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Warren is now blogging under "From the Bright Side" to be found at www.warrensbrightside.blogspot.com

"Standing Firm" (Daniel 6)

Sometimes when we reflect on the events of Daniel chapter 6, we might simply focus on the miraculous deliverance towards the end of the chapter and miss a very important element of the story earlier on. This is the part that most excites me ... what we read in verse 10:

Although Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he continued to go to his house, which had windows in its upper room open toward Jerusalem, and to get down on his knees three times a day to pray to his God and praise him, just as he had done previously.

Daniel was standing firm in his faith no matter what he would have to face. But he wasn’t doing so passively, for prayer isn’t passive – prayer is an active response to the complexity of life. As we shall see, this habit of prayer was something strong in Daniel’s background that he brought into his present challenges. When difficulties came, Daniel had the necessary survival tools at hand!

Let’s look at some of the events surrounding Daniel’s commitment to prayer and worship.

Things were going okay for Daniel. In verse 3 we read of Daniel that, “an excellent spirit was in him”, and he been given a high position in the government. We also read that those who opposed Daniel for their own reasons, “could find no grounds for complaint or any corruption, because he was faithful ...” (v.4). Daniel had made that stand back in chapter one, where he had refused to partake of the “royal rations” on offer because this would have tended to suggest that he approved of all of the palace’s agenda, rather than standing somewhat separate from its excesses and violations. Subsequently, King Nebuchadnezzar had grown in his respect for Daniel and for Daniel’s God.

Yet, to many within the officialdom of Babylon or Persia (as this area later became known), Daniel was still a vanquished foreigner who had no place in the king’s court. There was jealousy towards Daniel’s position, which led to murderous intent. There might have been thoughts as well, that Daniel, with his impressive character, was showing all the other leaders up.

These leaders manipulated the current king Darius into legislating against anyone praying to any god apart from the king himself. Anyone who could not restrain themselves from praying to their own God for at least thirty days would be thrown to the lions. These leaders stroked the king’s ego by lifting him even higher on his pedestal and thereby got their way.

Having been initially oblivious to the scheming that had gone on, King Darius would now regret all of this, when it was Daniel who was the one in the firing line ... we read that King Darius was “very much distressed” (v.14), and he tried to find a way out for Daniel. But it was too late, too late for a leader who had been caught up in his own ego and been manipulated by those with evil intent. Darius was left hoping that Daniel’s God might act on Daniel’s behalf (v.16), and then Darius spent a sleepless night fasting (v.18). This seems very like the no-win situation that Pontius Pilate was left in.

But there was a choice, there is always a choice. Yet here in King Darius it seems that we have a political leader who couldn’t publicly admit that he was wrong and then change his mind (not until he witnessed the miraculous anyway). This would be too much of a back-down, way too personally embarrassing, too politically damaging it seemed. Darius had become tied up in knots by his own rules and regulations, rather than doing what was right and just and good. When this happens in any type of community, it’s likely that it will be the most vulnerable or innocent, or the minority or the voiceless that gets hurt. And so Daniel must be thrown to the lions. And Jesus must be nailed to a cross.

As we see the complexity of community and political leadership, people trying to balance a whole lot of agendas at the same time as maintaining their position, this should motivate us to pray for all those who hold such responsible positions – that they might seek (as Micah would have it) to act justly, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God.

Now Daniel knew about the threat against him (“the document had been signed” – v.10), and likely knew that this was a concerted conspiracy against him, but could do no other than maintain his pattern of prayer. Thirty days without prayer ... unthinkable ... that would be a disaster!! More than one third of a single day without prayer would have been too long! We read that Daniel hit his knees “three times a day”, which was likely to have been his traditional habit. For us we might interpret this to be a constant attitude of prayer or connectedness with God, with regular more formalised and focussed times of direct thanksgiving and intercession.

And we sense that Daniel did not try to cover his ongoing worshipful activity, just went about this as if it was oh so normal. Thus his prayerful witness to God was both open to observation and completely unashamed.

Daniel, with windows open, faced Jerusalem, the place from where he had drawn his unshakable trust in God – the Creator, the Redeemer, the Sustainer. Daniel did this, “just as he had previously”, indicating, as we have said, that this indeed is his pattern, what his life was about, where his central focus was. For Daniel, not to pray would have been a betrayal of himself and who he was. It was so natural for Daniel to worship God, that there apparently was not even the briefest second thought (about whether this was what he should be doing).

One wonders what Daniel prayed about? Simply about personal survival ... his personal needs ... I really doubt it ... based on what we already know about him. More likely, having dealt with a previous king Nebuchadnezzar, and knowing the complexity of community life, Daniel was praying with the big picture in mind, that things could turn around (to the good), that hearts would change, and that he himself could make whatever contribution God would have him make. Daniel, like Jeremiah, sought the welfare of the city.

This is where the relevance is for me in my future journey ... praying, then acting, toward the welfare of the city of Wyndham (and all of its residents). For this is not a place of isolated quarter-acre blocks with private houses on them, or at least it shouldn’t be. This is a place of interactive relational community, where people may just come together to understand (and then celebrate) the spiritual component of their lives.

One wonders what Daniel got out of his prayer-time? Refreshment, inspiration, clarification; maybe just the thrill of being caught up in the reality of the Divine presence with him (R S Wallace). Certainly there could have been new insight on the problems he faced. One could add that, certain unsettling experiences, like what Daniel was facing, are often helpful in getting our attention and changing our attitudes where we have been stubbornly wrong in the past (idea from David McCasland in “Our Daily Bread” Thurs 22/9/11). We can learn afresh what it really means to follow Jesus (in terms of the life of Jesus we discover in the Gospels).

Definitely Daniel’s resolve was confirmed and he thus became stronger. Even if God seemed silent for a period, there was enough reason to return in a few hours time. With the windows to the outside world being wide open, surely this prayer would touch real life situations.

With this attitude, and with this behaviour, Daniel was certainly prepared for God to act miraculously in his life ... to offset in some way the danger he was facing and to allow for some real impact. Daniel had come to know God well. With Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in chapter 3, Daniel would have been expectant of God’s deliverance while at the same time accepting of God’s will either way. Daniel could enter the lion’s den knowing that God entered with him. The result was so impressive to King Darius that he was liberated from his political straight jacket and changed his approach.

This gives great hope to the modern day Jesus-followers who act according to their God-given conscience and their Spirit-led wisdom, in the face of selfishness and injustice, difficulty and despair. We can’t just bemoan what we don’t like, because we have been given the capacity to facilitate change for the good. Daniel, I reckon, grew to love the opportunity of serving in Babylon, even though it was not his first or favoured option. How many of us have exactly the job we’d desire, or precisely the life situation we’d prefer! Yet we can grow to see the opportunities anyway, and then grow even more in embracing those opportunities. Daniel’s great asset to bring to Babylon was his faith in the true God Yahweh, with the caring human-honouring and creation-respecting attitudes that this meant.

In my upcoming work in wider Wyndham, I can only pray that I can make a difference in people’s lives through the blessed hope I carry in Jesus. I will seek with God’s help to unleash the potential for good that lies within many, which may currently be repressed by many things including discouragement or fear or lack of opportunity. As I leave my formal role as pastor with you [at Point Cook Community Baptist Church], I commit to seeking the welfare of Wyndham by bringing the love of God to the neighbourhoods and streets and homes that I become able to connect with.

If there is to be success in this mission, I and Raelene, and others who join us, will need to continue to pray and praise God with the windows open. My particular open windows, rather than facing to Jerusalem, will first face to my parents, and then to those others who have taught me, pastored me, mentored me and supported me; and then those windows will always at least partly face Point Cook, where I have been given a great opportunity and been deeply encouraged for these seven years.

God will then lead us into God’s own future, where previously closed doors will suddenly open, and connections will be made with people who have already been prepared by the Holy Spirit to hear the good news of Jesus, and participate together in a variety of community building activities.

"Standing up when the heat is on" - a reflection on Daniel 3

Let us examine the broad impact of the statements made in verses 16 to 18 of Daniel chapter 3. I have been recently fascinated by these verses as never before!

It seems that Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego believed that God would likely deliver them from the threat of being thrown in a burning furnace. As they had proved their total commitment to God in their resolve to not worship the idol of the “golden statue”, they thought that God would in turn vindicate them. But there was also an understanding here, that, perhaps, God may act differently to what they expected ... there was a bit of an “if” concerning what the outcome would be ... it could be that they wouldn’t survive. Deliverance was rightly desired, was even to be expected, but it was not a certainty. One does not have the right to presume how God will act (not without knowing the full picture)!

This was not in any sense faithless, but rather acknowledged that sometimes God’s view of things is different to ours, and that it is God who sees the end from the beginning, and indeed knows best. And as we look at it today, this view would be fair and reasonable, and this would be good theology – because we know many people who have stuck their necks out for God across the centuries, and who have suffered greatly and lost their lives as a result ... many whom we could not even begin to doubt their sincere commitment to God.

Stephen, in Acts 7, was an early example of what happened to an uncompromising God-person in the Jesus-following movement who stood against the tide. Many others have followed around the world. Why would God not save them. What could God’s purpose have been in not intervening. Sometimes we can hazard a guess ... like the good that can be brought about across a whole community following such loss. We know that God can bring good out of all sorts of tragedy. Other times though we can still be left scratching our heads (for we cannot ever see as broadly as God sees)!

But the important thing to acknowledge, lest our faith becomes diminished, is two-fold:

(i)                  we live in a fallen world, where the consequences of human sin have led to a pain and violence riddled world, in which we can suffer; and secondly,

(ii)                that God is committed to us, and actively involved in bringing his purposes to be (and God’s greatest purpose is finding relationship with people through their response to Jesus).

So sometimes God’s people are delivered, other times God’s people perish. Yet we know, ultimately, that all of God’s people find their blessed eternity!

Under the tutelage of Daniel, the three heroes of this story, Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego, have a good grasp of all this. Because they are able to concede that God may not rescue them, but that this will not change nor lessen their resolve. The outcome will be as God would have it – but Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego will not serve nor worship Nebuchadnezzar’s false gods. These three leaders, like Daniel, are happy to serve the king in the best interests of the people of both Judah and Babylon, but they will not compromise their central spiritual connection to the true and living God in doing so.

You might remember that, in chapter one of Daniel, these leaders, transported from Judah to Babylon, would not accept the royal rations of palace life, because, amongst other reasons, this would not distinguish them enough from the over-consumptive and power-hungry rulers. Just like someone who wears an orange jacket and orange socks, they will stand out from the crowd, rather than being absorbed by the crowd.

Now, in chapter three, the nation has generally accepted that they should bow in worship before a god of King Nebuchadnezzar’s own creation. Was this apathy we ask, or was it the threat of a fiery end if they didn’t? Nebuchadnezzar wanted to be open to a variety of god options. Especially important would be the worship of an idol representing his own kingly rule. The “golden statue” that Nebuchadnezzar had made was ridiculously large. It would have been obvious to all that such an idol as this was just self-indulgent and misguided. Yet nearly all the people lined up (follow-the-leader style) to worship it. It seems that no one (except our three heroes) was prepared to say or do anything that would question this grotesque creation, its dedication, and the worship of such a thing.

And Nebuchadnezzar would never had expected that Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego would have felt so committed to their God (as the supreme and true God) that they would stand up for this God in the face of such a deadly threat – and seemingly they did so with no hesitation (and no bargaining space for compromise). Here was trust and commitment matched by remarkable courage! This was impressive to all!! We could assume that these three didn’t find such trust and courage in this moment, but this had already been a practiced behaviour in their recent past in smaller matters (allowing for this level of response on the big stage).

Now, some of the king’s advisors thought it would be a good idea to pressure any dissenter into conforming ... under this threat of being burned alive if they didn’t. This was quite a threat of course!! What would we do? Cave-in? Or, stand up ... even when the heat is on! With all the rest of the peoples bowing down and worshipping the “golden statue”, it would be natural that the king would be enraged that the unanimity was broken by just these three upstart exiles from Judah.

In the world of today there is not just the false gods of materialism and secularism and individualism ... that we could be asked to bow before, but also many false ideas that we are asked to go along with. In a world political system that first thinks revenge ... should not the Jesus-follower be thinking differently (in terms of peace-making)! Where so many people have parochial nationalistic mindsets of us and them ... should not the Jesus-follower live with open arms to the stranger! Where the poor, hungry and sick are depersonalised into statistics ... should not the Jesus-follower actively promote greater consideration of their needs!

Despite the threat of the fiery furnace, Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego, would not just cave-in to conventional thought, community norms or political pressure. Yet, there was no point in arguing with this angry megalomaniac king. In verse 16, Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego say to Nebuchadnezzar, “... we have no need to present a defense to you in this matter”. Sometimes people’s irrational thinking is way too unreasonable to debate with them. No words will be found that will convince someone so opposed to the truth. And ultimately, God will have the final word anyway in his own defense. These three will simply rely upon their actions, their resolve, and their faith.

And of course they were not alone in this stand. In the midst of the heat of the furnace, there was a fourth figure. God here fulfils his ongoing promise to be with his people in the midst of their tribulation. And it was Nebuchadnezzar himself, on the basis of all he had seen and heard from these great witnesses from Israel, who was able to recognise that this was a supreme God who had been present in a remarkably saving way with his three servants. This king saw that any possible reward or threat that existed for Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego while they lived in Babylon, was as nothing to them. Look at verse 28, and the impact this resolve had on Nebuchadnezzar!

Just note one further thing. We read in verse 25 that Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego (along with the fourth figure) were “unbound”. This, despite the three references to the three men being “bound” before being thrown into the furnace, and the further references to the fire not affecting any part of their person including their clothes. Draw the conclusion that you would like about this, but I think them becoming “unbound” depicts the freedom and liberation that results from holding one’s resolve (under pressure).

So it is, that it is not the possible outcome, either good or bad, that should guide us; but rather our solid commitment to live in God’s ways no matter what ... trusting that Jesus journeys with us. It is in this way, and really I think in this way only, that we will have the impact on society God wishes we would have. It is only the fair-dinkum followers of Jesus who can change the things that we all bemoan when we watch the news. It’s only when we are serious enough about our faith to practically bear witness to it, that we can hope to restore the sort of communities we wish to live in.

These verses are all about an absolute trust in God that cannot be undermined. We can still wonder and at times feel alone (for this is what we read in the psalms). We certainly grow and change, and come to understand things better as we go along. But ultimately we should just stand with God along the journey no matter what comes across our path! Amen!

"Standing out from the crowd" - a sermon on Daniel 1:1-21

Having lost a power struggle, the Israelites had been taken into exile in Babylon. There, King Nebuchadnezzar sought out certain distinguished young Israelites to be trained for three years to serve in the king’s palace. This was not a benevolent act by Nebuchadnezzar, but rather smart politics to try to utilise and incorporate some of the talents that he had militarily acquired. One of these recruited young men was Daniel.

Having forcibly to live in a foreign culture brings all sorts of challenges. For the person who seeks to serve God above all other, in a place where the God of the Bible is not generally known, there has to be careful thought and prayer given to how they will relate to their living environment. What personal connections will be helpful, and what situations should be avoided? As a small minority grouping, how will they cope with both the threats on the one hand and the seductions on the other. What might a person have to be critical of no matter the cost? Where will the boundaries have to be drawn? On the other side, where might God be wanting us to engage?

This is complicated even further in Daniel’s case, by his recruitment into the public service ... into the service of the King of Babylon. How could Daniel effectively serve this foreign king, while still maintaining his complete commitment to God. His decision-making dilemma is all played out in chapter one of the book of Daniel.

As a result of Daniel (and the other three young men) being recruited to service the palace, they were assigned a daily portion of the royal rations of food and wine (1:5), as some sort of sign of special favour. These would be the same elaborate provisions that the king himself would enjoy.

But, we read in verse 8, that Daniel refused this daily portion of the royal food and wine on the basis that these rations would “defile” him. Then we read in verse 9, that “God allowed Daniel to receive favour and compassion from the palace master”. We are clearly supposed to see a connection between Daniel’s decision not to allow himself to be “defiled” and the subsequent favourable position that he then occupied. Certainly God will work in and around and alongside the one who makes such strong resolutions.

For me this seems to be the result of a test that we only read the last part of. Was Daniel prepared to make a stand, and dedicate himself wholly to God, and not let anything else get in the way? As the answer was ‘yes’, now Daniel had proven himself to be trusted with great responsibility. God would continue to work in Daniel’s life (and in the circumstances surrounding Daniel’s life), “allowing” or ‘facilitating’ him to receive favour and compassion from the normally hostile ruling authorities.

We are often tested – the question is how we react to that test, and how ready we are for God to take us to the next level of effectiveness in God’s Kingdom. After all, God would not want us to be given responsibility before we are ready, and then at the first hurdle make a laughing stock of God. Tests come upon us to prove our loyalty and our maturity.

Now we might think that it would have been best if Daniel did not have to serve this foreign king at all  – yet this was the political reality that Daniel just had to face up to. His nation of Israel had become weak and an easy prey for powerful Babylon. But in spite of this tragedy, there will remain for Daniel an opportunity to credibly represent the true God right within the walls of highest decision-making in Babylon.

Daniel could have sought to avoid this royal appointment and thus not been under such pressure. Yet he understood both his God-given abilities and the opportunity he had to positively impact a whole nation of people, and boldly took the tougher option. To receive “favour” and “compassion” (v.9) from otherwise hostile opponents would suggest that Daniel would be viewed in a good light, and that he would be treated with due respect, and that he could make a real impact for God.

Wise and insightful Daniel understood the depth of the opportunity that had presented itself, and would not want to blow it! So he recognised something that might “defile” him, and he wanted to resist this. He continued to resist even when pressured by the “palace master” (v.10); and also being under no illusions concerning the danger of refusing the king’s hospitality. So, what was it about the “daily portion of royal rations of food and wine” (v.5) that was so problematical to Daniel?

It has been argued that this is about Jewish dietary rules, where to be true to the faith of his forefathers, Daniel would need to stick to these, and not eat meat that wasn’t regarded ‘clean’ or prepared properly, or had been first sacrificed to idols. And this could be part of the reason. But this wouldn’t fully explain why it was particularly the “royal rations” that Daniel would refuse, as against any other food which was just as likely to infringe such cultural food regulations.

Daniel would likely stick to these traditional dietary requirements anyway (as seen by his “vegetable” diet in verse 12), but there was something else about the “royal rations” that worried him. Here are some suggestions:

1.       Solidarity

Perhaps it was the lavishness of this “royal” food and wine compared to what his own people would be having (or not having) outside the palace or back in besieged Judah – a feeling of solidarity with his less well of brothers and sisters.

Some of us have done better resources wise than others within this unjust and unequal world. Those of us who are better off than others should not flaunt their good fortune (or hold on to them too tightly), but rather find ways of making contributions to balance the scales a little more. In a way we would not want to profit from such an unjust system. The great leveller in all this, is that none of us can take anything but our character and our soul into the next life.

2.       Discontent

Perhaps it was that possible sense of doing so well, even profiting, from a situation that had begun by his own people being so rebellious to their God and thus putting themselves at risk of defeat in the first place. There could have been a sense of national regret and repentance here for the misdeeds of his people. Even if Daniel didn’t feel personally responsible, he didn’t want to feel or be seen to be profiting from such a state of affairs.

We shouldn’t ever feel too comfortable in a material sense when there so much inequality and need, and thus there is so much to do in the world in partnership with God (fulfilling the responsibilities God gave us within his acts of creation). We should actually never feel content, but rather disturbed that there are so many people living without knowing Jesus and living without purpose and hope, and in some cases living with poverty and death hanging heavily upon them.

3.       Heavenly Citizenship

Perhaps it was that Daniel didn’t ever want to be regarded (by anyone) as a real member of this royal court, as if he had completely sold out to it or allowed himself to be adopted into it. After all, the royal palace of Babylon was hardly to be regarded as a godly place, indeed quite the opposite. Daniel could perform a role there, but not ever be regarded as belonging there or beholding to it. To accept the king’s food would have been an act of total commitment and loyalty to Nebuchadnezzar. Yet, how seductive would it have been for Daniel to have accepted all the perks of the palace, thereby leaving God behind!

Certainly the king was very keen that Daniel and the other young men obeyed his every command (e.g. v.10), which would of course bring great risk of compromise to their closely held beliefs. Indeed there were big dangers in serving the palace that had been such an enemy of his native people – not just for his long-term safety, but also for the maintenance of his good character; yet, if the temptations could be resisted in maintaining humility before God, there would be great opportunities to change a whole nation. Isn’t this the dilemma that any Jesus follower faces who enters politics or political debate.

We, having encountered and been saved by Jesus, are first and foremost citizens of heaven, of God’s Kingdom, even while we remain physically living on earth. Thus we should not be seen to be so entrapped by allegiance to things of this world that lays any doubt upon this. We are really members of God’s international spiritual community. On earth, we now simply play out our God-given roles. We can be seduced by all sorts of dazzling lights and acts of earthly flattery, but it is only the light and acceptance of Jesus that really counts for anything. As Larry Richards put it, we need to have what Daniel had, i.e. “a strong sense of identity as one of God’s people”. Daniel never sacrificed his inward conviction that in body and soul he belonged to another Kingdom and not to Babylon (R S Wallace).

Now, we should also note Daniel’s good example to his three colleagues – Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, or as they became known – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These three followed Daniel in not accepting the “royal rations” and thus also shared in the blessings of standing firmly with God. Firstly each of the four men remarkably appeared in better shape on “vegetables and water” than those who partook of the “royal rations”. Secondly we read (in verse 17) that these four young men received from God a special measure of knowledge and skill.

I don’t think our growth and spiritual maturity in life comes by accident. We grow, develop and become more spiritually mature and effective, because we first make ourselves more available to God, and because we allow ourselves to be open to the transforming work of God’s Spirit. So if we are not growing, then likely we are ourselves putting things in God’s way!

What might these things be???

·         personal agendas, desires and goals

·         secret behaviours and attitudes

·         bitterness, or the lack of forgiveness and compassion.

Daniel and his three friends received from God very useful “knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and wisdom” because they had decided to guard themselves and put the things of God first. This obviously includes placing a high value on other people, and wanting to live in a way that would influence them towards knowing God personally themselves.

You might think that particular “knowledge and skill” towards “wisdom” is alright, but why “literature”. The “literature” referred to here would have broadly included material that would aid Daniel’s understanding of his new living environment, e.g. various religious beliefs, myths & legends, astrology, and handbooks on trades like glass-making. “Skill” in interpreting “literature” was obviously important in Daniel’s situation so that he could effectively relate with people from a different mind-space.

We might consider that the important lesson here is to be able to be good interpreters of our current culture, thus better discovering how we might communicate the love of God within that culture. Such “literature” can be studied without harm, as long as the eternal Word of God (the Bible) is kept as the foremost reference point. And, no one should spend more time studying any other discipline or reading material than they spend on their own spiritual and theological discipline.

Now, in verse 17, we notice one other skill that Daniel was given. We might now call this a gift of the Holy Spirit – the gift of ‘discernment’. Daniel now had special insight into other people’s visions and dreams. This would be applied with great effectiveness with King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel had shown himself trustworthy and available to God’s purposes, and now he would be used in mighty ways to bring strong witness to this God that he loved and served.

Daniel could have moaned and groaned about being taken off against his will to a foreign country and forced into the king’s service, but rather he quickly realised that this gave him an opportunity to stand out from the crowd and make a difference in other people’s lives.

The guard, and the palace master, and then the king himself, began to see something different about Daniel, that certainly needed to be reflected upon. The “guard” saw that Daniel and his three colleagues were doing better on “vegetables” than were other people on the “royal rations” (v.16); all symbolic of performing much better according to specific commitments made to God, rather than just floating along like everybody else.

We read in verse 19, that according to King Nebuchadnezzar, “... among them all, no one was found to compare with Daniel [and his three friends]; therefore they were stationed in the king’s court”. Now not many of us would like to be “stationed” in the prime minister’s office (although some might), but each of us should want to be “stationed” in the places of significance and influence of God’s choosing for us. This might be in our workplace, in our community, in our place of learning, or in our place of recreation. It will certainly be in our church community, and in our family, that we are “stationed” to share the knowledge, wisdom and giftedness we have been given.

Now there are many options in today’s society for people’s allegiances. Don’t you just hate walking around markets and shopping strips and seeing the evidence of belief systems that will cost people money, and purport to offer them hope, but actually take them nowhere. This includes the false god of materialism, but also the fortune-tellers and the tarot cards and the crystals; and also includes those religious pursuits that don’t point toward a living and personal God.

We read of Daniel, and of Hananiah, Mishael & Azariah (in verse 20), that, “In every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom”. So it’s no use bemoaning all those new-age type people who seem to be getting people’s attention; it’s up to us to know and present our message better than they present theirs. No wonder then we keep highlighting the need to study God’s Word together and pray for understanding. This is how we will stand out from the crowd!!

If you read into chapter 2, you will see Daniel become the king’s ‘go to man’ when it came to interpreting his dreams; but Daniel did not use this situation to rise personally above the pack and just draw attention to himself. Rather Daniel pointed to where all his knowledge and wisdom came from – “the God in heaven who reveals mysteries” (2:28), and also showed God’s heart of compassion by praying and arguing strongly against the destruction of the failed dream interpreters.

Daniel was a true leader for all the community. It was in a constant attitude of prayer and faithfulness, that Daniel and his friends were able to make a positive difference within a very alien culture.

"Building our Ministries" - a reflection on Hebrews 10:19-25 (in light of our church expo on Aug 14)

1.       Relationship with God

Verses 19 to 23 of our reading from Hebrews 10 basically encourage us to confidently grab a hold of our relationship with God and run with it as effectively as we can.

We can be assured of our salvation because of what Jesus has done for us. As we have sincerely accepted God’s grace-filled offer of forgiveness, then we know that we have moved from the old into the new, and that God’s own Spirit abides with us. Because our heart has been fully turned toward God, we are in the process of being changed into the person we were designed to be in the image of God’s Son Jesus.

This is our state of being now – we are still human with all the fallibilities and vulnerabilities, yet we are fully inclined towards God’s ways, and all our hope is centred, not on the material and temporary, but rather on the spiritual and eternal.

If we are struggling in any way with experiencing life with this mindset, then here and now is the time to correct this. The way forward will require prayer, bible study, as well as various support and accountability mechanisms ... and an absolute desperation to get the right result; for, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for right living, for they will be the ones who are filled” (Matthew 5:6).

Once upon a time it seemed that the presence of God was restricted. There was a curtain in the temple that only the high priest could go behind on specific occasions. God was seen as fearsome and distant. People were naturally tentative in their approach to God (Brown). Yet this was a concept that humanity imposed on themselves, for God was always seeking close relationships with people (both individually and collectively). Sometimes it has been our own sense of shame that has been the most significant thing that has created a point of separation and distance from God. This is where we think that there is no way that we can honestly face God.

But when Jesus, in his great love for us, died on the cross for us, that separating curtain in the temple was torn asunder and rendered redundant. God is only a breath away. What hope this gives us! Sometimes the difficulties of life really press on us; but we should not waver in our hope, because God has not changed or moved, and God can never love us any less than has always been the case. We should feel completely at home with God.

2.       Belonging to the Family

So this is all good news, not only for us, but for the ailing world we live in. This is because God has adopted us into his family, and united us into a ‘body’ with Jesus being the head. The way we are able to express this reality in everyday life is through participation in a church community. This is where a great diversity of people come together with their own variety of backgrounds, personalities, resources and giftedness with one thing in common – Jesus is their Lord.

Yet at the same time, these people are at different stages of the Jesus-following journey, some just starting, some having been on the road for a long time. Also, at any given time, some of these brothers and sisters will be struggling with life (more than others are) for any number of reasons, e.g. illness, employment and financial issues, loneliness etc. So this is where a high level of mutual concern will be necessary, and this is where cooperative forms of ministry will need to be built.

So for this reason, it was a good idea to arrange next week’s expo ... to try to celebrate and develop our various ministries within the church. We ourselves become more familiar with the opportunities and responsibilities we share in a variety of forms; and also we offer the opportunity to a wider audience to understand the nature and purpose of being the church. If we can encourage one another to grow in love and good deeds, we would be fulfilling the biblical mandate contained in Hebrews chapter 10.

3.       “Provoking” love and good deeds

There is a very curious word in verse 24 ... “And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds”! The word “provoke” is normally used in a negative sense, where people are unfairly threatened towards a reaction that might not be in their best interests (like provoking someone through harsh words into a fight). Yet clearly the word is used here in a positive sense toward a positive outcome.

Other translations use the word “spur” – “spur one another”, or “stimulate one another”, but these don’t have the same edge that the original Greek word (“paroxysmos”) brings. Closer might be “stir one another” or even going further “incite one another” or what about “ruffle one another” or even “irritate one another to love and good deeds”. Clearly this activity that we are supposed to have among one another, that promotes “love and good deeds”, is meant to be particularly proactive and provocative.

One old commentator writes: “We are to affect each other acutely to love and good works [and to the joys and privileges of public worship]” (Hastings). So “love and good deeds” don’t just happen, they have to be worked at. So “awaken one another...” might be a worthy translation, with the idea that “love and good deeds” lie deep within all of us but need to be actively drawn out. So we could also translate, “call forth” or “bring out” from one another “love and good deeds”.

Now “love and good deeds” can become a very powerful sign of faith with integrity. This is how important the writer to the Hebrews thought this was. Many churches of old, and this is something being revisited now in many places, adopted covenant statements to describe the nature of their communal life. One such statement read: “We engage to watch over one another in love” (Brown). How we do this in practice requires considerable thought, prayer, wisdom and commitment.

4.       Communal activity

Highlighted in verse 25 is one particular element of collective church life, i.e. “not neglecting to meet together”. One wonders what got in the way of people gathering together in the first century church that was being addressed here. This would not just concern attendance at formal worship gatherings, because these were very different then than they are for us – for they met in homes (and sometimes in secret because of possible persecution). This is more about the desire to be together, and the thought of not missing out on being together, as a local expression family of God.

Now we have other friends to spend time with, and also family responsibilities to attend to. Now with a more 24/7 society, and a lot of part-time, casual and shift work, simply earning a living can put restrictions upon our availability. Yet what is being addressed here in Hebrews is deeper than that. These verses are testing where our heart really is. We have all the assurances of God’s availability to us – but what will be our (true) response?!? Where will our priorities sit? Does this text ask us to re-evaluate ourselves, to make sure that we are giving enough priority to meeting together ... for the purpose of encouraging others and being encouraged.

And this is where this scripture goes broader than just a weekly gathering. Of course the early church were meeting on a daily basis. And there are many options and opportunities for members of the modern church to connect in between weekly worship services (for the purpose of growth and encouragement).

Now I admit that I am largely talking to the ‘converted’ here, but this may still help us all consider the impact of Hebrews 10:25, and thus, where helpful, assist other people in their understanding. Let’s go back to the question of what might have kept people away in the first century of the church, and see if there would be any connection to the present day:

(a)    Fear of persecution would have been a real issue then, as it is for thousands if not millions of Christians today in other countries; and we can understand how putting one’s life in danger is a real deterrent to leaving home. This is not the case in Australia, but even if it was, I reckon that it would be worth the threat involved to offset the isolation of staying away and trying to go solo. I can say this on the basis of those many thousands who do risk their lives across the world today just to gather for worship.

(b)   “We don’t need them” > There are those who have not yet come to understand that, although there is the very obvious personal element of faith, Christianity was never and will never be a solitary pursuit. In coming to Jesus you are, by definition, joining a family and a movement. This is in line with God creating us as relational beings. And it is only as God’s people join together that God’s mission in the world can be addressed. The gifts of the Holy Spirit divided amongst the Jesus followers are brought together in the church community for the common good (refer 1 Corinthians 12). The same tie that binds us to God, binds us to each other.

(c)    “I’m all right the way I am” > Those who try to remain separate will eventually lose their way – their faith will lapse toward non-existence. There is no support for the notion of lone Christians in the new testament (Guthrie), therefore there are no guarantees applicable to them either. John Wesley often quoted, “The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion” (Brown). Close fellowship in the church is an absolute necessity for the development of true Christian values (Guthrie). 

(d)   “We don’t get anything out of the gathering” > Of course, “meeting together” is not just about the content or style of any given worship service, but more so about the nurturing of the relationships that exist within the church family. The “love” that verse 24 talks about “provoking” is never self-seeking and tied to one’s own agenda. This “agape love” is much more interested in the needs of others and involves sacrifice (just like Jesus “love” from the cross), and can only really be experienced in community. It is the best interests of the whole (not any individual) which needs to be primary. It is often true that the more you put into something, the more you get out of something; and also the more open you are to something good happening, the more likely it is to work out that way.

(e)   “It’s not that important” > When you unite together with others in the bond of common faith, I don’t think you can consider it unimportant to participate in the occasions of meeting. One can only be alert to the needs of others by spending time with them. I think we can clearly draw from the book of Acts (and from Paul’s letters) that collective worship and gathering together were always meant to be an integral part of the Christian life. Not discounting the most precious times of personal devotion, we all need the rich stimulus that comes from communal gatherings.

(f)     “We are too tired” > Now I know that I’m very old-fashioned, and my parents were even more old-fashioned, but for what it’s worth, I’ll tell you how I was brought up ... and you can do with this what you want. If what I planned to do on a Saturday night in anyway put at risk my presence at Sunday worship, then I wouldn’t do that thing on a Saturday night. That’s why you’ll find me sneaking off home from events early on a Saturday night. Or, if it happened that I did get home late Saturday night, I got myself out of bed anyway! We often talk about the great privilege we have in this country to freely meet together and offer ministry, but of course such ease can be taken for granted.

(g)    “There’s something better on” > Well I’d want to assume by that you mean that you have a real opportunity of helping somebody, which is why Jesus said that the Sabbath was made for man, and not man made for the Sabbath! We are not talking about law or rules or attendance registers, for Jesus has brought a freedom that operates in grace, but rather this Hebrews text is talking about our heart attitudes.

(h)   “Life is too hard at the moment” > In reality, the harder life gets, the more you need collective worship and encouragement, not less. If you find the complexity of your life drawing you away from the gathered church, this is when you need to do a major re-assessment. A whole week of watching the news on television would certainly provide enough despair to need a fresh injection of God’s love. Otherwise you put yourself on a very slippery slope (with no brakes). Ray C Stedman writes: “We (too) need to gather to encourage each other and renew our hope by sturdy reaffirmations of the eternal truths of God’s Word”.

If the responses though are more along the lines of “we don’t fit in”, or “we’re not sure we belong”, or “we are not wanted”, then we have to assess whether we need to adjust the way we operate in the church to address this. When God’s people gather in the church, whether it be for worship, decision-making, bible-study, ministry or social reasons, each occasion should be uplifting, encouraging, purposeful, challenging, and absolutely inclusive.

5.       Encouragement

Now the thought here behind the need to meet together is the need we all have to be encouraged. How else will we survive, and how else we will have the resources through which to share our faith. This is why we develop areas of ministry within church life to try where possible to meet the variety of needs that present in human lives.

Indeed, building such ministry areas, although sometimes seen as a burden, and sometimes seen as just another thing needing volunteers, is actually the source through which we receive our encouragement. It is in getting involved, and trying things, and mixing with other people, that we start to feel a greater sense of worth, and a greater sense of hope, and a greater sense of being gifted, and a greater sense of being involved in something worthwhile.

There are certainly endless opportunities for encouragement within a church community; and although some will have the special gift of encouragement (and will become known for this), everyone is called to be involved in the encouragement of others (in whatever ways open up). And certainly, a “full house” will better provide for the encouraging, strengthening and energising of all who attend (Montefiore). As well, since it is God who actually builds the church, God will need access to all the bricks (so that the mortar can be applied and the walls solidly built)!

Encouragement involves a kind word, a supportive action, a good example. Encouragement operates in the context of people’s struggling faith, developing of skills, and coping with life’s trials. Encouragement is about sharing life in all its ups and downs in the knowledge of God’s love.

This passage closes with a reference to “as you see the Day approaching”. For all the new testament writers there was a sense of the imminent return of Jesus, the end of things, and the “day” of judgement ... such was the state of their society. God’s people within most generations since have probably felt the same way.

Although we don’t know what “day” it will be, and we aren’t to waste time wondering too much about it, it is not unhealthy for us to consider the general concept of “the Day approaching”, as this adds a little urgency to our thinking. Do we want to be thinking about that missed opportunity after the moment has passed?!? This reference to “the Day approaching” would have suggested the “day” of giving an account for one’s actions or inactions (in terms of love, good deeds and encouraging others). We are to live our lives as if this “Day” is just around the corner.

"Life in the Spirit" part 2 (Romans 8:26-39)

1.       Prayer & Provision (v.26-30)

Last week we talked about the freedom God had offered us through the sacrificial death of Jesus. As we identify with Jesus in his death and resurrection, and as we walk in the Holy Spirit, we are drawn into the family of God, where we are described as co-heirs with Jesus. All good news, very good news; but then comes the obligations. This all means that we are participating in God’s mission in the world, to work towards the redemption of all humanity and all of creation.

And this will involve suffering, for two reasons. Firstly, we are likely to experience opposition to our faith. Those around us are likely to be uneasy and disturbed by the fact that we can so confidently put our trust in Jesus. In many cases they will not have the background information necessary to understand our faith, and so they may remain at “arms length” from us. Does this mean that we hide or underplay our commitment to Jesus? I hope not! Some will be threatened by our ethical and moral positions that mean that we don’t just go along with the crowd or the cultural norms. We might be talked about behind our back; but that’s alright – as long as our light is shining!!

Then we also suffer because of the darkness that exists in this fallen world, involving behaviour that hurts and distresses even the innocent. And then we suffer too in solidarity with all the suffering encountered by others (in this disrupted and unjust world), like those in Norway and Somalia – we feel grief and discontentment (for the situation they are in).

So no wonder we are drawn into prayer. And no wonder at times we just can’t put into words what we are feeling and thinking. The pain is too great and the problem seems so large. There are longings and aspirations too deep for words (F F Bruce). We don’t know what to ask for, and we don’t know what might be the will of God for resolving our situation (P T O’Brien, G R Osborne).

Yet the desire to pray is already a prayer. For the desire to pray is an invitation for God to commune with us in our feeling and in our thinking. God’s Spirit draws deep and speaks within us ... in encouraging and uplifting ways. God’s mind mingles with our mind. God also agonises with us over the matters that worry us. We can then realise that no matter how troubled we are, our faith in God can see us through, for God is surely with us.

Abraham Lincoln wrote: “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day.”

Through the presence of God’s Spirit within us, God knows exactly what we feel and think; those wordless sighs are well interpreted. The Divine Spirit within us appeals to the Divine God above us (A M Hunter, C H Dodd). So in the presence of suffering, both ours and others, God hears and understands all our thoughts and concerns, as well as the needs that lie behind the tears and our cries for help. With this reassurance, words often do come eventually, and such words, being inspired by God’s Spirit, can also become a great encouragement to others.

This all reminds us to be open to how God will answer our prayers, and that God’s response may be very different to what we first imagined (of course, not only different, but better). And when we hear a “no”, this should be seen as God’s big “yes” ... in terms of our real need and the big picture of our lives. That God would say “no” proves his faithfulness to our best interests.

In this very dynamic of faith-filled communication (called prayer), we experience things turning toward the “good”. This may mean at certain times that circumstances change for the better; and we would naturally be happy and thankful for that. Yet we have to be careful not to take this often quoted verse (Romans 8:28) out of context. In context, what verse 28 really means, is that God has been allowed, at our invitation, to work within all the complexity of what is going on for us, and bring about “good”. It’s not that everything that will happen now is “good” in itself, far from it, rather, it’s that God can turn things toward the “good”.

In the context of this faith-filled prayer relationship, no matter what circumstances exist, we will become better people, that “good” will be done in us! This means that we will become more like God would have us be, we will become more like we were created to be – we will become “conformed to the image of [God’s] Son! God will actively work with what is happening in and around us for the “good” development of our character and future ministry.

The NRSV translates verse 28 as: “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God...”, which is a fair translation of the Greek text, except that it has led to ideas of simple fate or karma, where people think things will just turn out the way they are meant to in the end no matter what. Yet the context of prayer here demands that we see God as the one who is bringing things together, not fate. God is the active force involved! Yet, I have to quickly add that, we are not just passive recipients here, but rather heavily involved seekers of God’s intervention – where we actively desire this “good” being brought out through our prayers.

So we often read the better translation: “We know that God works together all things for good for those who love God...”, or, “We know that God causes all things to work together for good for those who love God...”, or, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love God...”. The main point here is that it is God who is taking the action, and it is us who are seeking it!! This is co-operative and effective prayer. And when all this occurs we will likely begin to recognise the value to us of the experiences we have endured.

And as I said earlier, the chief end of this prayer is, as is stated in verse 29, that we will become “conformed to the image of [Jesus]”. What God is doing in response to our human difficulties and our resultant prayers, is working towards us becoming more like Jesus. This is so that the family of God (in which Jesus is the “firstborn”) becomes, very obviously, a bigger family day by day.

For from day one, the beginning of the creation of humankind in God’s likeness, and from when God deduced the way of salvation (in the face of humanity’s rebellion and lostness), it was always going to be God’s purpose for us, to not just stagger or crawl into the back door of his kingdom, but to embrace the concept of becoming like Jesus, to be fully re-made in God’s image (refer Genesis 1:26a). This was God’s grand vision for his people. And, challengingly, this is also an unconditional requirement for the true Christian!!

I know that I look a lot like my eldest brother, and not much like my middle brother. This often depends on which parent we physically take after more. I also have some similar behavioural traits to both my brothers. [Although being the youngest, there is one way in which I’m certainly superior to both my brothers ... I barrack for Carlton!] In the family, we are adopted into, the family of God, we have to allow for some re-creation and renovation, so that we can become like our older brother Jesus.

As we sincerely pray, sometimes wordlessly, God will work all things together for “good”. It is most comforting to know that the Originator of the awesome creation we live within, wants to be very personally involved within the details of our lives; there being no situation, however desperate, in which God cannot be found (C H Dodd)!

2.       Victorious Living (v.31-39)

God’s love is invincible and unbreakable! God’s faithfulness to us is complete. The resources we have in God are actually so vast, that any opposition is well and truly outnumbered! “If God is for us, [then] who [or what] is [left] against us”? We have the resources of prayer, and an indwelling Spirit, and a transforming dynamic is happening for us. And we can certainly wholly and completely put our trust in God because ... would the One who did not even hold back his Son from dying for us, ever sell us short!?! We will receive everything we need to become like Jesus and fulfil God’s purpose. God is totally committed to us.

Mud might be thrown, but ultimately, where it matters, it won’t stick! God will come to vindicate members of his family. God is our champion defender, and our older brother Jesus will stand up for us in the schoolyard. When we become isolated in our human weakness, and fingers are pointed at us ... what about him, what about her ... Jesus will say, “that is my brother, that is my sister, they are my kin”! “How can that be?”, some detractors might say. Then Jesus will say, “When I offered them a free gift of grace, these ones humbly accepted”! When we look like a failure, Jesus intercedes and says, “it’s okay ... I know him, or I know her – and I know what they are in the process of becoming”!

There is nothing on earth that can separate us from God’s love (unless we allow it to). There is nothing that life can throw at us that can ever remove us from the arms of Jesus (against our will). Not persecution, not violence, not pain, not any sort of hardship. In fact, it could be that we even experience more of God’s love simply because we sense God’s presence in the midst of our struggle. We would surely learn new values. When I have been down and disconsolate, it is the knowledge of God’s call on my life that has kept my head above water, and a strong sense of God’s love that has catapulted me forward.

The psalmist (from Psalm 44), who Paul quotes in verse 36, felt oppressed from every side, despite being an innocent and faithful worshipper of God. And Paul knew how that psalmist felt, as his own life was under constant threat. Yet Paul had learned that the events of earth could not take God away from him; indeed, they may just bring Paul a closer and more intimate appreciation of God’s glory. We just have to be prepared to stand on these assurances. We just have to persist through times of trouble. We just have to become convinced, like Paul was, that we are secure in Jesus. Can we all look back to a time in our lives when we suddenly discovered how God had worked at something troubling in our lives toward the “good”?

Now I would have to say that sometimes we don’t help ourselves very much. We could say that we leave too much to God, just like the rest of the Carlton players leave too much to Chris Judd to do. Raelene and I watched a film during the week where the mother of the family went on strike at Christmas because yet again everything had been left for her to do. There are things that we should take to heart, just so things might roll along a little smoother. Paul mentions some negative forces that can impact us through verses 38 and 39, and for sure we will make God’s job less complicated, and life easier for those around us, if we fully appreciate some of the threat here.

Certainly implied here are the powers both spiritual and earthly that will tend to take us down. Ultimately these cannot separate us from God’s love, as I’ve already alluded to, but we would be much better off if we dealt proactively with any pressure on us. There are certain attractions in the world (mainly material and sexual), there is the weakness of our own flesh, and there is the scheming opposition of ‘the devil’. At times this trio of realities may seem hugely problematical, but we have another trio on our side – ‘the Trinity’ (David Coffey). There will also be people who set out to control us, to make us a prisoner to their desires, to make themselves our ‘god’, and thus rob us of our freedom in Christ. And we need to say a big “no” to that! The employer who wants to own us, or the family member who wants to manipulate our priorities, have to be resisted.

And we need to also claim the victory over ‘Satan’ that Jesus won for us on the cross, without giving any ground that could be reclaimed. When temptation strikes, call on God’s strength through which you can stand firm. Billy Graham tells of the little girl who says that whenever the devil comes knocking with temptation, she sends Jesus to the door. The book of James says, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (4:7b), then goes on, “Draw near to God, and [God] will draw near to you” (4:8a). And 1 John says, “for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (4:4b). Jesus himself, when tempted a third time by ‘Satan’ in the wilderness, this time with ‘Satan’ wanting Jesus to worship him, replies, “Away with you, Satan; for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only’.” That was enough of a statement to get rid of ‘Satan’ (Matthew 4:10-11).

There are certain places we don’t go, and certain things we just don’t get involved in. Want some examples: séances, tarot cards, so-called “mediums” and the like. I think we best avoid Halloween altogether. We certainly don’t get involved with anything that is spiritually dark. We don’t want to open up vulnerabilities to attack. Let God guide your pathways. Live in the light. Our life is lived with the Holy Spirit and no other spirit. Just as Jesus said, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only”. As we take this journey, we might come to recognise some of the ‘close shaves’ we had or the disasters we narrowly avoided.

And so we can be “more than conquerors” (v.37), which could be translated “super-conquerors”. This is because, in God’s love, and in God’s provision, we have been able to subdue the negative, defeat various attacks, and gain a masters degree in discipline. This is overcoming and “conquering”, but why “more than conquerors”, why “super-conquerors”? This is because we have been able, not only to survive, but to learn and grow and thrive and reach our potential ... and become more like Jesus! The siren goes ... the scoreboard says that we are at least one point in front ... we are declared victors (hopefully we are more like 100 points in front)!

God has already invested so much in us, he is not going to easily let us slip from his grasp. Ultimately it will never be our resources that will be sufficient to survive the journey, for we will surely need God’s resources through which to endure and become “conformed to the image of God’s Son”. Yet we can (I’m sure) co-operate with God towards the “good”. So let us be prayerful and invite God to work all things together for “good” in our lives. Amen!