The Gamaliel Question

  This was a question posed to us at Church on Sunday about a Bible event, and it certainly gets the brain cells thinking! Please take this opportunity to vote in the poll on the right-hand side of the blog page.

  I shall set the scene…

  The Apostles have been preaching and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout Jerusalem. The Sanhedrin, or Council, have arrested them and are deciding what to do with the gang.

  A wise chap called Gamaliel stands up and says,

    “So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice.”
(Acts 5:38-39 ESV)

   Do you see what he is saying? Basically: let them get on with it, if they are wrong then eventually they will fizzle out anyway, but if they are right then we shouldn’t be fighting them!

   My question…. Was Gamaliel wise in saying what he did?

   Here are a few contextual pointers to assist in your decision making:

• Just recently, 2 guys who had been trying to start rebellions had died and their rebellions had fizzled out and their followers left them. Maybe Gamaliel’s tactics worked?
• The Council, or Sanhedrin, was responsible for guiding the everyday Jews’ spiritual welfare, they had the important job of explaining the Bible (or the Law and Prophets) and teaching people what to do.
• Earlier that same week, the Sanhedrin had arrested the Apostles, and, miraculously, they had disappeared from the middle of the prison, without any guards noticing! But, instead of hiding, they went straight to the city centre (the Temple) and carried on preaching!
• The Sanhedrin did actually agree with Gamaliel and released the Apostles, but only after cruelly beating them first.

   So, here is your chance to vote! What do you think?

Praise, Courage, Action and Eternity

 

“SING PRAISES TO THE LORD, O YOU HIS SAINTS,
AND GIVE THANKS TO HIS HOLY NAME.

FOR HIS ANGER IS BUT FOR A MOMENT,
AND HIS FAVOUR IS FOR A LIFETIME.

WEEPING MAY TARRY FOR THE NIGHT,
BUT JOY COMES WITH THE MORNING.”

PSALM 30 VERSES 4 AND 5

 

Courageous,

   So, 1 week after its release, the Christian world is abuzz with talk about Sherwood Productions’ latest film, Courageous.

   Adding to the successes of Flywheel, Facing the Giants and Fireproof, the newest addition faces up to the big issue of Christian fatherhood. Arguably Courageous is by far the best production to date; better filming, a large cast and another Bible-bashing script all add up to the overall effect.

   The rough format of each film is as follows:

• Flywheel: The Gospel/conversion, repentance, living for God and not mammon.
• Facing the Giants: Doing everything for the glory of God, being faithful.
• Fireproof: The Gospel/conversion, the genesis and purpose of marriage, loving like Christ did.
• Courageous: Trusting God through trials, Christian Fatherhood.

   Courageous tells the story of 4 Sheriff office Deputies- and an unlikely friend- as they discover Christ’s power both for forgiveness and also transformation. Each person learns that fatherhood is not a matter of ‘being good enough’ but a matter of representing and honouring God in the home.

   Doubtless the films are not perfect and make some theological mistakes, but I, for one, don’t want to bash an honest attempt at spreading the gospel and encouraging Christians to face up to their responsibilities.

   I would encourage you to watch the credits at the end of the film: it is rare to see ‘Prayer Coordinator’ on the acknowledgements of a major movie! Other good credits include: ‘Sunday School Classes that donated towards Catering’ and ‘To God be the Glory!’

   Courageous is a good, entertaining film, free of swearing, blasphemy and lust, and yet still filled with fun and humour: a rare find today. But on top of the entertainment factor, both non-Christians and Christians will find this a challenging film which points towards the Bible.

 

C4M: Coalition for Marriage

    http://minibakey.blogspot.com/2012/02/coalition-for-marriage-c4m.html

   Petition slips have been frequenting many Churches on behalf of God-ordained Marriage. The British Government intends to ‘re-define’ marriage to allow homosexual couples to register. Prominent voices have expressed their disgust at the attempts of Churches to stop this change, despite the very definition, purpose and origins of marriage being found in the Bible!

   Alongside written petitions the online system has been ticking away since my above blog post (where the count had reached 24,000) and now has reached the lofty heights of 114,828 signatories. Lets be thankful for the response of Bible-believing Christians through C4M, while remembering that our God is supreme over all Governments and authorities and holds the votes of MPs in his hands!

 

‘Sinners in the Hands of an angry God.’

    Jonathan Edwards is well known for many of his sermons, ‘Sinners in the hands of an angry God’ not being the least! One wonders how Edwards would have viewed the preaching of Rob Bell! It is easy to forget the seriousness of our sin and God’s just and righteous hatred of all the wickedness and rebellion of mankind. Here is a quote from Edward’s sermon:

   “The God that holds you over the pit of Hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect, over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked; his wrath towards you burns like fire; he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire; he is of purer eyes than to bear to have you in his sight; you are ten thousand times so abominable in his eyes as the most hateful venomous serpent is in ours. You have offended him infinitely more than ever a stubborn rebel did his prince: and yet ‘tis nothing but his hand that holds you from falling into the fire every moment: ‘Tis to be ascribed to nothing else, that you did not go to Hell last night….”

   When we forget the seriousness of our sin against God, we cannot even begin to imagine the vast depths of the love which God shows in granting us forgiveness, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ upon the cruel cross.

    Thank God that Christ cried “It is finished”. No longer does the Lord demand payment from us for our rebellion and iniquities!

“FOR THE WORD OF THE CROSS IS FOLLY TO THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING,
BUT TO US WHO ARE BEING SAVED IT IS THE POWER OF GOD!”

1 Corinthians 1 verse 18

I asked the Lord…

 

   I found this hymn 3rd hand, via challies.com, this week.

   It is a lesser-known song from John Newton. I think it definitely echoes amongst many, if not all, Christians to various degrees of accord:

 

I asked the Lord, that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of His salvation know;
And seek more earnestly His face.

Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
And He, I trust has answered prayer;
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair!

I hoped that in some favoured hour,
At once He'd answer my request;
And by His love's constraining power,
Subdue my sins- and give me rest!

Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry powers of hell
Assault my soul in every part!

Yes more, with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe!
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds- and laid me low!

"Lord, why is this!" I trembling cried,
"Will you pursue your worm to death?"
"This is the way," the Lord replied,
"I answer prayer for grace and faith."

"These inward trials I employ,
From self and pride to set you free;
And break your schemes of earthly joy,
That you may seek your all in Me!"

John Newton, Olney Hymns

Oh, the depth of God!

 

“OH, THE DEPTH OF THE RICHES AND WISDOM

AND KNOWLEDGE OF GOD!

 

HOW UNSEARCHABLE ARE HIS JUDGMENTS

AND INSCRUTABLE HIS WAYS!”

 

Romans Chapter 11 verse 33

Coalition for Marriage (C4M)

 

     Have a look at the C4M website, if you haven’t already been invited to, and sign the online petition. It is unashamedly simple, thoroughly biblical and of vital importance. It will require no more than 2 minutes of your busy schedule to read through and sign up!

    The petition was launched Monday and within 24 hours over 15,000 people had signed up. As of 6pm yesterday, the number was over 18,000. Now, at 12 noon, the number has surpassed 24,000.  Over to you….

 

          http://c4m.org.uk/

 

   P.S.  I hope you haven’t forgotten my plug for Summer Evangelism earlier this year:

http://minibakey.blogspot.com/2012/01/get-up-shake-yourself-act.html

   There is still plenty of time to apply for a position on a UBM team or on any one of the many other opportunities available. If you still need convincing, here is a Beach Mission promotional video…

 

The most Illiterate Yokels

  

   Brilliant quote here from ‘Hitting the Holy Road’ about the early Christian Church and her Roman fellows,

“Some non-Christian writers devoted a great deal of energy to attacking Christians and the Christian Faith. The most famous was Celsus. He condemned Christianity as appealing only to the ignorant and weak.Writing sometime in the second century, he attacked Christianity as a Faith for “wool-workers, cobblers, laundry-workers, and the most illiterate and bucolic yokels, who would not dare to say anything at all in front of their elders and more intelligent masters.”

     Not much has changed then!

A King, a Revolutionary, a Murder and a Mystery revealed…

 

“Acting is all about truth….” (so far, so good)….
“…if you can fake that, then you will have a jolly good career.” (eh oh)

   ….thus speaks Sir Laurence Olivier.

      The very idea that truth is not a set figure, a constant thing, indisputable and unchangeable is, in fact, contrary both to scripture and to nature.

      The Bible clearly says that men (or women), because of the wicked intentions of their hearts and minds, actually supress the truth.

    “….they did not honour… God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools…”

    People- you and me- actually ignore the obvious truth which we see when we look at bumble bees and flowers and mountains and rivers, and which we also know in our heart of hearts: God is the Creator King over all. We bottle up this truth and put it into the deepest darkest cellar of our minds. Instead we ‘live as if there was no tomorrow’, we live for the ‘here and now’. We pretend and act as if there isn’t a God.

“Be careful what you wish for… you might just get it.”

     Seeing that we have- voluntarily and with full use of our thinking faculties- chosen to ignore the truth, then God lets us have what we wished for: soon we fully believe the lie and jump in deeper than we originally dreamed. We become thoughtless liars, consumed with self indulgence and petty disputes; gradually we become less like the “Gods” we dreamed ourselves to be, and more like the demons we profess not to believe in.

  

      But God will not allow us to continue in our rebellion forever…

 

“They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?””

   “God is a righteous judge,
          and a God who feels indignation every day.”

    “If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword;
        he has bent and readied his bow;
    he has prepared for him his deadly weapons,
        making his arrows fiery shafts.”

 

    God will not allow wrongs to go unpunished. It is in his very nature that he is a good God. He is perfect. He is Holy. He hates wickedness. He hates rebellion. He cannot allow murderers, liars, thieves, gossipers, dissenters and swearers to go without the punishment they deserve for their crimes.

 

What is the verdict? “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

What is the punishment?  “For the wages of sin is death”

   We are all guilty, condemned by the Holy Judge. Jesus said that whoever hates someone has murdered them, whoever lusts after someone has committed adultery.  God doesn’t just examine the DNA, the evidence and the witnesses: he also examines the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. He knows that we have ignored and supressed the truth and have followed a lie.

     The truth? God is King over all His Creation, including us.

     The lie? We are Kings! We are the Lords of our own destinies. We can live without Judge and without Law.

   Where does that leave us? Condemned. Awaiting a penalty of death. Eternal, and everlasting death.

 

      Or that is where it would leave us if it wasn’t for God’s great mercy and grace. He loves us. He actually loves us rebels. So much, in fact, that he staged the greatest rescue mission of all time! You have all heard the words of John 3 and verse 16,

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
   

   Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and yet God himself, was born and lived a perfect Holy life here on earth.

   What happened to Jesus?

   He was unjustly tried by an illegal court, he was ignored by the cowardly authorities and he was murdered. He was beaten, humiliated and hung on a tree, where he suffered the wrath and punishment which we deserve. His Father abandoned him upon that cross. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit have been bound together in love for all eternity, and yet, in those moments on the cross, Jesus was abandoned.

   Why? Because God so loved us, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

   But Jesus was not left in the grave where he was placed. No. Death could not possibly attempt to contain the very Author of Life! The Bible says that the ‘sting of death’ is sin. And Jesus had conquered the effects of sin when he was punished on the cross! Therefore death had lost its power.

   Jesus rose triumphant from the grave! He lives! He lives!

  Now we are each left with a vital decision. It is a decision which will mould our entire eternities. Do we abandon the rebellion against God and name Him as King and Lord, confessing our own wickedness and trusting in Jesus’ work for our salvation and hope. Or do we continue with our doomed revolution, desperately trying to cling on to our lies, while simultaneously supressing the truth the Jesus is King.

 

 

For to us a child is born,
        to us a son is given;
    and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
        and his name shall be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
        Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
    Of the increase of his government and of peace
        there will be no end,
    on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
        to establish it and to uphold it
    with justice and with righteousness
        from this time forth and forevermore.
    The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

          (Isaiah 9:6-7 ESV)