A New Creation

 'And I will give you a new heart, and I will put  a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn  heart and give you a tender responsive heart.' Ezekiel 26:26 (NLT)

Saint Paul wrote when we received Christ as our saviour, we received new life!  

'This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!' 2 Cor 5:17 (NLT)

The King James Version of the bible renders this as 'a new creation.' 

St Paul went further in Romans 12 to state that we could offer our bodies as a living sacrifice and in exchange be transformed by the renewing of our minds,

'Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.' Romans 12:1-2a

In a sermon at Charis Methodist Church on the 18 April 2021, Bishop Solomon described this new life as a redemptive relationship with the triune God, a living relationship. He went on to expound on 3 truths of that relationship.

• A New Position - We develop a redemptive relationship with the Triune God. Romans 8:38-39 'For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'

• A New Power - We are more than conquerors. Romans 8:37: 'No in all these things we are more than conquerors.' 

• A New Promise - We are co-heirs with Christ. Romans 8:16-17: 'The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.'    

Billy Graham mentioned seven gifts associated with this new life in Christ (Ref 1)

• A New Relationship. Once we were alienated from God because of our sins but now we are God's children, reborn into the family of God.

• A New Citizenship. Now we possess dual citizenship. We owe allegiance to our country but we are also citizens of the kingdom of God.

• A  New Family. We are now related to other believers, our spiritual brothers and sisters. We are never alone; we are a part of God's family, a family that loves us and will help us.

• A New Purpose. We used to live for ourselves but when we come to Christ, God gives us a new purpose. Now we want to life for Christ, not just for ourselves

• A New Power. God Himself comes to live within us by His Holy Spirit. We are not meant to live the Christian life all by ourselves. The Holy Spirit empowers us.

• A New Destiny. Once we were headed for hell; now we are headed for heaven. Once we were bound for eternal separation from God; now we live with Him forever.

• A New Journey. We are on to a whole new path, it is a whole new beginning; the beginning of a whole new life.

It is a Life of Service. The Bible speaks of this service as walking humbly with God. 

'What does not Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.' Micah 6:8

St Paul exhorted in Romans

'Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.' Romans 12:11-12

It is a Life in the Spirit. We are controlled by the Spirit of God no longer driven by our sinful nature 

'But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you.' Romans 8:9a

'Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.' Romans 8:5

C. S Lewis in 'Mere Christianity' wrote that man's pursuit of happiness without God is futile, "And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history—money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery—the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy."

To put it simply, Christian living is God's way of living; a life of true happiness and contentment. No wonder that we should ask God, to Create In Me A Clean Heart

Create in me a clean heart, O God

And renew a right spirit within me

Create in me a clean heart, O God

And renew a right spirit within me

Cast me not away from Thy presence, O Lord

And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me

Restore unto me, the joy of Thy salvation

And renew a right spirit within me

Lionel

Ref 1: Billy Graham, The Journey, Thomas Nelson, 2006

Maranatha

'For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God and the the dead in Christ will rise  first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them to meet the lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.' 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Maranatha, מרנאתא is an Aramaic word which means Our Lord, Come. It is occurs in the Bible only once in the closing chapters of the book of 1 Corinthians, 1 Cor 16:22. It is understood to be an early prayer for the early return, otherwise known as the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Many people use this word as a mantra in their meditation in the tradition of John Main. John Douglas Main, OSB (1926 - 1982) was a Benedictine monk and Roman Catholic Priest who taught a way of meditation which used a simple prayer-phase or mantra repetitively. He taught, "Not only is this one of the most ancient Christian prayers, in the language Jesus spoke, but it also has a harmonic quality that helps to bring the mind to silence." (Ref 1). This practice lives on in the ecumenical network of Christian meditation groups known as the World Community for Christian Meditation led by another Benedictine monk, Father Laurence Freeman, OSB. 

The prayer-phrase, Maranatha, expresses the longing for the second coming of Jesus Christ. The closing verses of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, reveals this expectation,

'He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.' Revelation 22:20  

Today, the second coming of Jesus Christ, is not often taught in the churches but in the early days of Christianity, the church expected an imminent return; a relief to the severe persecutions they faced from the Jews and the Romans. Since then at times of depravity, hardships, crisis and persecutions, Christian circles have often prayed this prayer, Maranatha!

One of the best sermons on the topic was given by Billy Graham. This was a no-holds-barred sermon on the second coming of Christ given in 1990 in Albany, New York. This is a sermon worth listening to, it's thorough and given with the passion and honesty that was Billy Graham's. 

When we pray 'Come Lord Jesus' and when we meditate 'Maranatha' we should, just as Billy Graham warned, be ready at all times for His coming again. The Bible says

'But the day of the Lord will come like a thief...what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.' 2 Peter 3:10a, 11b and 12. 

Jesus spoke of His second coming warning us to be on our guard, that is, to be ready. Many will be oblivious towards God and living in debauchery as in the days of Noah. We are told to be different.

'But about that day or hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, not the Son but only the Father. As in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.'  Matthew 24:36-39 

Jesus' warning that many will not be ready in Matthew 24:40-41 was put into a song written by Larry Norman, 'I Wish We'd All Been Ready' 

Life was filled with guns and war

And everyone got trampled on the floor

I wish we'd all been ready

Children died the days grew cold

A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold

I wish we'd all been ready

There's no time to change your mind

The Son has come and you've been left behind

A man and wife asleep in bed

She hears a noise and turns her head, he's gone

I wish we'd all been ready

Two men walking up a hill

One disappears and one's left standing still

I wish we'd all been ready

There's no time to change your mind

How could you have been so blind

The father spoke the demons dined

The Son has come and you've been left behind

You've been left behind

We are told to keep watch,

'Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.' Matthew 24:42

Saint Paul interpreted this readiness as keeping the faith, practicing love and keeping hope in God. Instead of debauchery St Paul urged us all to be sober,

'Let us be sober, putting on faith and love as breastplate, and the hope of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our lord Jesus Christ.' I Thessalonians 5:8-9

Do not be left behind! Be sure of your salvation!

Lionel

Ref 1: John Main, Biography, theschoolofmeditation.org.

The Truth Will Set Your Free

Jesus said, "If you hold on to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth , and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32

At the time of Jesus the Jews came under the influence of false teachers whose  teaching made the Mosaic Laws very oppressive. The Pharisees and Sadducees of Jesus were feeding the people with these false teachings so much so that the Jews were held captive to very repressive beliefs. 

It was not meant to be. God in Deuteronomy 30:11-14 actually made it very clear that His commandments and laws are not meant to be crippling

'Now what I have commanded you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us that we may obey it?" No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.' 

Jesus refuted such oppressive and repressive teachings.  He said that the truth of His teaching will be truly liberating, "Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." 

Have you ever wondered why some people are captive to lies and false information? Why do they not want to know the truth? Perhaps they are too scared to know the reality. Perhaps they are too proud to admit that they are wrong. Perhaps their beliefs restrict them from exploring the truth about themselves nor to discover their reasons for living. Perhaps they are misled.

In this information-manipulative world, much of truth have been mixed with half-truths, half-lies and lies. So much misinformation has been spread online; sensational news, overblown claims, misinterpreted facts. For example, many listening to exaggerated news of side effects refused to take the Covid vaccines and prefered to remain unprotected. In a way the misinformation we consume from cyber communications manipulate us, control our thoughts and emotions. Many are ever willing to allow these lies influence our choices and lifestyles. 

In 1969, Billy Graham in a classic sermon on Truth and Freedom spoke prophetically about this modern communication age and our attitudes towards truth. It may be worth our while to listen to this great preacher, it is liberating!

There is an information overload in this modern world. It is folly to listen to the many voices around us if we fail to listen to the one voice that really matters. Jesus is the voice of truth - Truth of God. Jesus is voice of authority - Breath of God. Jesus is the voice of solidarity - God with Us.

Lionel 

A Miracle Called James

James Rui-An Gifford

Baby James Gifford arrived on 7 Feb 2008 (1st Day of the Lunar New Year) at 6.58pm. He weighs 3 kilos and measures 51 cm long. He is a beautiful baby with lots of dark brown hair and a small handsome looking face. Debbie was very tired after a long day and we were too, waiting at home for news from John who was by her side.

All day long I was mulling over the birth of my first grand child; not knowing what we will receive. Parents and grandparents relied entirely on God’s grace. Awed by the miracle of birth and groping to find its meaning, the song “I believe” came to mind. There is line in the lyrics - “Every time I hear a new born baby cry, I believe”. 

I believe for every drop of rain that falls

A flower grows
I believe that somewhere in the darkest night
A candle glows
I believe for everyone who goes astray
Someone will come to show the way
I believe
I believe

I believe above the storm the smallest prayer
Will still be heard
I believe that someone in the great somewhere
Hears every word
Every time I hear a newborn baby cry
Or touch a leaf
Or see the sky
Then I know why
I believe
I believe

“What’s the nearest thing to proof that God exists?” David Frost, the famous TV interviewer asked Dr Billy Graham the evangelist once. “The birth of a baby,” Graham answered, “I watched my younger son being born. And the doctor that was delivering the baby looked up at me and he said, “How can anyone see this without realizing that there is a God?”

I was anticipating James throughout these 9 plus months of pregnancy the same way as I was anticipating his mother’s birth 28 years ago. Back then I was more naïve. I was more excited for my firstborn. Nevertheless, I felt the same anxiety and restlessness over the uncertainty of what will come. The same resignation that we can do nothing and that the gift we will receive is entirely up to God. Hardly a day passes without invoking God’s grace, mercy and provision for our family.

Kent Nerburn wrote in Simple Truth, “A child whether of your blood or someone else’s, whether healthy or ill, whether beautiful or misshapen, is one of life’s greatest miracles. It opens your world into a new sunlight and is a gift greater than a dream". Similarly, David the psalmist and king, contemplated, 

'Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous -- and how well I know it.' Psalm 139:14.

I am blessed to be a grandfather. We received a miracle called James. Praise God along with us.

Lionel