Excerpts from Wayne Jacobsen's book 'He loves me'
"After his work on the cross was finished Jesus went looking for love and he sought it from the one who had just failed him most. (Peter) Could this be what he most wanted the cross to produce in his followers? Was his death designed to reach past their fears of God and begin a new relationship based on the intimacy of love instead?
Love lies at the very core of God's nature. In fact, when John summed up the substance of God he said simply: "God is love." Father, Son and Spirit exist in a perfect state of love. When that love touches you, you will discover there is nothing more powerful in the entire universe. It is more powerful than your failures, your sins, your disappointments, your dreams, and even your fears. Nothing can prevail over it; and nothing else will lead you to taste of his kind of holiness.
The fear of God is incomplete - it is the first rung on the ladder to knowing God in his fullness. He said hmself it was the beginning of wisdom, but it is only the beginning. Love is the end product of wisdom.
If you don't love God, you will be well served to fear him. At least it might keep you from destructive behaviours... But once you know how much he loves you, you'll never need to fear him again. In other words, this Father doesn't just see your obedience, he desires your affection. He can have your obedience without your love, but he knows where he has your love he will also have your obedience.
"There is no fear in love.... because fear has to do with punishment," John wrote as he tried to convince the church in Ephesus that God's love had replaced the old order of fear. It was revolutionary then and regrettably still is today. We seem more comfortable fearing God than we do loving him.
But fear isn't in God's nature. He fears nothing. Thus his own holiness is produced not by fear, but by his love. In fact, fear cannot produce the holiness God wants to share with us. It is incapable of doing so. For God to transform us to be like him, he must expel our fear and teach us the wonder of living in his love.
He needs our fear no longer, knowing we will never love that which we fear.
We think conformity to his ways will lead us closer to him, when the opposite is true. If we focus on our own fears and performance, he will seem more distant. It is only by living in the security of God's affection that he is able to transform us. God knows that responding to his love will take you much further than fear ever could. That is why love must first deal with our fears. "Perfect love drives out fear," John continued. While fear may be the most powerful motive known to man, God's love is more powerful still, and in the face of it our greatest fears are swallowed up in him. Love displaces fear the same way light displaces darkness.
There is nothing more critical to spiritual growth than making this transition. John concludes, "The one who fears is not made perfect in love" (1John4:18). As long as we live in fear, we exclude ourselves from the very process that will make us complete in God. When you are absolutely convinced of how much God loves you, that knowledge will drive out every fear you have. You won't need to fear an uncertain future, the rejection of friends, the lack of desires, or even God himself. Knowing his heart for you will free you to trust him more than ever, and that alone will lead you to ever-greater participation in his holiness.
http://www.lifestream.org/ - Wayne has free mp3 downloads of his core teachings.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
"Serve him without fear all our days."
Over and over in Scripture these words are given. FEAR NOT! But we do!!! An awful lot of our responses to life are fearful. Lots of decisions in life are out of fear.
People marry because of a fear of being alone. We invest money in things out of a fear of not having enough so we want to make more. We are fearful about our children, our jobs, our housing.... our health. So many things. And we work hard to make life safe for us and those we love.
We can also fear displeasing God - viewing him as a 'schoolmaster' out to find fault - a 'policeman' looking for our transgressions. We don't understand the release of grace for all our sin and the place of safety in Jesus we have. And the tender love of the Father toward us.
This inherent fear that pervades a good many lives is a result of the Fall - the time when we lost touch with the perfect Father who will care for us in minute detail if we would but let him. Jesus talked a lot about how we are loved and cared for by our Heavenly Father. 'Fix your eyes on him and his way of life - and leave the detail up to him - he will see you right.'
But we want to be responsible and wise and mature about life. So we have to carry all the decisions and make the hard choices.... surely? Yes, and no. We are called to be responsible stewards of all the good things the Lord has entrusted to us. But we will always need a Father who cares for us with deep affection and great wisdom. Because on our own we can never actually always get it right. Life regularly dumps things on us that are way, way beyond our sorting out. I think Father lets that happen to show us how much we need him, just for everyday life, let alone eternal things.
I am pondering and exploring how deep rooted this 'acting out of fear' is in my life. Some occasions and reactions to people lately have given me good clues. I am bringing these into the light for cleansing... for me to forgive others... for the Father to fill that space with his assurances.
In the prophecy that Zechariah spoke over his newborn son John he said these lovely words, Luke 1:74 "He has come... to rescue us from the hand of our enemies (fear is our enemy) and to enable us to serve him without fear... all our days."
YES Lord!
People marry because of a fear of being alone. We invest money in things out of a fear of not having enough so we want to make more. We are fearful about our children, our jobs, our housing.... our health. So many things. And we work hard to make life safe for us and those we love.
We can also fear displeasing God - viewing him as a 'schoolmaster' out to find fault - a 'policeman' looking for our transgressions. We don't understand the release of grace for all our sin and the place of safety in Jesus we have. And the tender love of the Father toward us.
This inherent fear that pervades a good many lives is a result of the Fall - the time when we lost touch with the perfect Father who will care for us in minute detail if we would but let him. Jesus talked a lot about how we are loved and cared for by our Heavenly Father. 'Fix your eyes on him and his way of life - and leave the detail up to him - he will see you right.'
But we want to be responsible and wise and mature about life. So we have to carry all the decisions and make the hard choices.... surely? Yes, and no. We are called to be responsible stewards of all the good things the Lord has entrusted to us. But we will always need a Father who cares for us with deep affection and great wisdom. Because on our own we can never actually always get it right. Life regularly dumps things on us that are way, way beyond our sorting out. I think Father lets that happen to show us how much we need him, just for everyday life, let alone eternal things.
I am pondering and exploring how deep rooted this 'acting out of fear' is in my life. Some occasions and reactions to people lately have given me good clues. I am bringing these into the light for cleansing... for me to forgive others... for the Father to fill that space with his assurances.
In the prophecy that Zechariah spoke over his newborn son John he said these lovely words, Luke 1:74 "He has come... to rescue us from the hand of our enemies (fear is our enemy) and to enable us to serve him without fear... all our days."
YES Lord!
Monday, April 16, 2012
You are mine!
Isaiah 43 says, "this is what the Lord says - he who created you, he who formed you: Fear not, for I have redeemed you by name; you are mine."
This incredible verse tells us that we are his, twice over. We are his because he created and formed us. And we are his because he redeemed us - he bought us back when we were lost to him.
We in the West grow up with such a sense of being 'our own person'. We are encouraged to be 'self-made'. We have no sense that we belong to our Creator. We are his because he made us and formed us and shaped us for his purposes. Scripture says that even before the world was created he had plans for us. And he created us in his image... he was our Father right from the start. We are 'a chip off the old block' as we say.
But we got lost. We were stolen away by the evil one. We lived without God and without hope. But he wanted so much for us to come home to where we belong - that he sent his own dear Son - wrapped in humanity, to bring us back through dying for us. He 'redeemed' us - he paid for our way home to the Father.
So we are twice his. His by design and creation, and his by redemption. It is only when we awake to these realities that life begins to make sense. We then can find out what he designed us to be and do in partnership with him in the world. It is glorious... it is fulfilling... it is full of eternal fruitfulness. It is a wonder to us when we begin to see this master plan and our part in it. We are caught up in a cosmic love story of the Father for his children. He is very, very fond of us! Soak in that reality and ask him how he is loving you today. Your heart will fill with gratitude as you begin to see him loving you in a thousand little ways.
Can I recommend you look at Wayne Jacobsen's website and download the free mp3s there and listen. They are so wonderful and freeing. http://www.lifestream.org/
This incredible verse tells us that we are his, twice over. We are his because he created and formed us. And we are his because he redeemed us - he bought us back when we were lost to him.
We in the West grow up with such a sense of being 'our own person'. We are encouraged to be 'self-made'. We have no sense that we belong to our Creator. We are his because he made us and formed us and shaped us for his purposes. Scripture says that even before the world was created he had plans for us. And he created us in his image... he was our Father right from the start. We are 'a chip off the old block' as we say.
But we got lost. We were stolen away by the evil one. We lived without God and without hope. But he wanted so much for us to come home to where we belong - that he sent his own dear Son - wrapped in humanity, to bring us back through dying for us. He 'redeemed' us - he paid for our way home to the Father.
So we are twice his. His by design and creation, and his by redemption. It is only when we awake to these realities that life begins to make sense. We then can find out what he designed us to be and do in partnership with him in the world. It is glorious... it is fulfilling... it is full of eternal fruitfulness. It is a wonder to us when we begin to see this master plan and our part in it. We are caught up in a cosmic love story of the Father for his children. He is very, very fond of us! Soak in that reality and ask him how he is loving you today. Your heart will fill with gratitude as you begin to see him loving you in a thousand little ways.
Can I recommend you look at Wayne Jacobsen's website and download the free mp3s there and listen. They are so wonderful and freeing. http://www.lifestream.org/
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Redemption is logical
It is common to hear people say 'WHY should God love ME?' It is as if they consider themselves very inconsequential and not worth his consideration. (Or too sinful or too unfaithful?)
But think about the word 'redeem'. It means to buy back that which once belonged to you.
My Uncle Norman played solo cornet in the NZ 4th Brigade Band in the 2nd World War. He was a great player, and he loved his cornet. But during the war he lost it. It happened when the Germans invaded Crete and the band just escaped with their lives, but had to leave all their instruments behind.
But wait, there's more! A few years later, after the war, he was in Cairo, Egypt. And in a 2nd hand shop he saw a cornet for sale. It looked very familiar, so he went inside to see. Would you believe it, it was HIS! It has engravings on that marked it out as his! So he paid the price, and bought it, and took it home. I have seen it myself.
Jesus is 'our Redeemer' - the one who buys back those that once belonged to God and then got lost. If we think in terms of the whole human race (and not just us as individuals) we belonged to God - as all of us were in Adam. We were designed and planned and created to be his. He wanted a family, and so he created mankind. But then we got lost. And Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. He told stories of the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost sons. All belonged before they got lost and later were found again.
Jesus has bought us back, to make the way for us to come home to our Father. Hebrews 2:10 talks about Jesus 'bringing many sons to glory'.
So redemption is quite logical. We were his in the first place. We came from him, we are not our own by the fact of Creation and his initial 'Fathering' of the human race. Through Jesus' death we are not our own twice over... because we have been bought back with a great price.
Of course he loves us because he created us and formed us FOR HIMSELF (not for ourselves) in the first place. And of course he loves us so very much that he sent Jesus to bring us home again. It is not about 'am I worthy/good enough/significant enough' at all! That is presumptious, if you think about it. It is about his heart, his plans, his intentions, his longings... to have us as his children for ever. When we 'get' this it changes everything. Our eyes lift to him, off ourselves, and we can enjoy his love and devotion to us and his incredible sacrifice to bring us home.
It also changes how we view our 'mistakes,' our wandering, our failings. They can NEVER, NEVER, NEVER disqualify us from being his. We are his twice over. How will our 'paid for' sins cancel this out?
It is not logical or even sensible to think like this. Only our enemy wants to keep robbing us by causing us to doubt that we are lavishly loved, and delightedly accepted by our Abba!
When Jesus was warning Peter that he would deny him he said some interesting things. (Luke 22:31) "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat." Note that he addresses Peter with his old name Simon. He has not yet become 'the Rock'. Notice also that Satan asked... got permission to test Peter. An interesting thought.
"But I have prayed for you that your faith will not fail." Wow! Why didn't he pray he would not deny him? Jesus prayed that his faith in Jesus, his faith in the Lord's love and acceptance of him, would not fail. That he would not walk away in despair of himself and his failure.
"And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." This wonderful sentence shows Jesus' confidence that Peter WILL turn back - which is what repentance means (surely Jesus' prayers will be answered!) - and that he will have a role to play in the events ahead.
If Jesus did this for Peter - do you not think he is now (at the right hand of the Father) still praying for us that our faith in his goodness and our belonging to him will not fail? I have no doubt whatsoever that he is.
So let us stop filling our minds with such talk of 'Why me?' or 'How can he forgive me again?' Let's get the right picture of who we are to the Father, and how great is our salvation. The price that was paid for us settles forever the question of what we mean to God. We are made strong and resilient by delighting in this... not questioning it over and over.
But think about the word 'redeem'. It means to buy back that which once belonged to you.
My Uncle Norman played solo cornet in the NZ 4th Brigade Band in the 2nd World War. He was a great player, and he loved his cornet. But during the war he lost it. It happened when the Germans invaded Crete and the band just escaped with their lives, but had to leave all their instruments behind.
But wait, there's more! A few years later, after the war, he was in Cairo, Egypt. And in a 2nd hand shop he saw a cornet for sale. It looked very familiar, so he went inside to see. Would you believe it, it was HIS! It has engravings on that marked it out as his! So he paid the price, and bought it, and took it home. I have seen it myself.
Jesus is 'our Redeemer' - the one who buys back those that once belonged to God and then got lost. If we think in terms of the whole human race (and not just us as individuals) we belonged to God - as all of us were in Adam. We were designed and planned and created to be his. He wanted a family, and so he created mankind. But then we got lost. And Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. He told stories of the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost sons. All belonged before they got lost and later were found again.
Jesus has bought us back, to make the way for us to come home to our Father. Hebrews 2:10 talks about Jesus 'bringing many sons to glory'.
So redemption is quite logical. We were his in the first place. We came from him, we are not our own by the fact of Creation and his initial 'Fathering' of the human race. Through Jesus' death we are not our own twice over... because we have been bought back with a great price.
Of course he loves us because he created us and formed us FOR HIMSELF (not for ourselves) in the first place. And of course he loves us so very much that he sent Jesus to bring us home again. It is not about 'am I worthy/good enough/significant enough' at all! That is presumptious, if you think about it. It is about his heart, his plans, his intentions, his longings... to have us as his children for ever. When we 'get' this it changes everything. Our eyes lift to him, off ourselves, and we can enjoy his love and devotion to us and his incredible sacrifice to bring us home.
It also changes how we view our 'mistakes,' our wandering, our failings. They can NEVER, NEVER, NEVER disqualify us from being his. We are his twice over. How will our 'paid for' sins cancel this out?
It is not logical or even sensible to think like this. Only our enemy wants to keep robbing us by causing us to doubt that we are lavishly loved, and delightedly accepted by our Abba!
When Jesus was warning Peter that he would deny him he said some interesting things. (Luke 22:31) "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat." Note that he addresses Peter with his old name Simon. He has not yet become 'the Rock'. Notice also that Satan asked... got permission to test Peter. An interesting thought.
"But I have prayed for you that your faith will not fail." Wow! Why didn't he pray he would not deny him? Jesus prayed that his faith in Jesus, his faith in the Lord's love and acceptance of him, would not fail. That he would not walk away in despair of himself and his failure.
"And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." This wonderful sentence shows Jesus' confidence that Peter WILL turn back - which is what repentance means (surely Jesus' prayers will be answered!) - and that he will have a role to play in the events ahead.
If Jesus did this for Peter - do you not think he is now (at the right hand of the Father) still praying for us that our faith in his goodness and our belonging to him will not fail? I have no doubt whatsoever that he is.
So let us stop filling our minds with such talk of 'Why me?' or 'How can he forgive me again?' Let's get the right picture of who we are to the Father, and how great is our salvation. The price that was paid for us settles forever the question of what we mean to God. We are made strong and resilient by delighting in this... not questioning it over and over.
Why did Jesus die with his arms wide open?
Why did Jesus die with his arms wide open? I was pondering that just before Easter.
Stephen was stoned for the same 'crime' - blasphemy.
I think we find the answer in John 17:26. Jesus said to the Father, "I have come to make you known, and will continue to make you known..." Everything he did, everything he responded to - was in order to make the Father known. In all his actions he is saying 'This is what the Father is like."
When he put the ear back on the High Priest's servant and healed him (at a time of painful betrayal) he was revealing the compassion of the Father for his enemies.
When he spoke forgiveness as they nailed him to the cross - he was revealing that the Father will forgive even those who do not know that they are attacking him. (See also Saul who is confronted on the road to murdering more believers).
All his responses to the horrors of his persecution, arrest and death were a revelation of the Father's love.
So dying with his arms wide open says 'This is what my Father is like'.
The early church Fathers used to say that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are the two arms of our Father God, reaching down to bring us home. What a wonderful picture.
John 17:26 goes on to say "I will continue to make you known IN ORDER that the love you (Father) have for me, may be in them." Wow! The SAME love that the Father lavishes on Jesus, is to be lavished on us. This is why Jesus constantly revealed the Father!
St. Augustine once said that if the whole Bible were to be condensed down to one statement it would shout like a roaring wind "The Father loves us, and he wants us to come home." Have you come home to that love?
Stephen was stoned for the same 'crime' - blasphemy.
I think we find the answer in John 17:26. Jesus said to the Father, "I have come to make you known, and will continue to make you known..." Everything he did, everything he responded to - was in order to make the Father known. In all his actions he is saying 'This is what the Father is like."
When he put the ear back on the High Priest's servant and healed him (at a time of painful betrayal) he was revealing the compassion of the Father for his enemies.
When he spoke forgiveness as they nailed him to the cross - he was revealing that the Father will forgive even those who do not know that they are attacking him. (See also Saul who is confronted on the road to murdering more believers).
All his responses to the horrors of his persecution, arrest and death were a revelation of the Father's love.
So dying with his arms wide open says 'This is what my Father is like'.
The early church Fathers used to say that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are the two arms of our Father God, reaching down to bring us home. What a wonderful picture.
John 17:26 goes on to say "I will continue to make you known IN ORDER that the love you (Father) have for me, may be in them." Wow! The SAME love that the Father lavishes on Jesus, is to be lavished on us. This is why Jesus constantly revealed the Father!
St. Augustine once said that if the whole Bible were to be condensed down to one statement it would shout like a roaring wind "The Father loves us, and he wants us to come home." Have you come home to that love?
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