difficulty, my uncertainty, then I will defeat fear and doubt and live in faith, believing and trusting him, knowing that he walks beside me each step of the way, lovingly guiding me and leading me to walk in paths of righteousness and think good thoughts. His ways are perfect. His thoughts are higher.

Psalm 18:30 KJV - As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

Seeing God in everything adds peace and joy to your life. It releases you from worry and fear. If you understand that God is in every situation, no matter how you see it, whether good or bad, you will have peace that he has it all under control and he is aware of the needs and will work things out.

And with that peace, you will begin to feel joy rise up in your soul. You will be able to rejoice and praise him for his goodness.

Psalm 5:11 KJV - But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

Psalm 9:2 KJV - I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

Philippians 4:4 KJV - Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

One of my favourite sayings that I have repeated to myself many a time is this:

“When you can’t trace his hand, trust his heart”

We can’t always see God’s hand working in our lives, and sometimes it seems like he is unconcerned or unaware. But he is always working and always aware. He is El Roi, the God who sees (Genesis 16). He knows your heartache, he sees each tear, he understands.

We may not be able to trace his hand, but we can ALWAYS trust his heart.

Choose to see God’s hand in everything and watch him work contentment and peace and joy into your life as you humbly submit to him and joyfully trust and obey him.

I was recently reminded of a song I hadn’t heard for many years, and it was such a blessing and comfort to my soul.

Trust the God who sees and look for him in everything.

Trust His Heart

 

All things work for our good
Though sometimes we can't
See how they could
Struggles that break our hearts in two
Sometimes blind us to the truth

 

Our Father knows what's best for us
His ways are not our own
So when your pathway grows dim
And you just can't see Him,
Remember you're never alone

 

God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His Heart

 

He sees the master plan
He holds the future in His hand,
So don't live as those who have no hope,
All our hope is found in Him.

 

We see the present clearly
But He sees the first and last
And like a tapestry He's weaving you and me,
To someday be just like Him

 

God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His Heart

 

He alone is faithful and true
He alone knows what is best for you

 

God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His Heart

 

 

I Know You’re Busy, But……

I wanted to revisit a topic I wrote about recently. The subject of busyness. In my recent post, I mentioned a phrase I had read, “I’m not busy – I’m where I belong”.

Since writing that post, the subject of busyness has come up quite frequently, in podcasts, in sermons, in conversations etc.

I suppose it’s a pretty hot topic as we all live busy lives, and most of us are busy with some occupation or another. Whether it be full-time home-schooling, a career, volunteering, ministering in the church, or a hands-full young mother of toddlers. Whatever the case may be, we all seem to be running full steam ahead, leading very busy lives.

As I listened to a podcast yesterday, while I had some down time and a free moment to do some sewing (which is very rare for me nowadays), I heard one of the speakers mention that a friend had said to her, “I know you’re busy, but….”

And straight away I went ‘OUCH!’. Because it is something that frequently gets thrown my way. That sentence frequently comes up in conversation with others and directed towards me.

It made me stop and think about my availability and my approachableness.

Am I seen as too busy? Unapproachable? Disconnected?

Do others tend to keep me out of the loop or not invite me to get togethers because they think I’ll be too busy anyway? Or is it because they see me as disconnected and not really interested in the lives of others?

Whatever the reason, I don’t want it to be like that. I want to eradicate statements like that. I want to be available as much as possible. I want people to feel free to chat to me and sit down over coffee and share what is on their heart.

Over the past few years, I have come to realise the absolute necessity of community. Christian fellowship. Friendships and relationships that go beyond a Sunday morning greeting, a handshake and a comment about the weather.

Tonight, I will be speaking to our Ladies Bible Study on the subject of true Christian fellowship. I am so excited to share what God has shown me in his Word on this topic and the many verses where it is mentioned. I think we may often get it all wrong. (more on this topic in a future post)

We draw close to God when we abide in him, when we get into his Word, commune with him daily, love and obey him, but we also draw close to God when we draw close to his people.

We were made for connection. Our souls need community. We need each other. No matter how much you may think you can master it all on your own and no matter how independent you are, you need others. And others need you!

We need each other to be an encouragement in our walk with God. We need each other to challenge one another, to bear one another’s burdens. We need each other to lean on when times are tough, and to rejoice when joy is overflowing, and the blessings abound.

I was convicted by a sentence I heard in the podcast, and I had to stop and write it down to share with you and to have as a reminder to myself.

“If you are a righteous woman and you want to gather righteous women around you, it is not going to happen if you are not readily available to the hearts and minds of women around you”.

A very true statement. It won’t just happen automatically.

And so, I pray that God would help me to be available, to have wisdom in prioritizing and organizing my daily schedules, to His glory, and not neglecting the ones he has entrusted to my care, but granting me eyes to see who needs a word of comfort, a shoulder to cry on, a word of advice, or maybe just a smile, so that I can be approachable to those who need my friendship and love.

We, as Christians, are part of the body of Christ. He is the vine, we are the branches, and we need to stay connected not only with Christ, but with each other.

John 15:5 KJV - I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

 

Connecting. Sharing. Learning. Exhorting. Comforting. Loving.

 

Proverbs 18:24 KJV - A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

 

 

 

 Praise with Sincerity 

"Every part of our being should join in praising God. The song of praise we sing, should not be a solo, or a duet–but a full chorus the feelings, affections, mental powers, tastes, desires–all mingling in praise.

There are some who praise with their voice–but not with their heart. Others give intellectual worship, while their affections are not engaged. Others give emotional praise–but their will and conscience do not join heartily in the song; they have good feelings–but lack in practical obedience. Some sing missionary hymns with zest–but give nothing to missionary work! Or they sing consecration hymns–but then live for themselves! The true way to praise God–is to rouse every faculty, energy, power, and affection–to hearty, enthusiastic, practical praise, all that is within us, joining in glad and holy songfulness!"

From Daily Comfort Devotional 

 

Are You Where You Belong?

Just the other day, as I read a brief devotional, a seven-word phrase literally jumped off the page at me and has stuck in my mind ever since.

I have felt frustrated often lately, at well-meaning people telling me that I’m too busy. I have been discouraged at others misunderstanding my season of life and deciding that they need to remind me of the crazy schedules I currently run, the work I do, the hours I have in a day etc.

Now, I know that their comments are often well-intentioned, but they get old very quickly.

“You’re so busy.”

“I know that you have your hands full”

“I didn’t want to bother you as I knew you’d be busy”

“I just didn’t think you’d have time”

So often, it’s easy for us to point out what we may see as failings in others lives, while not realising we are in the same boat, or have been in the past.

Yes, I am currently living in what seems a very busy season of life. I seem to need my running shoes on 24/7. But if I stop and really think about it, I remember, that as a young mum of 5 little girls, under 7, I was super busy then too. It was just a different busyness.

The days were long and hard, with home-schooling, keeping house, babies, toddlers, being a good wife and mother and all that goes along with raising little ones. Learning about getting along with my husband in the new and amazing season of life I found myself in not long after walking down the aisle, with babies coming along one after the other, and all of life’s new challenges.

Those years were very busy ones, and I wouldn’t change them for anything. They were hard, but they were rewarding. They were challenging, but they were a time of learning and growth.

There were days when I felt just as I do now. Tired. Exhausted. Weary. Frustrated. Busy. Yes, busy.

So, let’s go back to that seven-word phrase I mentioned that made such an impression, that I had to write about it.

“I’m not busy – I’m where I belong”

When I read this, it was as if I finally had an answer. An answer to the “you’re too busy” statements.

I realised, that although others see me as being too busy, we are all in our own way, busy. Everyone has a certain amount of busyness that they live in. And each one of us has a unique busyness.

But I know I’m where I belong.

I know that God has put me here, in this season, doing this line of work, with no predictability of any sort, on call 24/7 for my husband’s current work schedule, enjoying beautiful little grandbabies and a large group of extended ‘adopted’ family, ministering as I need to, to other women in the church, whether through text, or Bible Study or a simple coffee break.

God has me where I belong.

“I’m not busy – I’m where I belong”

And whatever God has me doing and for however long, I need to do it wholeheartedly.

Colossians 3:23-24 KJV - And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Who are we to judge what busyness looks like? I think that there is often a misunderstanding of another’s calling to do and to be.

When we look at another person’s busy life and it looks vastly different to our own, we can be quick to judge or criticize and point out the need to take time out, rest, do less, be less.

Now, I do want to say that I think it’s good to remind one another of the need to rest, especially if we see someone hurtling down the slippery slope to burnout. But I also think that we need to take the time to listen to their side of the story first.

Take the time to sit and let them explain the reason for the season they’re in and how they are dealing with it and what they have set in place to protect against burning out.

Don’t be quick to judge. Be quick to listen. Slow to speak. (I’m definitely still working on this one!)

James 1:19 KJV - Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

Can I encourage you to stop the words before they come out of your mouth? Stop the “you’re too busy” phrases. Don’t fear inviting that friend over or out for coffee, thinking that they’re just too busy.

Go ahead and show you care. Show that you want to make time for them and that you’re happy to listen to their reasons for what you see as a hectic season. It could be just what they need. A reason to stop and take a break, and just breathe and be calm for a short time.

I have found that when you really want to do something, you will make time for it. You will find ways around things in order to put them into your schedule.

I have also found, over and over, when I am having a super crazy week, but my heart’s desire is to sit at Jesus’ feet and study and learn from him, that he allows little slots of time to open up, little windows of opportunity that I can choose to hold on to and use for him.

He always manages to rearrange my days and helps me with my priorities, so that I am able to make time for a friend, or get to that appointment, or lie on the couch just listening to worship music because my soul needs it.

So, if you’re busy today, take a step back and just assess the situation. Are you busy? Yes. But are you where you belong?

If you know you are right where you belong, doing the will of the Lord, then keep on. Forge ahead. Soldier on. Take time out to rest when you need it, learn to listen to your soul when it needs refreshing and do everything heartily as to the Lord.

Don’t fear the judgement of others. Walk in the will of the Lord and he will see that you have time for the important things.

 

Don’t be afraid to Sing It Out

 

Well, I was reminded tonight of the declining state of my singing voice. I decided to sit at the piano and sing while no one was at home, and after a few minutes, I realised, that although in my younger days, I had a large vocal range and could carry a tune quite well, over the years, through bad technique, lack of practice or maybe just old age, I had become woefully inadequate in this department.

Now, if you come along to our church, you may well wish that I would realise this and sing a little quieter, but no, I don’t. I happily belt out the old hymns and praise God with my whole heart, not caring in the least what others may think of my warbling and sometimes slightly off key, voice.

Along the west bank of the River Nile, in Egypt, sit two massive statues. They are 18 metres tall and represent a Pharoah who lived almost 3500 years ago. These statues are known as the Colossi of Memnon and have been called the singing statues.

It is told, that back in 27 BC, a large earthquake shook the area, which resulted in one of the statues collapsing from the waist up and cracking the lower half. After this happened, that statue began to produce strange musical sounds, almost always at dawn and most likely due to the rising temperatures and the evaporation of the dew in the cracks of the statue.

It was given the name Memnon, by early Greek and Roman tourists, but that’s another story.

Why am I telling you this bit of interesting ancient history? Because as the morning light began to fall on the statue, as the sun rose overhead, and the dawn came, the statue began to sing. A strange musical sound was heard, some say like the sound of striking brass or the sound of whistling.

And as one devotional writer puts it so well, “Just so, when the light of the gospel falls upon a darkened heart, it begins to sing.”

If we have been saved from a life of eternal damnation, and God has washed our sins away in his precious blood, we have been rescued from an horrible pit, we have had our feet placed firmly on the rock, and it should give us cause to sing! The light of the gospel falling upon our hearts should be reason to sing.

Psalm 40:3 KJV - And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

We are reminded in Psalm 40 of where God brought us from and where we are headed. The Psalmist tells us that God put a new song in his mouth. A song of praise to his Saviour. His Redeemer.

And so, I believe, every Christian should be a singer! Now, I don’t mean that you have to have an amazing voice and be up front leading the time of worship in song, but I firmly believe that if you have the Lord Jesus living inside of you, you should sing about it. And you should have a desire to sing. And you should want to sing with feeling and meaning and sincerity.

There are too many verses in the Bible on the subject of singing and praise and worship, to list here, but please believe me when I say, singing is important to God.

If you really find it difficult to carry a tune, you can sing and make melody in your heart to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:19 KJV - Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

God wants to put a song of joy in the heart of every Christian, and nothing should be able to stop that song.

If Paul and Silas could sing, with their feet bound fast, while sitting in a dungeon-like prison cell, not knowing whether they would live to see the next morning, then what excuse do we have for not raising our voices in song and praise and worship to the Lord?

Nothing that comes into our lives, pain and trouble, should hush the song in our heart.

Can I encourage you to let go of your fears? Let go of the pressure that tells you that in order to sing you have to sing flawlessly and perfectly in order to sound wonderful. Free yourself from feeling inadequate and incapable. Let your heart sing. Let your soul rejoice.

If you are singing from a sincere heart, unto the Lord, with all your might, your song is beautiful in God’s eyes. And it is a sweet sound to his ears.

I know, that often in Christian circles, there is judgement when it comes to the way one sounds as he/she joins in the congregational singing in the time of worship. I have often had eyes rolled in my direction, and stares and whispers. But who is it I’m singing for? My song should not be for my glory, it should be as unto the Lord.

If you are singing unto the Lord, and for his glory, lifting your voice in praise unto him, then it really doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.

To say I’m a little passionate on this subject, is putting it very mildly. I really believe that if we, in our churches, really took notice of the words we were singing, we would sing them loudly, unashamedly, fervently, excitedly and with all our might.

Or maybe, at times, we would stand, head bowed in humility, in utter amazement at what God has done for us, unable to lift our heads, eyes filled with tears, mouthing the words through trembling lips, as we silently worshipped.

Whatever the case, we need to sing unto the Lord. We are commanded to sing unto the Lord.

Psalm 96:1-3 KJV - O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.

Psalm 100:1-2 KJV - [A Psalm of praise.] Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

And one of my favourite verses:

Psalm 33:3 KJV - Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

(I love to play the piano with all my heart. But that’s another topic altogether. The instruments mentioned and used in the Bible. Study it and be amazed!)

The word noise, at the end of the verse, has the idea of a shout for joy. Has anyone ever felt like you could shout for joy while singing to the Lord? Yes. It’s frowned upon in our churches, so sometimes I have to be content with sending up a silent shout of joy and at other times, I just add in a few extra words into the song that are slightly louder and emphasize the meaning of the words.

I encourage you, the next time you are singing praises to God, to really think about what you’re singing, and then let the words flow from your lips without fear and with all sincerity.

Sing with your whole heart. Close your eyes if it helps you focus. Sing with joy in your heart. Let your song be unto the Lord and lift up your voice in praise and adoration for God has redeemed you and you are his. What a reason to sing!

 

“But, when we sing psalms, we make no melody unless we sing with grace in our hearts, unless we are suitably affected with what we sing and go along in it with true devotion and understanding. Singing of psalms is a teaching ordinance as well as a praising ordinance; and we are not only to quicken and encourage ourselves, but to teach and admonish one another, mutually excite our affections, and convey instructions.” Matthew Henry

 

*Remember, God tells us to sing, but I want to let you in on a little secret, God sings too! He rejoices over you with singing. Think about that. Let it soak in. And see if it doesn’t put a spring in your step and a song on your lips!

Zephaniah 3:17 KJV - The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

 

 

 

 

 

 Do you know the Saviour?

Let me introduce you

Both now and forever

He's faithful and true

His name is Jesus

He died to give you life anew

Do you know the Saviour

Oh, how He loves you

He pardons the debtor

With nothing to pay

He offers forgiveness

To those who've gone astray

He stands there waiting

At the door of your heart

And the moment you open

His peace He'll impart

 

The Need to Move from Fear to Faith

 

As I sit here tonight, after a busy day of friends, family and fellowship in God’s house, I wonder why it is I am so tired. Not physically tired, although that is present also, but emotionally tired. Mentally tired.

 

What is this pensiveness, this melancholy? I really can’t complain about my day. Being with other believers in God’s house, worshipping together in song, listening to God’s Word being expounded upon, enjoying the company of family and friends, feasting on the provisions of the Lord, physically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally. There is no logical reason for this feeling of malaise.

 

As I read over some of my notes in an old notebook, I am reminded of something that loves to rear its ugly head every so often. Something that revels in bringing discontent, dissatisfaction, frustration and even unbelief.

 

What is this horrible little thing? Worry. Yes. Worry.

 

The dictionary defines worry as ‘the state of being anxious and troubled over actual or potential problems’.

 

Interesting isn’t it how it’s not just anxiousness over ‘actual’ problems, but it’s also being troubled over ‘potential’ problems. As in, the problems that may never happen. The circumstances that may never eventuate. Those dreaded sleepless nights of fear and worry, fretting over possible outcomes, that may never even come to pass.

 

Basically, worry is a lack of faith. Unbelief. Worrying about tomorrow is looking at the future as if God will not be there to care for us. We know full well, if we read our Bibles, that God promises to never leave us or forsake us. He will be there tomorrow, and the next day, and the one after that. He is not a fair-weather friend. He doesn’t leave when the going gets tough. He doesn’t leave because he finds someone more likeable than us.

 

I am in need of this gentle reminder, and I trust that if not today, then another time, when you find yourself teetering on the brink of faith or fear, about to fall into a downward spiral of worry, you will find strength in some of what I want to share.

 

How is it that we can trust God and count on his provision in our lives? How do we know we can trust him and cease worrying, and grab hold of faith?

 

Let’s look at a passage in Matthew.

 

Matthew 6:25-26 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

 

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

 

One of the reasons you can trust God, is that you are valuable to him. In verse 26, we read that God takes care of the birds, he feeds them, he provides for them, and if he can do that for them, then he can do it for us. We are even more valuable to God than the birds. We are God’s priceless treasure.

 

Another reason you can trust God is that your situation is under God’s control. Aren’t you glad that God has your circumstances in hand and knows all things and controls all things and not you? If it was left up to us, we’d make a terrible mess. We can be at peace, knowing that God is in control. We don’t need to worry that he will make a mistake. A perfect, all-knowing, all-loving God, who holds the world in his hands, is not going to mess it up.

 

You will be taken care of. We don’t have to worry that God will not take care of our future and our day-to-day needs.

 

Matthew 6:28-30  And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

 

God provides for the flowers, and he clothes the grass of the field. You are so much more to him than these things.

 

Your needs are known to God.

 

Matthew 6:31-32 - Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

 

As I read these verses, tears come to my eyes. I realise that my thinking is all wrong. In worrying over the future, I have let unbelief rise in my heart. For some reason, I have begun to think that God doesn’t know my problems and that he doesn’t understand the situation. But the last part of verse 32 hits me hard with the truth. “Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things”.

 

God knows. He is aware. He understands. He knows what I need. He knows the desires of my heart.

 

Why is it we worry about what we need? Why is it we fret and stress over our needs being provided?

 

I read this quote many years ago and when I feel worry welling up inside me, it comes to mind and it’s like being hit over the head with a lump of wood, jarring me back to my senses.

 

“Worry is allowing problems and distress to come between us and the heart of God. It is the view that God has somehow lost control of the situation and we cannot trust Him”

 

How is it that we can get to the place that we feel God has lost control of the situation and is now untrustworthy, and we need to grab hold of the reins and take matters into our own hands?

 

Sad. But it’s what we do. There is no way that worry will fix our problems. All we do is empty today of its strength.

 

             Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow.                       It empties today of its strength.

Corrie Ten Boom

So how do we stop this endless cycle of worry? Swinging back and forth from fear to faith, then back to fear, then back to faith and so on.

The answer is found in Matthew 6:33.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

A very well-known verse, but not a very well-practiced one, sadly. If we make the choice to seek God first, before anything or anyone else, pursuing God with all our heart, seeking to please him and obey him, then he will take care of everything else.

We don’t need to worry over the future. God says that if we seek him, ‘all these things shall be added unto you’. What things? The things that were mentioned in the verses before.

The things that your Heavenly Father knows you need.

What a blessed promise to remember.

I didn’t consciously start out to fill my mind with worry and thoughts of tomorrow. But it happened. There is a lot going on at present and we are currently living with a lot of uncertainty. But I needed to be reminded that although life is uncertain and the future is unknown, I can trust God. He knows my future and he knows what I need. He will provide.

My job is not to worry, my job is to seek God. Seek God first. With my whole heart. With my every being. With each waking moment. Trusting him. Relying on him. Disciplining my mind to think on good things. Right things. Praying without ceasing. Casting my cares on him. Taking my burdens to the foot of the cross and leaving them there. Letting God deal with them.

If I fill my days with worry, all I’m doing is blinding myself to all the blessings he has given me today. I am choosing to shut my eyes to his goodness, love and mercy, and every good thing he has blessed me with today, and I am being consumed by tomorrow’s issues before they’ve even arisen.

All I’m doing is adding to my burden. Trying to carry today’s burden as well as tomorrows, resulting in more weight than I can bear.

God, help me to trust you. Help me to move from fear to faith. Help me to seek you with my whole heart. Forgive me for my unbelief. Help me not to be anxious and fretful but trusting and believing and submissive to your will. Amen