29th April 2011

A Survey

• “A Survey
• Today I am asking the following Question;
• Did or do you as a family ever read the Bible and pray together?
• They are 4 options. 
• Please go to my Facebook wall and click on one of them.
• Please share the question with your FB friends.

28th April 2011

John 15:1-17 – The Vine and the Branches

• “Culture not Control”
• Verse 2 completely took me by surprise!
• I realized that I have completely misread it for years. Jesus is referring to himself.
• I always saw this pruning as something Jesus was telling us the Father will do to us but no, He was saying that the Father prunes Him!
• Which poses the question;
• What did the Father have to prune/cut off/cut back/break off from Jesus???
• Sin?
• [Whenever I think of pruning I think of it in terms of purity]
• No because Jesus was sinless. So if not sin then what was it referring to?
• Again context helps us.
• Jesus describes himself as the ‘true’ living vine. Why? Because he was contrasting Himself with the artificial golden vine that covered the four columns at the entrance of the temple. This vine was famous for its expense. Wealthy people would sometimes offer a sacrifice by purchasing a golden cluster of grapes of leaf and adding it to the vine, sometimes even having it inscribed with their name. [Reminds me of one of those ‘buy a brick’ building campaigns.]
• The context is that He produces something a golden vine cannot . . . fruit.
• What did the Father have to prune Jesus for?
• Effectiveness.
• He cut off anything that did not bear fruit in Jesus’ life – things like where He went and what He did etc and other choices. In doing so Jesus went about the Father’s business not His own.
• He then prunes His disciples. He does this not by creating control but culture.
• They will love Him – something a controlling leader can never create.
• When they love Him they will do what He wants them to do and therefore produce fruit.
• How does He get the to love Him? By giving them understanding.
• Jesus does not want us to simply fall in love which Him because of what we get out of it. That would be both very shallow and controlling.
• He wants us to love Him and the love the things He loves.
• That only happens through culture, a culture of connection.
• Jesus was pruned, He came to understand His Father’s business.
• He does not want servants He controls but friends who share the same culture of understanding.
• Leaders; do we want the same?
• If so we will indeed be those “appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last”
• A good challenge for me to think and pray about today.

27th April 2011

John 14:14-31 – Jesus promises the Holy Spirit

• “You cannot be a disciple of Jesus*
• *technically
• To be a Talmid you would go everywhere your rabbi went. If he went to a different region so would you.
• You stuck to Him like glue. Or you would as the Jews taught; “cover your head with the dust of your rabbi” because you walked so closely to Him.
• You would watch how He prayed, how he spoke, how he ate, even how he used the rest room!
• A rabbi’s students wanted to know what the rabbi knew but a rabbi’s disciple wanted to be who the rabbi was – you could only do that by following him physically and watching and copying what He did.
• So how can we possibly be disciples of Jesus?
• We can’t because we cannot follow Him!
• Or can we?
• In this passage Jesus promises ‘another advocate/counselor”.
• There are two words in Greek that are used for the word ‘another’.
• allos – another of the same kind.
• eteros – another of a different kind
• The word used to describe Jesus’ promise in the Bible is allos.
• The Holy Spirit is just like Jesus – He is Jesus – the Ruach HaKodesh.
• We can be disciples of the Spirit of Jesus!
• To do that we have to follow the Spirit in the same way that the 12v disciples followed Jesus’ body.
• We go where He goes when He goes there. We watch what He does and how He acts.
• and then we copy Him.
• And we teach others what we see Him teaching.
• Study how the disciples followed Jesus’ body and then follow His Spirit in the exact same way.
• In this way we can be the disciples of Jesus and those who worship in Spirit and in truth.
• Will spend some time praying for this today and anyone who asks for prayer for this on my facebook note.

24th April 2011

John 14:3-13 – Jesus the way to the Father

• “Where is our success?”
• Very little really occurs to me today – I am just still staggered after all this time by what Jesus meant as an encouragement . . .
• That we will do even greater things than He did.
• I guess this ties into the thought, still in my mind from last week, of how according to Jesus His success could be seen in our hands.
• He believed/s that people will know we are His disciples by or love for one another.
• If they don’t believe we are His disciples then they will not listen to the teaching we pass on to them because He first passed it onto us.
• I’m just amazed that Jesus would trust His disciples so much in order to leave the ‘fate’ of His message and teaching in their hands.
• It could have disappeared within a couple of generations had they not loved one another.
• The reality is that His disciples were are to do greater things;
• They reach the Gentiles – Jesus did not.
• They saw far more people follow Him than He did.
• They did the miracles that only the Messiah was supposed to do.
• Today I am reminded of something that Jesus obviously believed in;
• Our Success is in our successors.

21st April 2011

John 14:1-4 – Jesus comforts His Disciples

• “Many Rooms”
• In this passage Jesus comforts His disciples with the fact that where He is going there will be many rooms.
• I think we often think of this in terms of a large mansion that each one of us will get. And this leads to us fixating on how cool the rewards of Heaven and the things we will get will be.
• I don’t think that was the point of Jesus’ encouragement.
• The Jews by Jesus time had adopted much of the dining arrangements of the Romans.
• There are various clues in the NT of this.
• In the Triclinium of the Romans, an oblong dining room had a table in the centre with three couches alongside three of its walls [hence the name]. The fourth wall was left free for entertainment.
• You would lay on the couch with your head towards the table and your body angled away from it.
• The historian Pliny writes about how one diner would lie in the bosom of another referring to the way that a person’s head would be at the torso of the person next to them who was in a superior position – we see this with John and Jesus [John 13:23].
• The point?
• The Tricilinium usually flitted nine dinners comfortably.
• But at this meal there are at least thirteen people! Probably another couch was added and without doubt space was a real issue.
• Jesus had a habit of only including certain people at certain times and here he comforts His disciples that where He is going they will all fit in. There is a place for everyone of them.
• When Jesus encouraged His disciples about Heaven it was not about the reward of large mansions but that they would get to be with Him.
• Nowadays too many preachers entice us with treasures in Heaven and of course there will be many. But when Jesus offers comfort the best reward He can offer is time with Him.
• Is the best thing you can offer those you lead the things you can give then or time with you?
• If you are worth following; it is time with you..

20th April 2011

John 14:18-30 – Jesus predicts His Betrayal

• “Love Wins””
• Now I have your attention… this is not about the Rob Bell book which I have not read yet.
• It is however about the fact that love not arguments will win others to God’s cause.
• There were many god” in Jesus day.
• When I was younger I often heard it preach that only Christians claimed that their God had been raised from the dead. This is totally untrue.
• In Jesus’ day there were many “gods” and their disciples claimed such things as;
• One was born in a cave to a virgin,
• One was worshipped by shepherds
• One had 12 followers and some believe he had something to do with death being conquered.
• The faithful referred to one of them as "the Light of the World".
• One was Born Dec 25th.
• One was hung on some sort of tree. Several days later he was said to have rose from the dead.
• Several were born of a virgin.
• One died to crucifixion.
• As a small child foreign kings were said to have brought one of them gifts.
• Jesus knew however that the proof of who He was lay in the disciples ability to love each other with agape love.
• At first this does not seem to be a new commandment as Leviticus 19:18 says something similar but it was new because Leviticus says love others as yourself. Jesus said love others as “I have agaped you”.
• We are to love others not with human love but Godly love flowing through us – only this will be the convincing proof of Jesus’ claims.
• Blows me away that Jesus left knowing that the only real proof of His words lay in the hands of others!
• Challenged today to seek God’s love for others not mine.

19th April 2011

John 13:18-30 – Jesus predicts His Betrayal

• “Disappointment””
• Jesus is troubled in His Spirit.
• It’s not surprising as one of His closest followers is about to betray Him.
• How bitter and hardened in your heart must you be to spend three years with a friend and then totally turn your back on Him? Judas does just that.
• Sometimes when we have a vision and a purpose we can get very disappointed with those around us.
• Last night I got on a flight from Vancouver to L.A..
• I met a man who made Christian films and he described many of the people he works with as Liars, cheats and greedy. He shared how he wanted to make more honest films but ended up making ones that ticked the boxes that would make money.
• Today’s passage got me thinking about how Jesus handled disappointment.
• He let those who were doing wrong, do wrong, He was not distracted by them but instead pursued the good that He was supposed to do.
• It’s a lesson for me – don’t fixate on the disappointment or those who do wrong. Don’t make pursuing my vindication my primary concern instead make it doing the right I believe I should do.
• When I got off the plane I googled my new friend and it turns out he is an actor I often watch on TV – I just did not recognize him – he has been in lots of well known American series and is a very good actor [he’s received Emmy nominations etc.
• I’m so glad I did not recognize him – I shared my faith and testimony and encouraged Him to pioneer.
• Jesus was not influenced by who disappointed him, who they were or the power at their disposal.
• He did the right thing just because it was the right thing and did not let the bad doing the bad things take up too much of His time.

• “What you are about to do, do quickly”
• Praying that I won’t be distracted by disappointment today.

8th April 2011

John 13:1-17 – Jesus washes His Disciples Feet

• “A trait of a great leader””
• In this famous story Jesus serves His disciples with what is commonly thought to be an act that the lowest servant in the house would be required to do.
• What caught my eye in my studies today was the translation of one commentary and is take on the first verse.
• “He loved them to the end”
• I like this because it is particularly helpful for leaders.
• Great leaders are hurt but keep on loving.
• Great parents are hurt but keep on loving.
• It is a trait of a great leader.
• After leading people for years it can sometimes take a toll on your heart and mind.
• Our hearts can become a little hardened as we seek to protect them from another betrayal or disappointment.
• Over familiarity can set in and those a leader leads can begin to take the relationship for granted.
• We can spend all our resources on them and begin to withdraw them - yesterday I ripped the main sail of my Sailing Course leader in high winds - he didn't bat an eye!
• This is true if all leadership form parenting to presidents.
• Jesus loved His disciples till the very end.
• He continued to be soft hearted and His greatest acts of love towards His disciples were at the end not the beginning.
• He was hurt by them but kept on loving.
• The grew in love!
• Encouraging thought and challenge for me today.

8th April 2011

John 12:37-50 – Belief and Unbelief among the Jews

• “ASAP”
• This passage contains one of the harder teachings of the New Testament for me.
• “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.”
• This passage is also quoted in every one of the other Gospels in connection with the parable of the talents.
• It is saying that God intentional has blinded people so they cannot believe.
• A possible Hebrew idiom would normally make this easier to swallow – sometimes the Hebrew language expresses commentary as intention. In this case, if this was an isolated situation it could be that rather than God intending to “blind their eyes… etc” it is simply commentating on the fact that He has.
• The problem with the Hebrew idiom version is that the idea of God blinding people also fits into the teaching that God hardens peoples hearts.
• Why does God choose to harden some people’s hearts and not others?
• There are forty-six references in the Bible to God intervening in this way.  The fact is that God does actively, purposely, with forethought harden people’s hearts.
• There is a three step process to the God induced “Hardening of a Heart” and we see a classic example of this with Pharaoh's situation.
• Step 1:  God says He will - We are first warned. When He tests us, it is not so that He can find out what is within us but so that He can reveal it to us and we can change. God knew Pharaoh’s heart. The King had displayed a persistent resisting of His will.
• Step 2: Pharaoh Acts - Before God hardens a man’s heart, the man hardens it first. The word used here for calloused means: Fat as grease.
• Step 3: God Acts by hardening their heart.
• Why? The process of hardening our hearts leads to things going terribly wrong. He would rather we respond to His Spirit but if it means He has to take us to the pits of despair then He will do it. Because whilst down there we may finally repent.
• Even if we do not, what happens sends a message to everyone else. Onlookers watch and learn. They learn from our mistake. Either way He is glorified.
• It is not an event – it is a process.
• We MUST be careful not to allow a root of bitterness as the Pharisees and Pharaoh did because eventually that foothold can become a stronghold in our lives.
• If you feel yourself going down that route – repent ASAP.

7th April 2011

John 12:20-36 – Jesus Predicts His Death

• ”It not just about Jesus”
• This passage seems to be disconnected.
• Verse 20-23 tells of some Greeks wanting to see Jesus.
• Then immediately after Jesus appears to go some kind of rant about his death.
• What’s the connection?
• The Greeks are either Greek speaking Jews or the God-fearers; those who believe I God, follow the Jewish religion but do not convert to Judaism with some of its traditions and laws.
• It seems the reason they are approaching Jesus is to offer him opportunities for ministry. They are likely to request that He goes to their part of the world to bring His message.
• Jesus replies with what is essentially a no.
• Remember – Jesus rarely gave a straight answer and instead was primarily concerned with passing on understanding.
• He says instead:

• “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”
• What He is saying is this – I am not enough!
• If he goes with the Greeks it is just Him as a single human being travelling around.
• If He dies however He will reproduce Himself.
• Yes He will no longer be the one who gets to be the famous travelling speaker but the Kingdom of God will instead be advanced far more effectively!
• It’s a challenge to all of us.
• We think we are so important but actually it’s when we die to our understanding of personal effectiveness that we become far more useful to God.
• Today I want to invest even more in others who will surpass me!

6th April 2011

John 12:12-19 – Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

• ”Not just what you do but how you do it”
• Jesus decides to specifically proclaim who He is.
• He does this not simply with words but a symbolic act.
• He chooses to ride in on a donkey; this moment is so crucial to His ministry that all four gospels record it.
• Riding on a Donkey declared three things:
1. Riding on a horse, donkey etc declared He was a King. Zech 9:9.
2. Riding in to Jerusalem on a donkey invoked remez and hinted at the messianic prophecies. So He was not just declaring himself King of the Jews but also the Messiah. Isaiah 62:11.
3. Riding on a donkey and not a horse also sent a message. It talked about the kind of Kings He would be.
• But perhaps lost amongst the first two more obvious meanings is a third;
• Horses were often used to talk of war and pride – yet here Jesus alludes to the type of Kingship He will bring. It is humble. Deuteronomy 17:16; Psalm 20:6-9;
• Similar to the ”Is God Sentimental?” devotional, this speaks to me as a leader that it is not simply about who I am but how I am. God is important not simply that He has called us to lead but that we lead in His nature.
• He did not do the things He could have done to convince people to believe and force His God-given Lordship.
• Rather they don’t follow me that me lead the wrong way.
• A good reminder for me today.

5th April 2011

John 12:1-11 – Jesus Anointed at Bethany

• ”How to make History”
• Jesus is anointed at the home of Lazarus.
• On this night it was customary to give the poor gifts and yet Jesus commended Mary for doing this.
• If we cross reference this with the story in Matthew we realize there two keys things:
• Mary “did what she could’ – as reference to Hasidut, a concept by which pious Jews would ask God the question; “what is the thing I could do to please you most” or put another way “what more can I do to please you” not in the sense of extra time but effectiveness.
• Also in the other version Jesus tells them that ‘the poor will always be with you”.
• There is a lesson here for leaders.
• The issues will always be with you.
• The bigger our responsibility grows and the issues just change; but they are always with us.
• Better not to concentrate on trying to get a life or ministry free of issues but to concentrate on what pleases God most – what most impacts the Kingdom of God.
• Mary sends a message into the future – by preparing him for burial he now has an aroma and when He stands in front of those who accuse Him the aroma lets them know that He knows that they mock trials are just pretence.
• It also speaks of the fact that the reason He will die is in God’s hands and not there’s.
• Those who deal with issues do not make history.
• Those who ask “what more can I do to please you?” do.
• Praying for this wisdom today.

4th April 2011

John 11:45-57 – The Plot to Kill Jesus

• ”Is God Sentimental?”
• An emergency, special [illegal] meeting is held by the Jewish leaders.
• Jesus has just performed a miracle that only the messiah could and now things are getting very serious.
• So the Jews are concerned that if Jesus grows in popularity that their ministry and nation will be taken from them.
• In their minds, this cannot be right because God appointed priests and God chose the Israelite nation.
• Can we make the same mistake?
• Can we as leaders thing that because we know God commissioned us or has had some hand in the setting up of our nation therefore think it is so important to Him?
• What is important to God is the Kingdom.
• He sets things apart for the sake of the Kingdom. When they no longer serve the Kingdom’s sake then He is fine with them disappearing.
• God is not sentimental in that regard.
• Even though the Temple was designed by God and was the most important church structure on the planet – God was fine about it being destroyed a few years later.
• And when it was destroyed so was the Sanhedrin. a leadership team that helped for many years the people govern themselves under God’s rule.
• Can we fall into the trap of thinking our ministries are important to God, our organizations or our church?
• How prideful we can be.
• If God can happily allow the Temple be destroyed what makes me think He will think twice about my ministry, Pais or church disappearing if it no longer serves the purposes of the Kingdom?
• God is perhaps sentimental when it comes to people and relationship but definitely not to ministries.
• We must not make the mistake that because God was once involved that He always will be. Or because what we once did was important it always will be.
• I must always make sure I am not looking back as a way of estimating but of comparing it to Jesus.
• Something sobering to think about today.