Christmas Thoughts - Sweet and Sour!

I really hope that all had a blessed safe and happy Christmas 2009!

I have had a lovely time down in Bristol and Newport with my family. Christmas always is a special time for spending it with family and friends - and mine was great. Especially celebrating the recent birth of my baby nephew. It was lovely sitting around the table looking at my large and extended family and feeling incredibly grateful for each and every one of them. One of my presents from my Mum and Dad was the latest John Piper book I requested; "Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ" - the 5th volume in his biographical series that Piper gives at the Bethlehem Conference for Pastors - which I duly read on Christmas Day afternoon and was challenged by.

One of his biographical chapters was on William Tyndale and Piper had some insightful comments. Piper was talking about William Tyndale and why his translation of Scripture attracted so much persecution - particularly from Thomas Moore. Why was this? Piper wrote;

"There were deeper reasons why the church opposed the English Bible; one doctrinal (justification) and the other ecclesiastical (the papal, sacremental structure of the Roman Catholic Church).

The church realised that they would not be able to sustain certain doctrines biblically because the people would see that they are not in the Bible.

And the church realized that their power and control over the people, and even the state would be lost if certain doctrines were exposed as unbiblical - especially the priesthood and purgatory and penance".

Is the modern church so different? Why does a church write on it's website; "... although we would ask that any convictions that would differ from those of the pastoral team be held to privately and not espoused publicly"? What is so wrong with discussion and debate? Of course I agree that trouble making and gossip can never be right, but I don't see in the New Testament where Paul the apostle (for example) EVER commanded that differing convictions be "held privately and not espoused publicly". On the contrary - Paul was aware of the Corinthian's differing views to him and wrote eloquently arguing his case as to why they were mistaken.

I find similar themes in a blog post that Jeff Purswell wrote called; "They Stand in the Very Stead of God". Purswell said;


"No. You are not sharing thoughts. You are not Jay Leno. You are not a talking head. You are standing in the very stead of God. Oh, that is a frightening thing. It’s not only a divine message you are bringing but you are meant to be a suitable vessel for that message".


I must admit I'm still undecided about this (although pretty nervous about Purswell's statement). I was raised to deeply honour preaching. My former pastor Dr Stanley Jebb spoiled us with two hour-long sermons on a Sunday and one mid-week where he would week by week faithfully expound the Scriptures to us. I passionately believe in the Ephesians 4 Ministries of apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastor/teachers. But to assign them this level of standing for God? I'm not sure.


What happens simply when pastors get it "wrong"? And they do. I've sat and watched two men do 180 degree turns in theology and declare they got it wrong. One is documented here; "Why I left the Charismatic Movement". So if Purswell was correct - when was that preacher in particular standing; "In the very stead of God"? Before the change in theology and practice or after? Or can one get it wrong standing in the very stead of God and being a "suitable vessel"?


But all those are just a few thoughts that I will take into the New Year. The slightly sad and painful part of Christmas for me was that for the first time this year - we were not together as a family. I went down on Christmas Eve and left Boxing Day but one of my siblings was not able to be there until the Sunday 27th December. I needed to be back in Birmingham for work commitments but was very keen to see my entire family as we rarely manage to get together these days now my sisters have their own families. However my parent's church scheduled a meeting on the Sunday 27th - which of course I would not have been welcome at.


My sibling was arriving in time for church and of course the family would have then been away at church until at least 13:00. It seemed pointless to me staying in Bristol alone waiting for them to return from church. So I had to leave Saturday night. And as I was driving back - I must admit to getting pretty upset. I've always been close to my family and have loved them dearly. It's not always easy being single particularly in a Christian environment where marriage is pretty much expected. Having a large and thriving family makes up for that - or did - until SGM. I'm sad. I wonder what SG leadership would feel about family unity.


Family/church? Shouldn't it be both? Anyhow - there are some Christmas thoughts.


All in all it's been an absolutely horrid year. BUT! I earnestly believe that the devil brings trials and temptations to try and wreck our faith in the God of Abraham - the God who blesses lavishly and in abundance. The devil doesn't really care about the manner of the trials - to him I suspect as long as the end is achieved, the means are whatever works. If he can drain a Christian to stop believing that God is good and He loves His children then the job is done. That Christian will stop praying, stop worshipping, stop witnessing to the goodness of God and generally stop being "salt and light".


Have I stopped believing in the goodness of God? NEVER! I won't pretend there has been manifest Presence of God where there hasn't. I won't pretend I've been blessed financially or socially where I haven't. But I have a home to live in. A bed to sleep on. Food to eat (mostly!). Clothes to wear. A job to go to. And for that - I give total and pure thanks to God!


Roll on 2010!!

Emmanuel - God WITH US!!

Most bloggers tend to customarily write something especially on Christmas Day. Some thanks to readers usually. Maybe some plans for the future - to continue to blog or not. Maybe a reflection on the past (although that's often more New Years Day). It's very strange. Some of my parent's generation still can't get their head round blogging and find the words of a post as objective as a published book - but already we are talking about the "customs" of blogging! How quickly does the world develop!

I wasn't going to write anything necessarily unless I really felt inspired to. I don't like following customs very much - and I must confess I don't particularly like Christmas Day because I think a lot of sight has been lost about the true meaning of the day. I heard an early sermon by my former pastor Dr Stanley Jebb and he commented how little Easter Sunday and the celebration of the Resurrection - the most glorious moment of all history - is celebrated compared to Christmas.

But my attention was caught by the sermon Rob Rufus preached in Hong Kong last Sunday:

"Emmanuel - God With Us"

I must confess I haven't heard the sermon yet. I'm currently taken up with transcribing and rapturing in the previous message to the CCI prayer meeting: "Pulling Heaven Down". Once again Rob reminds me so much of my hero Dr Ern Baxter! It's so thrilling.

But that matter aside - it was just that simple statement: "God WITH US" that has had me thinking all this Christmas Day. The theme of God being with man is present throughout the whole Bible. God walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day in the Garden of Eden. The crowning moment of glory at the Tabernacle was when the cloud of glory filled the Holy of Holies. And again in Solomon's temple - when the preparations were complete, the cloud of glory filled the place so that the priests could not continue ministering! God was with us!

And then in the New Testament - on Christmas Day - the birth of Jesus Christ, He was called "Emmanuel" - God with us! But that wasn't even it - God was not finished pouring out His Presence upon man. On the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out on all flesh and still is poured out to this day! God is WITH us! If I have one wish and one desire as we advance into 2009 is that I will stop thinking like a Christian and live in spiritual schizophrenia that one day God may be pleased with me due to my good works and the next angry with me due to my mistakes and my flaws.

My wish is that rather I will start living like a son and realise that God is with man. God has shown faithfully throughout His Word that despite man's sin - His desire is to walk with man and commune with man and have relationship with man! And to realise that as His son, His heart will never change towards me! I do sincerely thank from the bottom of my heart each and every person who reads this blog and takes time especially to comment and support and encourage me. I feel so blessed and it's my prayer that 2009 sees a greater advance of the Kingdom of God - as a Kingdom of sons than ever before!

Happy Christmas!!

I am quite concious that the "Humour vs Holy Spirit" post that I published in the early hours of this Christmas Day morning isn't the most positive of posts. The post had to be written and I knew it had to be published because it was weighing on me. But today is a day to celebrate (and many many people including Christians have forgotten why we are celebrating). I have never been so concious than Christmas 2007 has been absent of talking about the Risen and Glorified King and that moment when He came down to earth and was incarnated by the power of the Holy Spirit.

What better way to see in a Christmas than listen to Rob Rufus from last Christmas speaking on;

"The powerful prophetic message of Christmas".

Rather than transcribe the whole message - I am going easy on you. Here are the best and the main quotes! I really pray that this Christmas you become more evident and more aware of the lavish love that God has for you. His love is such that He sent His Son - His only Son - to come to earth! His love is such that when His Son had returned triumphant, He sent His wonderful Holy Spirit to come to earth until the work is done and Jesus returns in glory! May you receive manifest truth of that today.

"Christmas is something to celebrate every day of the year!".

"Many know about a Christmas story but have never had a supernatural Christmas experience. You need the Holy Spirit to show you who Jesus is. When you see who He is - you will be born again!".

"It doesn't matter how bad the Church looks - we are going out in victory! Jesus is triumphant! History is coming to an end! Jesus is coming back and the power of God is miraculously moving across the world! Don't be distressed about all the negative things you see on TV. Focus on the mighty things God is doing in the Church! People are being saved every day in Moslem countries!".

"Prophecy is normal for the Christian! Christian people should be prophetic people! We shouldn't be reacting with shock and surprise - the devil shouldn't be ambushing us! We are called to ambush the devil because we know what is coming! Christian people are a prophetic people - we see the future - we are prepared for the future - we become the future in the now!".

"A marriage of 32 years is a sign to people of what marriage can be like in 32 years time! When God miraculously heals people, it is a sign to people that they can be healed!".

"12 billion US dollars are spent every year by people going to psychics - they are so desperate to hear about their future. I am telling you from the authority of the Bible that psychics do not speak by the Holy Spirit of God but by demon powers and lying spirits. What is most tragic to me is that half of that 12 billion dollars is spent by Christians going to psychics! Because the churches they attend have taken away the supernatural and don't believe in prophecy anymore! If you don't give people food they will eat ANYTHING - even poison!".

"There is a hunger in man to know the future and only a man under the power of the Holy Spirit like Simeon could have supernaturally known the identity and future of this baby. There was so much scandal and condemnation surrounding the birth of this baby. Mary had fallen pregnant before she was married and that was a big scandal in those days. Joseph was trying to convince people it wasn't him but the Holy Spirit who impregnated Mary!".

"If you don't have the prophetic of the Spirit, then you live a shallow life. You are just influenced by rumours and scandal and gossip. You live your whole life drifting because of scandal and gossip. But by the prophetic Simeon saw the true nature of this baby".

"Most people enjoy a brief sentimental feeling about Christmas but they never allow this message to supernaturally change their lives! Simeon saw by the Spirit the TRUE identity of this child because the prophetic was operating in him".

"How did Simeon do that? Everyone of us can do that. We don't only have five physical senses - we have a sixth sense called faith. Faith is not believing something you know is not true. Faith is not a leap into the dark where we kiss our brains goodbye. Faith is a leap into the light - it is a sixth sense as real as your other five senses. Sight - smell - touch - hearing - these senses enable us to contact the physical world. We are created with a sixth sense to contact the supernatural/heavenly world".

"Many people say "I wish I could have your faith". That's as bad as someone saying "I wish I could have your hearing or your sight or your smell". The sixth sense of faith is as real as the other five senses! Sadly many human beings have lost the sense of their sixth sense. When I pick this Bible up, my sense of touch can feel the reality of this Bible. My sense of sight tells me I can see it - it is a reality. But my sixth sense tells me I am going to get healed. And when that sixth sense sees healing you will get healed!".

"There is a solution in this marriage problem coming. There is an answer coming to the problems I am having. Forgiveness is coming! There is such a hunger for meaning in life. Not just making money - if you have a hunger for it, then that proves it exists. Before there was a fin on the fishes back there has to be water".

"Theologians say Simeon was a very old man. "I am not going to die until I see Jesus!". Can you imagine how he was criticised? Simeon knew that he knew that he knew he would see Jesus! The Holy Spirit never lies!".

"The Spirit told him to go into the temple. His sixth sense - his spiritual faculties took him by the temple and he saw many mothers and babies. He came and stood in front of a small little mother - a virgin - with a baby. He grabbed the baby and tears ran down his face. His sixth sense had seen salvation!".

"The same Holy Spirit that was with Simeon is with you today".

"Don't think it is strange for you to long for salvation or for miracles or for signs and wonders today. Salvation is in this house".

"Christmas traditionally is about opening gifts. It is about giving gifts. What happens if tomorrow morning if you have children, they get around the Christmas tree and they pick up the beautifully wrapped gifts and they say "Mum and Dad thank you so much for these gifts" yet one hour later they are still saying "Thank you so much for the gifts!". "Yes yes children but won't you unwrap the gifts?". "No no Mum and Dad I am so excited and salivating over these gifts". "Yes but won't you open them?!".

"The tragedy is that millions of people believe Jesus came as a gift but never open Him. If you don't open the gift then it won't change you. There are millions of church-goers that never open the gift! You can jump out of a plane at 17, 000 with a parachute on your back and while you are hurtling towards the ground you can be singing "I am safe - I have got a parachute". 10, 000 feet from the ground; "I am safe - I have got a parachute". 10 feet from the ground! "I am safe - I am safe!". WHAM! Splatter!

"Today you can walk out those doors with absolute peace in your heart knowing that you know God. All your sins forgiven - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE! All wiped out! Healing can take place in your heart and mind and physical body. Today you must make a decision - "Yes Jesus I receive You today. Just like Simeon knew who You are so do I. You are My Saviour".