Willing to...Suffer (and find Joy in it)?

In my last post I looked at Willing to...Serve? pointing out that churches have many areas in which they need help and that we should do everything we do "as to the Lord". I also pointed out that when we serve, we follow Jesus example, learn humility and share God's love.

Following on from that post, this post is going to look at whether we are Willing to Suffer? This may seem a strange way to follow on but I believe it is a biblical principle. Here are a couple of scriptures to back up my point.

Jesus was a SUFFERING Servant

Isaiah prophesied before Jesus was born that he would be "despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain." Isaiah 53:3.  The writer of Hebrews also says "so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood." The main purpose of Jesus walk on earth was to do the will of God, his father. For this to happen, Jesus had to suffer being rejected by men, betrayed by his disciple, having nails driven in his hand and thorns in his head as well as the incommunicable suffering of bring forsaken by his father. Jesus had immense suffering. If as Christians we believe that Christ is our perfect example then we cannot pick and choose what areas of Christ life are applicable to us. Christianity is not about "whatever suits me best and fits in with my life", but it is about saying "Jesus humbled himself to earth, suffered for me indescribable pain on the cross, for me. My only response can be to follow him and hand over to him every single area of my life". 

Very briefly, it is also worth looking at the suffering which the apostles and early christians went through in establishing the church. Many were crucified and imprisoned, stephen was stoned and some were exiled. Is it just coincidence that the people Jesus chose and commanded to "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 also ended up suffering for that calling? Definitely not. We NEED to be prepared for this. Why?

We To are CALLED To Suffer

Paul in his letter to the Philippians says "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him" - Philippians 1:29. From this we can take that it is part of our calling that in following Christ, we follow him even in suffering. This doesn't mean that each of us will be crucified, the suffering may take many forms. You could suffer financially, spiritually, emotionally or even physically.

In Paul's letter to Timothy he calls him (and us) to "not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God." - 2 Timothy 1:8. So there is a direct link that can be made here. If as a Christian we are ashamed of the gospel, slow to share our faith in Christ then we will have an easy life but also an ineffective one. However, if we accept the call to boldly proclaim the gospel which brought us to salvation then a bi-product of that is suffering. It will happen. So how are we to view this suffering...? 

Joy, Joy, JOY!

Let me start by saying this is so much easier said than done. To find joy in suffering requires a total dependence on God and a realisation of what awaits you at the end of this life. But yes, we are called to be joyful in our suffering.

In Colossians, Paul says "Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you" -  Colossians 1:24. He also encourages us to "join with [him] in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God." - 2 Timothy 1:8. Why should we be joyful in suffering? Because even in our suffering we are glorifying God and for those who glorify God, he will honour. We should also be joyful in our suffering because we know that, no matter how much people may persecute us, a greater day awaits us after this life. A day when Jesus will "wipe every tear from [our] eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain" - Revelation 21:4. If we can manage to look past our suffering and look to the glory that awaits us, we will be able to find joy in our trials.


Paul goes even further and tells us that we should consider the suffering we receive as a gift. In that Philippians 1:29 verse he says "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him". When we receive a gift, we enjoy it and are thankful for it and we should even treasure it.


If we can get this mindset into our heads it will make suffering so much more bearable. Always ask yourself the question "Jesus gave his life for me and suffered so much for me, am I willing to suffer for him?"


Below is a video by John Piper on suffering. This video was sent to me a month or two ago and it has really stuck with me.

Christian Life: Willing to...Serve?

OK so I thought that for a few weeks I'd blog about the christian life and do a mini series called Willing to...? I hope that it will really challenge and help you when thinking about how we walk as Christians and the attitudes that we should have towards particular areas of christian life.


Willing To Serve?
One of the most common complaints of any church pastor or leader when talking about the running of a church is that "20% of people are doing 100%" of the work".  For some people church has become a passive, one day a week experience. We turn up, sit down, listen, stand up and leave. So often people come to church looking for what they can get out of it. Church would be a much better place if every single person came into church praying "Lord help me to give to others in church today, show me where I can serve for your glory". So here are some reasons to consider when thinking why should I serve?


Jesus Was A Servant
This is the focal point when doing anything regarding service. Look at Jesus example. If there was anyone worthy of being serve it would be Jesus the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But instead, Jesus humbled himself to come to earth as a servant. He is our perfect example in all things so we are to serve "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve" - Matthew 20:28. Also notice that when Jesus did serve others, he didn't always go for the service which was the most public or the "nicest" job to have. Some of the miracles he performed in secret, and he also washed the stinking, dirty, smelly feet of the disciples in John 13. Which leads to the next point....


Serving Teaches Humility
One of the biggest things I have learnt when serving is humility. You come to a realisation that God doesn't need you to do his work. He could further his kingdom and receive all the glory he deserves without using us. And yet he still chooses and calls us to serve him. We should consider it a joy and a privilege that God calls us and delights in us when we humbly serve him. He has given us freedom in Christ therefore, we do not continue to live as we used to but live our lives for him and to his glory. Galatians 5:13 says "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love."

Serving Shares God's Love

 Jesus' commandment to his disciples was that they should "Love each other as I [Jesus] have loved you" John 15:12. One of the key ways in which we demonstrate our love for each other is through action. Whether it is, serving people tea and coffee, praying for them, giving them lifts to and from church, helping financially or even helping the older people to their seats. It's all service and it all demonstrates that we have love for each other. When we demonstrate our love for each other by serving, we demonstrate to non-Christians a glimpse of the love that Christ demonstrated in serving. It is the unmerited love of Christ that draws the lost to him.

Hopefully those points have helped in considering or reaffirming why you serve in church. However here are some common arguments on why people don't serve and some challenges to why those viewpoints are wrong.

1. There's No Point! Nobody Notices!
Correct! There are times when no-one notices the work you do. Incorrect! There is still a point. Recently in our School Of Ministry in church, my Pastor told us that if we do things to please man then we will end up disappointed because there will be those times when people don't say thank you or even criticise the work that you do. Instead you should do everything for God realising that it is him you serve. He quoted Colossians 3:23 which says "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,". When we do things for God, we realise that it is him that we serve and, if we have done things to the best of our ability, God is happy with the heart that serves him.


2. The area which I want to serve in is full. There's nothing else I can do!
It is definitely true that we each have areas which we would prefer to serve in. Some people love kids work, some worship ministry and some youth work. However sometimes, we must be willing to serve in areas that we don't feel gifted in or even don't particularly enjoy. This means that maybe, for a season, you will have to scrub the toilets, put out chairs or serve tea and coffee. Remember that the church needs many people doing many things to function. Your role is not less important. Without someone to set up chairs, there would be nowhere for anyone to sit and without someone making coffee there would be no-one who could stay awake...well I wouldn't stay awake anyway! This can be a big struggle but what I've found is that by reading 1 Corinthians 12 on "one church many parts", I can realise my place in service for Christ.


3. I don't have time to serve in church! I'm too busy
We live in a world where we seem to be constantly busy, always on the go and life doesn't seem to stop. So finding time to help serve can be a difficult discipline to grasp. There are those that appear to have more time to serve than others. My challenge for you would be to really look through your schedule to see if you could make room. It may mean cutting those two hours you have in an evening to watch TV down to one hour so that you can make cakes for the Tea and Coffee ministry. It may mean not spending so long on Facebook so you can prepare a Childrens story. It may mean sacrificing the extra time in bed on a Sunday morning to turn up to church early so you can help with the set up or delaying lunch time by half an hour to help clear things up at the end of a service.


Whatever you do, find a joy in service. Realise that you are doing it for a God who sent his only Son to die for you and restore you back to God. Remember that the service you bring is but a fraction of what God deserves. Remember that when we serve God delights in it no matter how seemingly big or small the task may be. Yes glorify God whilst you scrub toilets! Yes glorify God whilst you sweep up a dirty floor! Yes glorify God even when you throw away people's left over coffee! Why? Because you are serving the King of Kings who notices every service, every person does!

Struggling with Sin: Victory in Christ

So in the last post I talked about how we all struggle with sin and some reasons why I believe its important to share. So this time I thought I'd share about another aspect of dealing with sin, realising the victory we have because we are found in Christ Jesus. Paul says in Corinthians,

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15 v 56 & 57

God promises us through his word that, when we depend upon him he will give us the victory over sin. A lot of the time, christians walk around as if it is impossible for them to defeat their sin. In one sense, they are right! In our own strength, we are powerless to defeat sin. God knew this and, in his mercy, he sent Christ as fully God, fully man to pay the final sacrifice. Lots of people will stop there but we can go further. Christ payed the final sacrifice so that we may no longer fear sin but have victory in Christ over it. Jesus did not come just to free us from sin but to stand up and do battle with it in the knowledge that victory is sure for those who are found in him.

And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

Romans 8 : 2-4

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

1 John 4:4

When we really live these verses out in our daily lives, the change and effect is extraordinary. In realising these truths, we can stand strong against sin. As christians, yes we will still fall because we will never be perfect until we reach heaven but, if we keep reminding ourselves that we are no longer "Slaves to sin" but are now "bond-servants to God", our sin can become less frequent.

Victory in Christ is amazing when we realise it. Bear in mind that Satan does not want you to realise your victory in Christ because when we do, we realise how truly powerless he is over us. The one thing he can do to us as christians is weigh us down with our sin and cause us to stumble instead of living our lives for God. Realise your enemy, realise your sin and then realise that they need not have power over you because you serve a conquering king. To him be the glory.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6: 10-17

Suffering Silently with your Sin: 5 Reasons to Share

Probably one of the top five problems amongst christians and churches today is how we deal with and look at sin. So many of us try to hide it, cover it up and pretend that it doesn't exist in our lives. Of course, when sin comes up as a discussion we will say "I sin all the time and I know my sin displeases God" and we are right to say that. But so often we are vague and sketchy about our sin when discussing it with other people. Why is this the case? I suppose the simple answer is found in the gospel of John "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." - John 3:19 . Yes as christians we are saved by Christ’s blood which covers all our sin, but we still sin and the sinful nature's reaction is to cover it up and pretend its not there. So here are five reasons to break this mould and to share your sin with those closest to you.

1. Accountability

The first thing to mention when searching for someone to have as a one to one accountability partner is that they need to be a christian, a close friend and dependable. Once that person has been found it's important to be completely honest with them. Pauls instructions for Christians living in Ephesians 4:25 say “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbour, for we are all members of one body.” If honesty is lacking in the relationship then the accountability sessions will be fruitless. However, once you share openly and honest with someone, they will then be aware of your particular sins and be able to look out, rebuke, encourage and correct you.

This is probably the hardest part of the whole process. We don’t like being completely honest about our sin and we like to cover things up. I know that is one of my traits and it has been a massive battle to face up to some of the things I’ve done. But take it from someone who has been through that fire, the rewards are life changing.

2. Study Together

One of the key ways of tackling your sin is studying with someone. This can be really useful as you can look at scripture in reference to sin or even the particular sin that you are struggling with. Studying God's word has a direct effect on tackling sin. David writes "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you" in Psalm 119:3. See the link, when we study, meditate and keep Gods word it can keep us from sinning. God's word also gives us instruction in what to replace our sin with in Romans 6:13 "Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness."  If we realise that we need to completely submit ourselves to God, willingly and gladly, then sin will have much less of a foothold in your life.

3. Pray Together

After studying, its always great to pray with each other and continue praying for each other as the week goes on.  Sometimes it can just be a great encouragement and spur you on not to sin when you know a brother or sister in Christ is praying for you. We can also pray that God would help us to see our sin as He see's it. We know that God despises the sin that we do and that Christ has died for that sin. When we realise the anguish and pain it brought our Saviour, our desire should be to turn from it. James also encourages us to help each other in this. In chapter 5 verse 20 he says "Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins." Praying with each other means that you can lead each other to confessing your sin before God which in turn means you can both...

4. Lead each other to the Gospel

This is probably the most beautiful part of being accountable to someone. There can be times when you feel so weighed down and buried by sin that you cannot lead yourself to the cross and forgiveness. There have been so many times when I've felt like my sin was just too big for Jesus to deal with. There have been times when I've felt like I've hurt so many people in so many ways that there is no way God would want to hear from me. By God's grace, at these times he has always provided someone to give me a wake-up call and point me to the gospel. They'’ve brought me verses such as Ephesians 1:7 "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace" and Acts 3:19 "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,". My personal favourite is Psalm 103:12 "As far as the east is from the west, that's how far God has removed our sins from us". God, because of the work of Christ on the cross, has banished my sins as far away as possible from me. He remembers them no more and I am clothed in the perfect life of Christ, a saint.

5. Understand Grace Better

The ultimate experience of this is that you have a deeper understanding of Gods grace which in turn leads to falling more in love with him. When we understand grace more then the more we will be gracious to others. Paul tells us to "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Colossians 4:6. When we are more gracious to people, the more likely they will be to confide in you and the more likely you will be able to help them and build people up for the kingdom. Also, see how the process has come around full circle. We started off struggling with our own sin, and now we have come round to a position where we can help and guide other struggling christians.

So if you struggle with sin realise you are not alone. I have never met a christian who doesn't struggle with sin. Find a good christian friend, be open and honest and lead each other to the cross and the blood that washes us whiter than snow. 

An apology, A retraction and a blog.

1. Firstly I'd like to apologise. I did promise to blog this at the end of last week. I had final assignments and dissertation in uni so I didn't have any time to post...Better late than ever.


2. Secondly in a recent blog entitled Worship - Being accurate in what we sing where I said I didn't like the phrase of Gods heart breaking. However it has been pointed out to me that God does reference to his heart breaking in the old testament. For this I am sorry. I suppose it just shows that we have to constantly look at our opinions and reform them as our biblical knowledge increases.


3. So down to the blog. Basically here are some common comments or questions that I've come across regarding singing old songs. I hope you find them useful. Obviously they are just my opinion and you are free to disagree.


As a preface, let me make clear that I am not against new and modern songs. Some of the people I look up to most in worship are still alive today. I go to a church where we sing modern and older songs and I love that we have both.




Won't people just get confused by some of the big words in the songs, especially if their new christians?
Firstly, it is definitely true that for new christians, some biblical terms are new and confusing. But I don't believe that the way around this is just not to sing the songs. Instead, perhaps explain some of the difficult terms before you sing the song. It doesn't have to be long and it only needs to take a minute. That way you are tackling people's confusion and not just avoiding it.  Also it is worth pointing out that there are versions that use different words which are designed to be more contemporary and easier to understand. These have their place and can be really useful. Personally I feel that sometimes, these versions lose some of their meaning. 




The older hymns have a really old style of music that doesn't fit in with the style that my congregation sings.
Again it is true that some of the tunes and styles of writing of hymns are old and sometimes even complicated. There are three great ways around this. One is to contemporise the original tune. For ideas on this why not listen to some of the Enfield Hymn Sessions by resolved music. They have modernised the tunes of songs such as And Can It Be and O The Deep Deep Love Of Jesus.  Alternatively you could find a new tune already written.  There are plenty of these around, some good some not so great. My favourite is  Phatfish and their new tune to To God Be The Glory.  The third option is to try your hand at writing your own tune. I think its really important for people who lead worship or are involved in worship to be writing their own songs. Firstly you will always write for your congregation and secondly I think it can be massively beneficial for you personally, I know that is my experience. 




Older hymns aren't relevant in todays society. We've moved on!
In response to this, I'd say that any song that is based around the truth of God's word and glorifies him is relevant today.  The need for people to find and trust in Jesus is no less today than it was a hundred years ago.  People who feel trapped by sin still need to be re-assured that 
"The vilest offender who truly believes, 
that moment from Jesus a pardon receives" 
     And all christians in anticipation for heaven can belt out 
"When He comes our glorious King, 
All his ransomed home to bring, 
Then anew this song we'll sing
HALLELUJAH what a Saviour!"




Older Hymns are always too long and people tend to get bogged down by them.
Again there are definitely those hymns that seem to go on forever. Some even have 12 verses each eight lines long. True these can make even the most enthusiastic worshipper weary but why not try singing those verses which are more relevant to the topic or series you are covering.  There are also those verses which can always be left out. For example in our church,  when we sing the song  How Great Thou Art, we leave out the verse which talks about the birds in the trees. It just seems to make more sense going from God in creation to Jesus sacrifice on the cross to His return as ruler of all.  The other verse just doesn't seem to fit there.




I don't like hymns so I wont sing them when I lead worship.
This is the type of comment that saddens me most. To people who say this firstly I would encourage you to remember that worship isn't about the date the song was written but about its content. If a song glorifies God and magnifies Christ as our only saviour then it is worth singing. If the song speaks the truths of the bible describing how sinners sick with sin can be healed and redeemed by the blood of the Lamb then it is worth shouting from the rooftops.


Above all we should remember that God is to be glorified in our worship. He is to be the centre because...well, He is. He is the one who gives me the ability to type on this computer. He is the one who has given me breath, clothes, food, family and friends.


How good is the God we adore,
Our faithful unchangeable Friend!
His love is as great as His power,
And knows neither measure nor end!

Worship - Can a Song be Too Old For Us To Sing?

Ok so this is a question and an issue that has been around for a long time. The two ends of the spectrum look something like this.

"I believe we should only sing older songs. These are songs written by Godly men who really knew what it was to seek God. They are theologically accurate and the tunes which are written for these songs are reverent and fitting for the worship of a Holy God. Modern day songs focus on the driving beat and align themselves to closely to the world in the style of music and often present weak theology"

on the other hand we have views such as

"I believe we should only sing modern, bang up to date songs. These songs are up to date culturally and are presented in a familiar style to the non-christian meaning that church isn't a scary or unusual place to enter. The words are also easy to understand and make sense whilst still presenting biblical truths. Older songs present out of date English which is hard to understand and often clumsy to sing. The tunes sung also come across as depressing and lifeless."

Two very contrasting views both with elements of truth but both misguided in areas. Before dealing with these two views, it's probably a good idea to think about what we should look for in a song.

Firstly, all the songs we sing in church should be God centred and God directed. Basically if your song doesn't talk about God or Christ, there are probably better songs worth singing. God should be the centre of our lives and the centre of our affections. Philippians 1:21 says "To live is Christ". If Christ is the centre of our lives so should he be the centre of our worship including singing!

Secondly, our songs should be filled with the truth and word of God. This should be the case for two reasons. One, as christians, we constantly need reminding of who God is and the truth that he has given us in his word. For the christian, being reminded of the truth should refresh and revitalise us like the rain quenches the thirst of the dry ground. Secondly, when non-christians come into our church, we want them to have an encounter with God and ultimately come to have a living relationship with him. The only way that this can happen is if the truth of Gods word is proclaimed to them whether in song, prayer or preaching. Jesus said "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free" - John 8:32 

Thirdly, we should make sure that we sing a variety of songs that talk about all aspects of God. When you look at Psalms (the Bible's songbook) we see that it covers topics like confession, meditation, seeking God, Gods holiness, Gods justice, Gods mercy, Gods Kingship and God as creator as well as many more. It is important that we sing about all aspects of God otherwise we end up only conveying a God of Love or a God of mercy. Of course God is all these things but he is also a God of Justice who we need to confess our sins to. When we sing about every aspect of God, we remind ourselves and present to others a FULL GOD!

In my opinion, if a song has these three elements in them then they are fit and useful for sung worship whether written by Charles Wesley or Tim Hughes. Its not about when the song was written or who wrote it. The important point is that the content is sufficient in aiding people to worship God. Too often we get tied up with who wrote a song or when it was written and fail to analyse whether or not it glorifies God. I believe it is important that we sing both old and new songs. Singing old songs means that we relate with the church universal reminding us that we are part of a massive family not only worldwide but from various ages. By singing older songs we remind ourselves of the gifts that God gave to our forefathers and recognise the blessing he poured out on them in their time. We realise that God has been faithful through all ages and by singing these older songs we stand uniting with those who have run the race before us. In singing newer songs, we recognise that God is still blessing people in being able to write new songs which still describe and glorify him. We realise that God is still moving  and active in the world and still pours out his Holy Spirit to provide people with the gift of writing music to his praise.

In my discussions with various worship leaders in various churches, I've come across various questions from both camps about how they cope with new and old songs or why they don't sing them. In my next post I hope to deal with some of these questions and how I would respond to them. What are your views? Do you have any issues with singing old/new songs?

5 Reasons to Read the Bible.

Recently, I've found myself having really blessed and great personal worship with God. These times always focus around the Bible. Usually I read two or three Psalms followed by an old testament chapter with commentary (currently I'm in Micah) and then a new testament chapter followed by meditation on it and then writing down my thoughts. After this I go through my prayer diary and finish off with singing some songs.


The Bible is central to the active christians faith. Tozer said that "The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian." But why is this the case? What's the reason to read the bible? Well there are many but here are five main points why I think it's important to read the bible.

1. A Closer Walk
The strength and standing of a christian is based on the strength of their relationship with God. To have a great relationship with someone then you must spend time with them, find out about them and find out what they are like. You need to find out what makes them happy, what disappoints them and what they expect from you. It is exactly the same with our relationship with God. He has given us all the information we need to know about him in the bible. The bible tells us that God hates sin. It also tells us in Exodus 34:14 that he is a "Jealous God", In Numbers 14:18 God is "slow to anger, abounding in love" but that he also "does not leave the guilty unpunished". God clearly tells the christian what he wants from them in my favourite verse, Micah 5:8 "And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Or as a famous hymn writer said... 


O for a closer walk with God
A calm and heavn'ly frame
A light that shines upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb

2. A Deeper Knowledge
Without reading the bible (the WHOLE of the bible) we will leave out characteristics of God and therefore not understand him as much as we can on earth. It is true that we will never ever fully understand God but this does not mean we become complaicant and apathetic towards knowing him. It means we should strive to know him as much as we can to please him. This can be done through the diligent and disciplined study of Gods word. David said "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you" Psalm 119:11. It is worth recognising that in the bible, fear of God and knowledge go hand in hand with each other. Proverbs 2:4-6 says "and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD  and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding."


3. An Effective Ministry
If you have a closer walk with God and a deeper knowledge of his Word then you will be more able in your service to others. When people come to you with problems or issues, a closeness to God and a familiarity with his word will enable you to recall scripture better and effectively and biblically help the person who seeks your advice. So often I know I've given bad advice to a brother or sister in Christ when my daily reading is suffering and I am far from God. I believe that when we are closer to God, we understand his heart more and therefore can give people better advice and support which is more in tune with Gods heart.


4. A Shining Light
When we have an effective ministry, we shine Christ much more in our lives. When we are closer to God it reflects in the living out of our daily lives. As people see this in our lives, some will despise you but some will crave after what you have. This in turn will turn people to seek after God and come to know him. Jesus calls us to be salt of the earth, a city on a hill and a shining light. He also promises that when we do this, others "may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16


6. A Constant Reminder
As a christian, the bible is a constant reminder of so many things. It reminds me that I am a sinner. Romans 3:23 tells me that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God". This makes me weep, it makes me realise that even today the wrong that I have done offends God it upsets him. However, the very next verse reminds me that Christ has already paid the debt that I owed to God, so that I can have a relationship with him "and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus" Romans 3:24. The bible reminds me constantly of my need for Jesus. It reminds me to confess my sin to God daily and also reminds me that daily I receive forgiveness "Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin." Psalm 32:5. The best part is that the bible reminds me that I have a home, secured in heaven. A guaranteed citizenship on the golden shores of God's paradise, a place where peace and justice reign. A land where there "There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain" Revelation 21:4. Hallelujah! Praise Jesus for all he has done!


All to Jesus I surrender;
Now I feel the sacred flame.
Oh, the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!

Memorising Scripture - When it all goes wrong.

Well, my Philippians challenge bubbles along slower than intended but that's ok! A few weeks ago, my pastor's wife asked me to quote chapter 1 v 5. Instead I accidentally quoted chapter 1 v 6. I explained that I hadn't been learning the individual verses just chunks at a time. However, this got me to thinking how it is very important to be able to remember specifically where the verse you are quoting is from. Otherwise this can happen....

Worship - Being accurate in what we sing.

"Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever" - Westminster Shorter Catechism Q.1

As Christians, our lives should be lived out to glorify God above all things. Part of the way we do this is in our worship whether personal or corporate. This means the content of what we sing is of vital importance. There is some amazing way that the majority of humans can recall the lyrics of songs very easily. These words stick with us and so part of our theology is formed by the songs that we sing. There are loads and loads of great christian songs available to us both old and new.  However, we should make sure that we think about the songs we sing, checking the words to make sure that they are accurate and helpful. So many times I've sung songs not thinking about the words and then someone will point out a line in the song that isn't theologically correct. The question is what do we do with these songs?

My suggestion is that if there is just one line or word that is unhelpful or inaccurate that you attempt to replace it with something better. Here are some examples...

My Song Is Love Unknown
I love this song. The tune really fits the words and the majority of the words are beautiful. However there is one line which is unbiblical. The line, referring to Jesus going to the cross, reads...
"Yet cheerful he to suffering goes"
This is not a phrase found in the bible. Jesus did not go to the cross cheerfully. It was not a joyful experience for him. It was agony and tortue. Hebrews 12 v 2 tells us that because of the joy that was before Him, Jesus "endured the cross". Perhaps a better line would be...
"Yet willing he to suffering goes"

Hillsong - This is Our God
I love this song, especially the chorus as it explains the gospel quickly, simply and accurately. The only problem I have with it is the first line which says...
"Your grace is enough, more than I need"
Here, I can understand what the songwriter was trying to get at. She was trying to explain and describe the abundance of grace that we receive from God. The bible tells us that God's has given us "surpassing grace" -  2 Corinthians 9 v 14 and that he has given us "sufficient grace" - 2 Corinthians 12 v 9.  The problem is that the words "more than I need" suggests that there is grace left over which would mean that there is a waste of grace. God is not a God of waste, he gives us a huge amount of grace but exactly the amount of grace we need. A better line could be...
"Your grace is enough, it's all I need"

Hillsong - Hosanna
Again this is a song I really like. I think the lyrics (mostly) are great with a good tune as well. There is just one which I think is inaccurate. It's the line that goes.
"Break my heart for what breaks yours"
Again I can understand what the songwriter was trying to describe here. It's right that we should desire to have the heart of God, that we should live and long to do his will. The only problem is the description of God's heart breaking, this sort of line is also used in the song Filled With Compassion. The breaking of the heart has connotations with hopelessness. When a family member dies, people's hearts break because there is nothing they can do. This is not the case with God, with him all things are possible and therefore there is never a hopeless situation. I've struggled coming up with an alternative line for this song, the best I can think of is "fill my heart with what fills yours" but I'm not sure this sounds right when sung.

The other kind of songs are those songs which generally are unhelpful songs with more than just one line which isn't useful. I think that these songs should probably be avoided altogether because there are so many great songs out there for us to sing. For example...
Draw me close to you
This song doesn't mention Christ, God or the gospel. This is the kind of song I like to describe as "the boyfriend song". Basically, someone could be singing this to their boyfriend without having to change any of the words. If we want to sing a song based on drawing close to God then perhaps it would be better to sing This is my desire or I surrender All

I really don't want this post to come across as if we shouldn't sing anything or that we should only sing songs from a particular period. God has blessed us with fantastic songs old and new and we should sing songs from all ages. My point is that what we sing is important and we should read and think through songs before we sing them. I think it's beneficial because it makes us more accurate and improves our theology. Please feel free to disagree and leave any comments. Thanks for reading :-)

10 Reasons Why You Should Go To Church - Part 2

Ok well the last post I put up has had the highest number of hits of any posts I've done so far so here is Part 2. Hope you guys enjoy!


5. To Encourage and Be Encouraged
    One of the things I always take away from being in church is the encouragement it brings! Being surrounded by fellow brothers and sisters worshipping and praying out to God as well as Gods word being explained. Its such a great time. It's also a time when, whether we realise it or not, we encourage others just by being there and also more specifically when we pray or discuss things with them.


encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. - 1 Thessalonians 5 v11


6. Unity in the Gospel
    In one single church you will have different people with different views on various topics. There will be a difference of opinion on areas such as gifts of the spirit, prophecy, music and bible versions but as each member stands and sings or prays, we show a unity in the Gospel which saved us! Paul encourage us to keep this unity


Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called - Ephesians 4 v 2-4.


7. Preparation For Heaven
       It is true that God called us and saved us as individuals, but we are also called us (plural) to be His people. We are citizens of Heaven and children of the King and when we worship in Heaven, it will be a corporate event as much as an individual event. Even though church is the faintest of shadows to what Heaven will be like, it is still a glimpse into the glory that awaits us.


After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God, 
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.” - Revelation 7 v 9 & 10



8. Correction and Conviction
     I know that personally, I am rubbish at rebuking and correcting myself. If I know there's a particular ongoing sin in my life, I make sure it doesn't come up in my daily reading. So often when I go to church or home group, I feel convicted of something that I need to change in my life. God uses other people in our lives to help us along the path to righteousness. This includes correction.


Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid. - Proverbs 12 v 1


9. Servanthood 
    To be a servant is to have the mind of Christ. The best place we can serve is in church. There are so many different areas like meet and greet, setting up, setting down, audio-visual, worship, kids church, tea and coffee, leading a discussion group, offering lifts to those without transport along with many others. Church is a great place to serve.


He (Christ Jesus) made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant - Philippians 2 v 7


10. To Glorify God
     As much as this is the last point, it is definitely the biggest priority for us to do not only in church, but in the whole of our lives. God is a jealous God, jealous for His own glory. This does not make God wrong or sinful. He is our creator and our sustainer and he alone is worthy of all glory and all honour. No glory should go to anyone or anything else and we should reflect this when we go to church. To glorify God should be the one desire on our heart.


Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. - Exodus 34 v 14


One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. - Psalm 27 v 4


I really missed my church this week, but God obviously wanted to give me a wake-up call in learning to appreciate my church family more. I hope you've found these two posts useful in your own life. Perhaps you've been wavering in your church attendance. Maybe you've been hopping from church to church. Can I encourage you to find and settle into a good bible based, God centered, Christ focussed church quickly and, commit yourself to them as part of your life dedicated to God.


God Bless You

10 Reasons Why You Should Go To Church - Part 1

So this week, due to a car breaking down, I didn't make it to church...Gutted. It's got me thinking about the biblical reasons why we should go to church and the benefits that come from doing so. As a pre-requisite I would like to stress that obviously going to church alone does not make you a christian.


 The only way to become a christian is by accepting that you have sinned and are destined to an eternity facing the righteous judgement of God and there's nothing you can do about it in your own strength. Following this you need to realise that God sent his one son Jesus Christ who lived a perfect life on this earth, never thinking a wrong thought or doing a wrong action. Jesus was crucified like a criminal, like the lowest of the low being whipped beaten spat on and humiliated. On top of this he faced the punishment of his own Father turning away from him. Why? all because he died and took our sin on the cross. Then Jesus conquered death, defeated satan and now if you say sorry (truly) for your sin and ask for forgiveness (which results in you desiring to please God on this earth and follow his commands and instructions for life) then you will be accepted as a child of God and will have a citizenship in Heaven.


Thats a big pre-requisite but, its important. So I suppose the next 10 points are aimed at those who are already christians but even if you aren't a christian feel free to keep on reading :). Here are the first 4. The next 6 will appear in a couple of days. 


1. Corporate Public Worship.
    The Bible talks so much about people worshipping together. I believe that there is something special about worshipping together as many Christians gather with one sole purpose, to glorify God. The Psalms back this up. 


Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker - Psalm 95 v 6
Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy. - Psalm 99 v 9
Let us go to His dwelling place, let us worship at His footstool - Psalm 132 v 7


It talks so much about us (plural) coming to worship God. So this is what God desires on top of our daily personal worship.


2. A Reminder of The Gospel.
     When we come to worship, it is such a visual description of the gospel at work. For we are all sinners, unworthy to approach the throne of God in worship but, because of the blood of Jesus we are cleansed and granted access to glorify and magnify our Maker!


Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. - Romans 5 v 1 & 2


3. Deeper Biblical Knowledge.
     One of the best reasons to come to church is that you get to hear the bible opened and explained by those who are blessed with better biblical insight than you. God has given wisdom to your pastors, elders and christians further on in their walk with God so that you can learn from them. The bible tells us that being instructed builds up the church which can never be a bad thing!


When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. - 1 Corinthians 14 v 26


4. Deeper Relationships
As christians we should love each other. The only way we increase our love for each other is getting to know each other more. Jesus said...


 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." -  John 15 v 9 -12


Notice how when we love others, it doesn't just benefit them but it also benefits us. Jesus tells us when we love our "Joy may be complete". When we give we also receive, thats how good God is.


Well I hope that's useful for you. I've definitely enjoyed thinking about it. Next 6 points will be up within the next two days. God bless you all.