Pondering/reflecting is what you tend to do as a year comes to a close. I have been pondering about the year that has past. I make comparisons with where I feel or believe I was at the start of the year with how I am today. I look for external indicators of progress. I consider the goals and outcomes I had for this year and whether they came to pass. I try to find some measurement for success in 2013. While all of this can be good; it can also bring death as I eat the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Looking back and comparing can tie you to the past. It can anchor or tether you so that you cannot move forward. People may experience the same event and yet some can cry while others shout for joy. If you don’t think that is possible, then consider Ezra 3:10-13. The relaying of the foundation of the temple was an occasion to rejoice and so the people did. However, those who remembered the previous temple “wept with a loud voice” because of the comparison they were making. What kind of comparisons are you making between today and yesterday? What are we measuring?
While many wept because they were measuring the foundation of the new temple and comparing it with the previous one, God was making a different measurement. “‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts.” (Haggai 2:9) We must allow the Lord to measure the life and glory that we are experiencing. We must be eating from the Tree of Life. We must allow the Lord to measure today with the future and not with the past. And … only He can make these measurements in our lives.
So, having pondered the past, look to the future. A future that God promises greater glory and life in. That does not mean there will not be difficulties, trials and things to overcome. Paul and Barnabas revisited churches “strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through many tribulations [pressures] enter the kingdom of God.’” (Acts 14:22) Stare into your future. Let God be the God of your past, present and future and conclude 2013 by moving into 2014 standing on the past without being stuck to it and allowing Him to move your present into His future promise for your life.
Journeying with you,
Merril
Thoughts from Freedom Centre Church's pastoral staff to encourage and/or challenge you.
Sunday, 1 December 2013
November 2013 - Steadfastness
If you didn’t read the front of the bulletin this month either because you skipped past it or because you are reading this pondering online, then let me repeat the verse that is there: “Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)
We live in a disposable society. Very little concern is given to what remains. Yes, there is a large ecological movement concerned with the earth remaining around for a long while, but at the same time the people of the world develop cars, computers, cameras, contacts and companions that are easily thrown away. Very little seems built to last and we focus on the immediate.
It is not like that with God. God’s character and nature reflect eternality, endurance, faithfulness and steadfastness. God created the earth and all that is in it, including mankind, with the intention that it all should stand forever. Man threw it away. However, even after that, God pressed forward with the intention that there should be a Kingdom with man in it that should never end.
“Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:7)
So, the challenge for us as a church is to co-labour with God in building things that will remain. It is interesting that Paul would write about faith, hope and love after spending significant time looking at the spiritual gifts. Our hearts (even mine) can be attracted towards focussing on the gifts and signs and wonders and miracles but Paul’s heart was focussed on what remains. Don’t get me wrong: he does say to earnestly desire spiritual gifts. It’s a question of lasting character in the midst of fleeting moments of spiritual manifestation.
I’ve been at this church for fourteen years. Some are part of this body who have been here longer. Some have not been here as long but have committed themselves to the work of God in this place. I applaud your steadfastness of faith, hope and love. We are not simply building for an immediate gratification but a lasting legacy. I encourage us all to keep building toward a church where God’s glorious presence is so evident that healing and transformation happen not simply for a moment but for generations; not simply for a hundred or so people on a Sunday but for thousands in our community and around the world.
Journeying with you,
Merril
We live in a disposable society. Very little concern is given to what remains. Yes, there is a large ecological movement concerned with the earth remaining around for a long while, but at the same time the people of the world develop cars, computers, cameras, contacts and companions that are easily thrown away. Very little seems built to last and we focus on the immediate.
It is not like that with God. God’s character and nature reflect eternality, endurance, faithfulness and steadfastness. God created the earth and all that is in it, including mankind, with the intention that it all should stand forever. Man threw it away. However, even after that, God pressed forward with the intention that there should be a Kingdom with man in it that should never end.
“Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:7)
So, the challenge for us as a church is to co-labour with God in building things that will remain. It is interesting that Paul would write about faith, hope and love after spending significant time looking at the spiritual gifts. Our hearts (even mine) can be attracted towards focussing on the gifts and signs and wonders and miracles but Paul’s heart was focussed on what remains. Don’t get me wrong: he does say to earnestly desire spiritual gifts. It’s a question of lasting character in the midst of fleeting moments of spiritual manifestation.
I’ve been at this church for fourteen years. Some are part of this body who have been here longer. Some have not been here as long but have committed themselves to the work of God in this place. I applaud your steadfastness of faith, hope and love. We are not simply building for an immediate gratification but a lasting legacy. I encourage us all to keep building toward a church where God’s glorious presence is so evident that healing and transformation happen not simply for a moment but for generations; not simply for a hundred or so people on a Sunday but for thousands in our community and around the world.
Journeying with you,
Merril
October 2013 - Pressing Forward
I will make the disclaimer that I am writing this before we have our Tree of Life Conference. I don’t know what Dennis will be sharing with us. So, if it touches on anything Dennis says, I am not trying to hammer you with these thoughts.
I have been pondering the church’s mission statement lately. You may or may not have it in your memory yet. It’s on the back of the bulletin, along with the core values. The core values that we have hanging on the walls as you make your way from the entrance of the church’s building to the sanctuary. I am really not trying to sound snide or condescending. Please hear me out. I fully realize that I also can and have lost track of these important things at times. The bulletin can be just a monthly piece of paper I put in my Bible and the pictures—just wall decoration that I barely notice. It was a year ago that we presented them to the church.
I’m not going to type the whole mission statement here (you can just look on the back of the bulletin), but I want us to consider that the goal is “developing healthy, mature followers of Jesus Christ.” Healthy is defined as “possessing or enjoying good health or a sound and vigorous mentality.” Mature is defined as “complete in natural growth or development.” (Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary) So, it could also be stated as “developing sound, vigorous, complete followers of Jesus Christ. We are not only co-labouring with God to accomplish this in others; it is the work that God is doing in us.
There are so many Scriptures that come to my mind. I was actually compiling them to place in this pondering but it would take up too much space. And then I realized that if you are as committed to the goal of health and maturity that God is for you, then you would want to look them up yourself anyway. So, here are a few passages form the Bible that you should meditate on: 2 Timothy 1:7; 4:1-4; Romans 8:6; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3-4; Philippians 3:7-16; Hebrews 12:1-13; 2 Peter 1:2-11.
We must not lose sight of the goal. Doing so gets people off the path. Jesus said his disciples must keep their eyes on the goal and not look back. We must press on towards the goal keeping our eyes on Jesus, Who calls us. I want to leave one Scripture for you to read here:
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:3-6)
I am thankful for you all and pray for your continued progress in Christ. God grants the power to accomplish what He calls us to. You lack nothing in Him. God is developing us into His healthy, mature sons and daughters so that He might reveal His glory in the earth like never before.
Journeying with you,
Merril
I have been pondering the church’s mission statement lately. You may or may not have it in your memory yet. It’s on the back of the bulletin, along with the core values. The core values that we have hanging on the walls as you make your way from the entrance of the church’s building to the sanctuary. I am really not trying to sound snide or condescending. Please hear me out. I fully realize that I also can and have lost track of these important things at times. The bulletin can be just a monthly piece of paper I put in my Bible and the pictures—just wall decoration that I barely notice. It was a year ago that we presented them to the church.
I’m not going to type the whole mission statement here (you can just look on the back of the bulletin), but I want us to consider that the goal is “developing healthy, mature followers of Jesus Christ.” Healthy is defined as “possessing or enjoying good health or a sound and vigorous mentality.” Mature is defined as “complete in natural growth or development.” (Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary) So, it could also be stated as “developing sound, vigorous, complete followers of Jesus Christ. We are not only co-labouring with God to accomplish this in others; it is the work that God is doing in us.
There are so many Scriptures that come to my mind. I was actually compiling them to place in this pondering but it would take up too much space. And then I realized that if you are as committed to the goal of health and maturity that God is for you, then you would want to look them up yourself anyway. So, here are a few passages form the Bible that you should meditate on: 2 Timothy 1:7; 4:1-4; Romans 8:6; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3-4; Philippians 3:7-16; Hebrews 12:1-13; 2 Peter 1:2-11.
We must not lose sight of the goal. Doing so gets people off the path. Jesus said his disciples must keep their eyes on the goal and not look back. We must press on towards the goal keeping our eyes on Jesus, Who calls us. I want to leave one Scripture for you to read here:
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:3-6)
I am thankful for you all and pray for your continued progress in Christ. God grants the power to accomplish what He calls us to. You lack nothing in Him. God is developing us into His healthy, mature sons and daughters so that He might reveal His glory in the earth like never before.
Journeying with you,
Merril
Thursday, 12 September 2013
September 2013 - Stirring Up Your Spirit
Pssst! Hey, have you heard …? We have a conference at the end of the month. ;-)
While there have been lots of ponderings I have been having lately, the Tree of Life Conference has been on my mind quite a bit. The Tree of Life is found in our Bibles at the beginning, middle and the end (Genesis 2-3, Ezekiel 47 and Revelation 2 & 22). The Tree of Life is based in the grace of God. It was offered to Adam and Eve without restriction. It is offered to us today in the same way in Christ. Jesus dies on a tree to give us free access again to the Tree of Life. It’s life never fades (“leaves never wither”) and it is continually producing fruit and healing.
It is with this grace of God in mind and spirit that I am approaching the conference. I hope others will too. Many people go to charismatic Christian conferences in an attempt to get something they don’t have (or perceive themselves not to have). Some even travel from conference to conference continually trying to gain something. My heart for the Tree of Life conference is that it be the “un-conference” of us all growing in what we already have. Consider a couple verses of Scripture:
2 Peter 1:2-4 (NKJV) Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NKJV) Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
The verse that God gave me for this conference is on the front of this month’s bulletin (Haggai 1:14). I believe God is stirring up our spirits to join in building His house. He is building up His church, us, to be the dwelling place He desires for His Spirit in this day (Ephesians 2:22). He is stirring up our spirits to join in the work because His house is built with the living stones of people (1 Peter 2:5). Deep is calling to deep — Spirit to spirit. The Spirit and the Bride say come … the time is now.
Journeying with you,
Pastor Merril
While there have been lots of ponderings I have been having lately, the Tree of Life Conference has been on my mind quite a bit. The Tree of Life is found in our Bibles at the beginning, middle and the end (Genesis 2-3, Ezekiel 47 and Revelation 2 & 22). The Tree of Life is based in the grace of God. It was offered to Adam and Eve without restriction. It is offered to us today in the same way in Christ. Jesus dies on a tree to give us free access again to the Tree of Life. It’s life never fades (“leaves never wither”) and it is continually producing fruit and healing.
It is with this grace of God in mind and spirit that I am approaching the conference. I hope others will too. Many people go to charismatic Christian conferences in an attempt to get something they don’t have (or perceive themselves not to have). Some even travel from conference to conference continually trying to gain something. My heart for the Tree of Life conference is that it be the “un-conference” of us all growing in what we already have. Consider a couple verses of Scripture:
2 Peter 1:2-4 (NKJV) Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NKJV) Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
The verse that God gave me for this conference is on the front of this month’s bulletin (Haggai 1:14). I believe God is stirring up our spirits to join in building His house. He is building up His church, us, to be the dwelling place He desires for His Spirit in this day (Ephesians 2:22). He is stirring up our spirits to join in the work because His house is built with the living stones of people (1 Peter 2:5). Deep is calling to deep — Spirit to spirit. The Spirit and the Bride say come … the time is now.
Journeying with you,
Pastor Merril
Wednesday, 7 August 2013
August 2013 - Sola Iesus Christus
One of the key statements of the Protestant Reformation was “sola scriptura,” which is Latin for “only Scripture” or “by Scripture alone.” This was a very important rallying cry for those who were standing against teachings and edicts that were not based in Scripture. Wycliffe, Hus, Luther, Calvin and many others were calling the church (especially its leaders) back to the base and basics of the Bible alone. As benefactors of the Protestant Reformation, we are pretty good at this.
Where we have possibly strayed is in applying the Word to our lives based upon our own interpretation of our destiny, identity, gifts and calling. The Bible becomes focussed upon us instead of upon revealing God to us. Don’t get me wrong, we are a specific focus of God’s plan and His plan of grace is revealed in Scripture. A standard practice of biblical interpretation is to let Scripture interpret Scripture. However, I would say that we should let Word interpret Word. Jesus interprets the Bible He wrote, not the other way around (while not taking from the fact that Jesus is revealed in Scripture). A key statement for us today could be “sola Iesus Christus” — it’s really about knowing Jesus.
Journeying with you,
Pastor Merril
Where we have possibly strayed is in applying the Word to our lives based upon our own interpretation of our destiny, identity, gifts and calling. The Bible becomes focussed upon us instead of upon revealing God to us. Don’t get me wrong, we are a specific focus of God’s plan and His plan of grace is revealed in Scripture. A standard practice of biblical interpretation is to let Scripture interpret Scripture. However, I would say that we should let Word interpret Word. Jesus interprets the Bible He wrote, not the other way around (while not taking from the fact that Jesus is revealed in Scripture). A key statement for us today could be “sola Iesus Christus” — it’s really about knowing Jesus.
- Jesus is the Word. (John 1:1)
- Jesus is the “brightness of God’s glory and the express image of His person.” (Heb. 1:3)
- Jesus is the only one to have seen the Father fully and completely. (John 6:46)
- Jesus is the revelation of the Father. (John 14:7)
Journeying with you,
Pastor Merril
Thursday, 25 July 2013
July 2013 - Great Grace Required
Welcome to summer! I trust you are grabbing onto all of the sunshine you can. I also hope you don’t forget to grab all the Son-shine you can over the summer. Becoming a Christian is not simply about having Jesus deal with our sin issue but it is about accepting an invitation by God to have Him effectively involved in every aspect and moment of our lives.
Which brings me to this month’s topic: grace. Grace is often seen as “unmerited favour” or “God’s riches at Christ’s expense.” While both of these things are true, they are also far less than the fullness of grace. Grace is not simply accepting but also enabling. Grace is not simply a passive attribute but also an active contribution.
I am convinced that we need to grow in grace (2 Pe. 3:18). It isn’t that we lack grace — we need to grow in it. God is the God of all grace (1 Pe. 5:10). And, He is able to make all grace about to us so that we have everything we need for every good work (2 Cor. 9:8). Our difficulty is not in availability, its with access. We need to grow in grace.
There are more good works. God has more glory to get out of our lives. Anything that is accomplished is done by grace (1 Cor. 15:10). This is not a condemnation because there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1). This is, however, a challenge to us all. One of the things noted of the early church was that great grace was upon them all (Acts 4:38). The amount of grace we are accessing is insufficient for what we are facing — in our lives, in our church, in our world. The revival we all desire will not happen apart from great grace active in our midst.
Growing in grace with you,
Pastor Merril
Which brings me to this month’s topic: grace. Grace is often seen as “unmerited favour” or “God’s riches at Christ’s expense.” While both of these things are true, they are also far less than the fullness of grace. Grace is not simply accepting but also enabling. Grace is not simply a passive attribute but also an active contribution.
I am convinced that we need to grow in grace (2 Pe. 3:18). It isn’t that we lack grace — we need to grow in it. God is the God of all grace (1 Pe. 5:10). And, He is able to make all grace about to us so that we have everything we need for every good work (2 Cor. 9:8). Our difficulty is not in availability, its with access. We need to grow in grace.
There are more good works. God has more glory to get out of our lives. Anything that is accomplished is done by grace (1 Cor. 15:10). This is not a condemnation because there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1). This is, however, a challenge to us all. One of the things noted of the early church was that great grace was upon them all (Acts 4:38). The amount of grace we are accessing is insufficient for what we are facing — in our lives, in our church, in our world. The revival we all desire will not happen apart from great grace active in our midst.
Growing in grace with you,
Pastor Merril
Wednesday, 5 June 2013
June 2013 - Body Building with Spiritual Gifts
This month we will be looking at the Gifts of the Spirit. Last month we considered the Holy Spirit, Himself. It’s important that we not lose the connection between the two. We certainly recognize that these spiritual gifts are not simply natural abilities that are taken to a new level by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not some gas with a higher octane rating that gives our natural engine more power. These gifts are not simply empowered by the Holy Spirit but originate from Him. 1 Corinthians 12 says that the gifts, or graces, are “manifestations” of the Spirit. They don’t enlighten us about man but about God dwelling in His temple.
There is a distinct difference between saying, “I have the gift of prophecy” and saying, “Holy Spirit often reveals Himself through me by prophecy.” I have seen an ownership problem with the spiritual gifts in some people’s lives. It’s far to easy to believe that a gift of the Spirit is for the one who has it. The truth is that the spiritual gift that resides in a Christian is for someone else, or for the church. I can benefit as part of the church, but the gift in me is still other-oriented. I believe God wants us to be healthier and more mature in relation to the spiritual gifts.
As we consider the spiritual gifts this month, we will not be so much looking at each gift as much the gifts overall. We will consider their purpose, public practice, personal engagement and priorities. Each of the passages in Romans, 1 Corinthians and Ephesians speak of Christ’s body and unity. So, we will be on a monthly body building exercise and I hope you will put in the time and effort any such exercise warrants.
Journeying with you,
Pastor Merril
There is a distinct difference between saying, “I have the gift of prophecy” and saying, “Holy Spirit often reveals Himself through me by prophecy.” I have seen an ownership problem with the spiritual gifts in some people’s lives. It’s far to easy to believe that a gift of the Spirit is for the one who has it. The truth is that the spiritual gift that resides in a Christian is for someone else, or for the church. I can benefit as part of the church, but the gift in me is still other-oriented. I believe God wants us to be healthier and more mature in relation to the spiritual gifts.
As we consider the spiritual gifts this month, we will not be so much looking at each gift as much the gifts overall. We will consider their purpose, public practice, personal engagement and priorities. Each of the passages in Romans, 1 Corinthians and Ephesians speak of Christ’s body and unity. So, we will be on a monthly body building exercise and I hope you will put in the time and effort any such exercise warrants.
Journeying with you,
Pastor Merril
May 2013 - Intoxicated?
Some of you who are reading this may be doing your own pondering: “What are they getting at with the cover of this month’s bulletin?” What is meant by “Intoxicated?”
Let me start by reminding you that the event that is being referred to happens this month. May 19th is the day we celebrate Pentecost in 2013. It reminds us of a pivotal moment in the life of the church. Jesus told the disciples to not simply go off and witness to His resurrection. He said they needed power. (See Acts 1:8)
As you go on to read the account of that particular Pentecost celebration (in Acts 2, also noted in the image on the front of the bulletin), you will read that some thought they were drunk—intoxicated (Acts 2:13,15). In the context of the event, those who thought they were drunk probably heard the newly “filled with the Holy Spirit” speaking in tongues they did not recognize. It was the claim of the doubtful. And yet, it is also possible to have such a euphoric experience in the Holy Spirit as to seem drunk.
There is a verse in the New Testament that also refers both to being drunk and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 says: “And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit” (HCSB). Or, consider how this verse is translated in The Message: “Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him.” Paul is comparing the level of drink needed to be intoxicated with the level of being filled with the Holy Spirit. How full do you feel?
The tense/voice/mood of the Greek word for “be filled” indicates that it is actually a continual action of being filled. This might seem like an odd thought if you think that once filled you are full and needing no more. That would be true if you were not a conduit for the Holy Spirit to move through (see John 7:38-39). That might also be true if you were a vessel that remained the same size (see what the NT says about increase). Or, that might be true if all areas of your life were completely transformed by God (see 2 Cor. 3:17-18).
I will leave you with an interesting example from the lives of people in the early church, some of which were there on that Pentecost where the Spirit of God filled them.
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31, NKJV)
Journeying with you,
Pastor Merril
Let me start by reminding you that the event that is being referred to happens this month. May 19th is the day we celebrate Pentecost in 2013. It reminds us of a pivotal moment in the life of the church. Jesus told the disciples to not simply go off and witness to His resurrection. He said they needed power. (See Acts 1:8)
As you go on to read the account of that particular Pentecost celebration (in Acts 2, also noted in the image on the front of the bulletin), you will read that some thought they were drunk—intoxicated (Acts 2:13,15). In the context of the event, those who thought they were drunk probably heard the newly “filled with the Holy Spirit” speaking in tongues they did not recognize. It was the claim of the doubtful. And yet, it is also possible to have such a euphoric experience in the Holy Spirit as to seem drunk.
There is a verse in the New Testament that also refers both to being drunk and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 says: “And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit” (HCSB). Or, consider how this verse is translated in The Message: “Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him.” Paul is comparing the level of drink needed to be intoxicated with the level of being filled with the Holy Spirit. How full do you feel?
The tense/voice/mood of the Greek word for “be filled” indicates that it is actually a continual action of being filled. This might seem like an odd thought if you think that once filled you are full and needing no more. That would be true if you were not a conduit for the Holy Spirit to move through (see John 7:38-39). That might also be true if you were a vessel that remained the same size (see what the NT says about increase). Or, that might be true if all areas of your life were completely transformed by God (see 2 Cor. 3:17-18).
I will leave you with an interesting example from the lives of people in the early church, some of which were there on that Pentecost where the Spirit of God filled them.
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31, NKJV)
Journeying with you,
Pastor Merril
Wednesday, 10 April 2013
April 2013 - More than Financial Debt
As we move from a month considering consumerism and its affects on us, there is an area that I believe needs to be pondered. Household financial indebtedness has risen to record levels. We are spending more than we make or have invested. I’ve been pondering how much this is reflected in the spiritual lives of Christians.
Are we making enough spiritual capital? Have we invested enough into our spiritual lives that we can continue to make the withdrawals our lives demand? Are there Christians on the verge of spiritual bankruptcy? Am I there, or close to there, or on my way there?
This month we will be looking at key investment areas for our spiritual lives. It is imperative that we have the spiritual capital as the world moves forward towards its end. Jesus asked a question that constantly challenges me in this way: “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8, NKJV)
There is a passage in Hebrews that I want to end this brief, but hopefully catalytic, pondering with. Now is not the time to coast in our Christianity. We must be serious about our spirituality. Consider the verse on the front of this bulletin and make sure we are storing up treasure in heaven (Mt. 6:19-20).
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:19-25)
Journeying with you,
Pastor Merril
Are we making enough spiritual capital? Have we invested enough into our spiritual lives that we can continue to make the withdrawals our lives demand? Are there Christians on the verge of spiritual bankruptcy? Am I there, or close to there, or on my way there?
This month we will be looking at key investment areas for our spiritual lives. It is imperative that we have the spiritual capital as the world moves forward towards its end. Jesus asked a question that constantly challenges me in this way: “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8, NKJV)
There is a passage in Hebrews that I want to end this brief, but hopefully catalytic, pondering with. Now is not the time to coast in our Christianity. We must be serious about our spirituality. Consider the verse on the front of this bulletin and make sure we are storing up treasure in heaven (Mt. 6:19-20).
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:19-25)
Journeying with you,
Pastor Merril
Tuesday, 12 March 2013
March 2013 2.0 - Have You Rolled Up Your Rim® Today?
So, this is Canada in the middle of March. Many Canadians are involved in their favourite pastime — rrrrrolling up the rim to win®. Yes, so many of us are hitting the drive-thru and checking to see what we have won. Many times us Christians are told to please pray again (I know, it says play, but be honest -- you pray before you roll the rim) and we dutifully do that.
My thoughts are about what we do with this process. Are you so excited about the prospect of winning that you dump out your coffee and roll up the rim without even drinking it? No, that would be ridiculous. Ok, let’s drink the coffee first. Now, are you so excited for winning a free coffee that you run out in the middle of your work, leaving your boss and your business to fend for themselves, while you go and turn in your coupon? Nope: something wrong there too. So, what do you do? You drink your coffee, get your coupon and then turn it when it is convenient and appropriate to do so.
So, what are you trying to tell me Pastor Merril? I’m saying that sometimes Holy Spirit empowered, prophetic people dump out their coffee and run off in the middle of something else that is happening just to hand in a coupon to someone, which they could receive and turn in at another time. I can understand the excitement of giving someone a prophecy or word of knowledge or word of wisdom just as much as handing someone the Rav-4 coupon that you rolled up on your coffee cup. However, it is impolite and even can be rude to dump out the cup of coffee that God has been asking you to drink or to interrupt the conversation He is having with everyone just to run off and hand someone a coupon. Our personal agendas, desires or passions do not trump God’s plans for a group event (see Luke 14:16-24).
If God is speaking to you something that you need to pass on to someone else, while in the middle of worship or a sermon for example, then note it internally or externally (paper, smartphone, etc.) and wait for the proper time to pass it on. You could even ask the Lord to deepen what He is speaking while continuing to worship, or whatever else is happening. Allow what God is speaking to you to actually affect you so that you don’t simply deliver it like it is just some coupon but let it actually be rooted in the power of relationship. Also watch for times in group settings where a declaration, proclamation, prophecy or prayer is appropriate to be given to someone, but be mindful to not interrupt what God is doing in you and others.
In 2012, 64% of 911 calls in Edmonton were not emergencies. The majority of prophetic messages that prophetic people receive are not emergencies. Wait for the appropriate moment and still be the Holy Spirit empowered, prophetic people God still wants us all to be.
Journeying with you, Pastor Merril
My thoughts are about what we do with this process. Are you so excited about the prospect of winning that you dump out your coffee and roll up the rim without even drinking it? No, that would be ridiculous. Ok, let’s drink the coffee first. Now, are you so excited for winning a free coffee that you run out in the middle of your work, leaving your boss and your business to fend for themselves, while you go and turn in your coupon? Nope: something wrong there too. So, what do you do? You drink your coffee, get your coupon and then turn it when it is convenient and appropriate to do so.
So, what are you trying to tell me Pastor Merril? I’m saying that sometimes Holy Spirit empowered, prophetic people dump out their coffee and run off in the middle of something else that is happening just to hand in a coupon to someone, which they could receive and turn in at another time. I can understand the excitement of giving someone a prophecy or word of knowledge or word of wisdom just as much as handing someone the Rav-4 coupon that you rolled up on your coffee cup. However, it is impolite and even can be rude to dump out the cup of coffee that God has been asking you to drink or to interrupt the conversation He is having with everyone just to run off and hand someone a coupon. Our personal agendas, desires or passions do not trump God’s plans for a group event (see Luke 14:16-24).
If God is speaking to you something that you need to pass on to someone else, while in the middle of worship or a sermon for example, then note it internally or externally (paper, smartphone, etc.) and wait for the proper time to pass it on. You could even ask the Lord to deepen what He is speaking while continuing to worship, or whatever else is happening. Allow what God is speaking to you to actually affect you so that you don’t simply deliver it like it is just some coupon but let it actually be rooted in the power of relationship. Also watch for times in group settings where a declaration, proclamation, prophecy or prayer is appropriate to be given to someone, but be mindful to not interrupt what God is doing in you and others.
In 2012, 64% of 911 calls in Edmonton were not emergencies. The majority of prophetic messages that prophetic people receive are not emergencies. Wait for the appropriate moment and still be the Holy Spirit empowered, prophetic people God still wants us all to be.
Journeying with you, Pastor Merril
Thursday, 28 February 2013
March 2013 - Easter Rocks!
Easter is early this year. We will be celebrating it on the last day of March. Of the many holidays (holy-days) that appear on our calendar, this is the supreme event for followers of Christ. This is the World Cup of Christian holidays. And yet … it often isn’t celebrated by Christians in that manner. Christmas is the king of holidays for most Christians in our North American culture. Why is that?
We need to own up to a consumerism that can corrupt and co-opt our walk with Christ. There is a degree of self-interest that enjoys a baby born in a manger more than a death and resurrection. The gift-giving theme of Christmas is far more marketable than the self-sacrificing death of Good Friday. How much of this consumer mentality actually causes us to celebrate Christmas over Easter?
Christmas is comparatively nothing without Easter. Jesus knew He was born to die for us. Christmas without Easter is like any other visit by royalty — brief and exciting but without lasting merit. Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection are at the heart of Christianity. Paul preached Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor. 1:23, 2:2). Paul knew that all of life revolved around being crucified with Christ and Christ living through him (Gal. 2:20; Phil. 3:10).
I pray that by the end of March, we will be celebrating Easter like never before — not with a new consumerism but with a new heart. I pray we will be able to separate the consumeristic influence of the world from our Christianity. I look forward to a passionate pursuit of God that would reveal Christ’s Passion to those around us. I’m excited to see the stone of consumerism rolled away from our lives and Jesus breaking forth.
Journeying with you,
Pastor Merril
We need to own up to a consumerism that can corrupt and co-opt our walk with Christ. There is a degree of self-interest that enjoys a baby born in a manger more than a death and resurrection. The gift-giving theme of Christmas is far more marketable than the self-sacrificing death of Good Friday. How much of this consumer mentality actually causes us to celebrate Christmas over Easter?
Christmas is comparatively nothing without Easter. Jesus knew He was born to die for us. Christmas without Easter is like any other visit by royalty — brief and exciting but without lasting merit. Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection are at the heart of Christianity. Paul preached Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor. 1:23, 2:2). Paul knew that all of life revolved around being crucified with Christ and Christ living through him (Gal. 2:20; Phil. 3:10).
I pray that by the end of March, we will be celebrating Easter like never before — not with a new consumerism but with a new heart. I pray we will be able to separate the consumeristic influence of the world from our Christianity. I look forward to a passionate pursuit of God that would reveal Christ’s Passion to those around us. I’m excited to see the stone of consumerism rolled away from our lives and Jesus breaking forth.
Journeying with you,
Pastor Merril
February 2013 - Unity
As I was pondering about my pondering … that is what I do when I work on these :) … I couldn’t get my mind off of the informational meeting we had on January 20th to discuss the finances. I must admit that what you (this church, this body) displayed at the meeting was amazing and inspiring. More was accomplished in that meeting than is represented by the offering from that morning and the Sunday following. You showed such great unity of faith and purpose—more than I have ever seen here in the more than thirteen years that I have been part of this body. True unity as a body a significant key to seeing God’s blessing, provision, power and glory at the Freedom Centre. Look at some Scriptures: (all from the NKJV with my underlining)
It is vital as we move forward that we keep this unity. I know that God this is important to God and that He is watching over it. Much of Paul’s motivation in writing his first letter to the Corinthians is rooted in dealing with dishonour and disunity. Following close after the quote above from the end of Acts 4, we read at the beginning of Acts 5 how God dealt with those who would bring dishonour and disunity at the crucial moment where His blessing, provision, power and glory were being released in the church.
God is doing a great work here. We are moving into more things that have never fully come to pass at the Freedom Centre. As we advance, let us be careful about unity, just as Paul wrote:
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3, NLT)
Journeying with you, Pastor Merril
- Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!
…
For there the Lord commanded the blessing—
Life forevermore. (Psalm 133) - Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. (Acts 4:32-35)
- I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (John 17:20-23 — Jesus praying)
It is vital as we move forward that we keep this unity. I know that God this is important to God and that He is watching over it. Much of Paul’s motivation in writing his first letter to the Corinthians is rooted in dealing with dishonour and disunity. Following close after the quote above from the end of Acts 4, we read at the beginning of Acts 5 how God dealt with those who would bring dishonour and disunity at the crucial moment where His blessing, provision, power and glory were being released in the church.
God is doing a great work here. We are moving into more things that have never fully come to pass at the Freedom Centre. As we advance, let us be careful about unity, just as Paul wrote:
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3, NLT)
Journeying with you, Pastor Merril
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)