I AM WHO I AM but I AM NOT WHO I USED TO BE but I AM NOT YET WHO I WILL BE

One of the greatest lies that the would-be enemy of all souls attempts to perpetuate is that we are what we are and we can never change. This lie is whispered into the ears of many people’s invisible ears so imperceptibly that they actually think it originated with them. “You were born this way – and you can never change”, “This is who you really are – and you can never change”, “There’s no hope of anything ever changing for better – so you might as well just kill yourself” and so on. But these sly alien voices inside the heads of the vulnerable are lies. People can change. People do change. Some circumstances were always going to be temporary and were always going to change. I know this is true because I am living proof. I am who I am but I am not who I used to be and I am not yet who I will be.

But by the grace of God I am what I am,
and His grace toward me was not in vain.
On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them,
though it was not I,
but the grace of God that is with me.
First Corinthians 15:10

In the divinely planted paradisical garden the would-be enemy of all souls deceived the First-Woman. “But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil’” (Gen. 3:4-5). The heart of the Evil-One’s deception was the distorted and sarcastic claim, “You will be like God.” The First-Woman was strangely enchanted by this deception. I need to interrupt myself at this point because there are several things we need to know about God: God uniquely possesses eternality, omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, and immutability. Only God possesses immutability. That is, only God never changes because only He is infinitely perfect. The irony of the Evil-One’s temptation was that the First-Woman was actually created to be like God in many ways – except in the ways that make God unique —

¶ Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.
And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds
of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth
and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
¶ So God created man in His own image,
in the image of God He created him;
male and female He created them.
Genesis 1:26-27

The deception of the Evil-One’s false claim was immediately exposed when Adam and the First-Woman succumbed to their Enemy’s temptation. Not only did they not become like God in every respect, they actually lost some of the attributes they had possessed which did reflect God’s image in them. After this fall from their original innocence, Adam and the First-Woman discovered for themselves that they were not – and never were – immutable (unchangeable) like God is. The truth is that the fall of the original human pair which resulted decay, deterioration, disease, and death – which are all indicators that every human being is subject to change.

But this truth also has a positive element. Even shortly after the Fall of mankind, God changed mankind’s location and then charged them to change their surroundings and then he told Cain that he should have changed his sinful emotions. The power to choose enables the power to change.

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD,
choose this day whom you will serve,
whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River,
or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.
But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
…Then Joshua said to the people,
“You are witnesses against yourselves that you
have chosen the LORD, to serve Him.”
And they said, “We are witnesses.”
Joshua 24:15, 22

The apostle Paul is a prime example of the capacity for a person to change – particularly when empowered by the grace of God to do so. He was a religious zealot for Judaism. He was extremely religious. But he then discovered that, despite being religious, his religious devotion to a falsehood could never have made him right with God. When he encountered the Risen Christ, he changed. He changed his mind, his views, his perceptions of God, and he changed his views about non-Jews. As we observe the young apostle Paul we hear him telling his readers that he was –

Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles.
Second Corinthians 11:5

For I am the least of the apostles,
unworthy to be called an apostle,
because I persecuted the church of God.
First Corinthians 15:9

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints,
this grace was given,
to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
Ephesians 3:8

The apostle Paul seems to have changed over the course of his life from a rather self-confident man to a very humble man. This life-journey was not unique to Paul. In fact, the record of history reveals that most of those people who encounter Christ, either in person or through His Word, embark on a similar journey. While all human-beings have the capacity to change, whenever a person encounters Christ, the capacity to change for the better is supernaturally empowered. And this has been my story and my journey so far (which is not over yet).

For those who have been lied to that they are what they are and that they can never change, there is good news. You can change. And if you encounter Jesus in person or through His Word you can change in truly positive ways. And I should know. I have. And you can too. Here is the invitation from Jesus for you to experience previously unbelievable change –   

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.
The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Second Corinthians 5:17

You are not yet who you could be. But if you surrender to Christ, history tells us – and I can personally confirm, you can become who you were created by God to be. And perhaps for where you’re at now in your life, this might be the best news you’ve heard today.

Your Pastor,

Andrew

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WHO DOES THIS 'EPHESIANS' FELLA THINK HE IS!@#%!

 

It may well still be the best-selling book of all time – and continues year-by-year to be so – but certainly is not the best-read of our current times! If there was ever any doubt about this, the events this week in Hobart, at St. Mary’s (Catholic) College Girl’s School, should remove all doubt! A furore erupted over the news that the prescribed Scripture reading for the year-end graduation celebration, which incorporated a Mass, was “Wives submit to your husbands” taken from Ephesians. Callers into ABC radio’s breakfast program decried this assault against women – especially young, vulnerable girls. One caller, responding to the news that the text being used was a citation from Ephesians, denounced Ephesians and apparently demanded, “Just who does this Ephesians bloke think he is?!” Another caller stated, “Why are they quoting ancient Roman philosophers in the twenty-first century?!” And yet another caller somehow linked all religious wars to passages like this one in the Bible! He remarked, “I’m an atheist. All wars are started by those who are religious! No war was ever started by atheists!” (Perhaps he had never heard of Stalin, Adolf Hitler, Mao Zedong, Pol Pot, Vladimir Putin, who were collectively responsible for the deaths of over 20,000,000?) This furore led to the Archbishop conceding that the Ephesians passage did not have to be used at the graduation ceremony. But this furore has highlighted just how unaware many Tasmanians are about what the Bible is, what is actually says, and why it says it. And I am now about to correct this deficiency.  

IS THIS REALLY A FURORE ABOUT EPHESIANS?

To say that the Tasmanian Archbishop, Julian Porteous DD, has been in the cross-hairs of those who object to the moral teaching of Christianity might be the biggest understatement you will hear today. He has faced opposition at every turn – from the media, the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal, from unwitting Catholic school-girls (who drew the rainbow flag in chalk on the pavement outside their school as a demonstration against the Archbishop), and from those who salute the rainbow flag. He has faithfully defended what the Bible teaches about: the value of human life; human sexuality and gender; the sacredness of marriage between a husband and wife; and the liberty that everyone has to live out their religious convictions in the public square.

It is my suspicion that the particular text from Ephesians has been used many times previously in many other Catholic School assemblies and even graduations. So why now did it become so objectionable? It might also be my suspicion that this is yet another possible attempt to oppose Archbishop Porteous. To his credit, the Archbishop was quick to diffuse this furore by replacing this particular Scripture reading.

 

SOME INTERESTING AND LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT EPHESIANS

It is apparently a little known fact, at least here in Tasmania, that Ephesians was not a Roman philosopher. It is a similarly little known fact (again in Tasmania) that Ephesians was actually an epistle (a letter) written by the Apostle Paul to the Christians living in the Turkish city of Ephesus. 

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
¶ To the saints [Christians] who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus
Ephesians Chapter 1, Verse 1.

Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians is one of the twenty-seven divinely inspired documents of what is called, The New Testament. When scholars begin to examine a New Testament Epistle they begin by asking, What was the occasion, the reason, for the epistle to have been written. In asking this question of Ephesians scholars point out that a believer’s relationship with Jesus the Christ effected every relationship they had with others.

In Ephesians chapter 1, The Christ has made a relationship with God the Father possible (eg. Eph. 1:3-4).

In Ephesians chapter 2, The Christ has made a relationship with people who are ethnically and culturally different possible  (eg. Eph. 2:12-13).

In Ephesians chapter 3, The Christ has made relationships within a church comprised of other previously unfamiliar Christians possible (eg. Eph. 3:6).

In Ephesians chapter 4, The Christ has made a relationship with those God has placed as leaders within the church possible (eg. Eph. 4:2-4, 12).

In Ephesians chapter 5, The Christ has made a loving and lasting relationship between a husband wife possible (Eph. 5:28).

In Ephesians chapter 6, The Christ enriches the relationship of a parent with child/ren (eg. Eph. 6:1-4).

Hopefully you can see from this quick survey of The Epistle to the Ephesians that it is built around our various relationship and how people can get along and serve others. And just to quell the furore over the one verse in Chapter 5, I would like to conclude by taking a look at its context and then explain why it would have been not just appropriate for the St. Mary’s Girls College for it to have been read during their October 25th graduation celebration, but actually quite profoundly helpful for every young girl to know.

 

HOW EPHESIANS CHAPTER 5 REVEALS THE SECRET TO A HAPPY AND FULFILLED MARRIAGE

To the credit of the ABC Tasmania journalist, Loretta Lohberger, she actually cited not just the contentious verse at the centre of the furore, but quite a bit of its context. Having already drawn attention to the overall context of this Epistle as dealing with how we relate with others, it important to note that before the Apostle Paul (under the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit) tells wives to respect and submit to the husbands, he states this in the verse before it–

¶ And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Ephesians 5:21

Paul then explains how his overall point (that a relationship with Jesus the Christ enhances all of our other relationships) applies to a marriage relationship. He states that marriage is actually given by God as a picture of the closeness that God the Son (Jesus) wants with all His followers (the Church, comprised of all believers). A Christian’s relationship with Jesus is likened to the relationship between a husband and a wife. This is a relationship of mutual surrender (submission).

This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Ephesians 5:32-33

Jesus demonstrated the ultimate surrender by willingly dying the death that we all deserve. At the heart of what it means to love is the word surrender and serve the other. There is simply no greater example of this in all of human history than what Christ did on the cross of His crucifixion nearly 2,000 years ago! Thus, when the next verse instructs wives –

¶ Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:22

In its context it is saying, wives love your own husbands just as Christ has taught you what love really is. It goes on to speak to husbands with the even greater challenge –

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her…In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
Ephesians 5:25, 28

Husbands are instructed to love their wives by their complete surrender to them! This is the kind of love that protects, treasures, listens to, seeks to understand, selflessly serves, and prioritises his wife’s highest good and best interests. What woman would not want a husband like that? The injunction to wives to submit to their husbands presupposes that their husband has already demonstrated his submission and love for her. And when it comes to a young lady preparing to embark on what she should rightfully expect to be a lifelong journey of marital happiness, she should never commit her life to any man who has not already demonstrated his preparedness to love her like Christ has, and continues to, love His bride: the Church.

So let’s sum what we’ve learned. Ephesians was not an ancient Roman philosopher. Ephesians is the name of an Epistle in the New Testament of the Bible. Most wars were not the fault of the Bible passages such as Ephesians 5:22. The verse at the centre of the St. Mary’s College furore is far from demeaning to women — it is in fact the basis for a happy, fulfilling, lifelong marriage with a husband who commits to love his wife as Christ loves all those who are part of His Church, His bride.

And, if you are someone who would like to become familiar with and understand the Bible, I invite you to join me in a short daily YouTube video where I read through a portion of the Bible and give some background to it [VIEW].  

Your Pastor,

Andrew

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THE LORD IS MY ROCK

 

Of the many tributes paid to her majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, was the often noted reflection that during her reign the world underwent a series of rapid changes that were dramatic and unprecedented in human history. There were technological inventions that revolutionised the way people could access international travel options enabling them to be virtually anywhere in the world within a matter of hours. New forms of communication emerged with the development of a global satellite communications network enabling people to watch Neil Armstrong take his one giant leap Live on their black-and-white TV screens (as I did in the corridors of Corio Primary School in 1969). Space exploration, the stuff previously just in the realm of science fiction writers, became a reality with manned and unmanned voyages to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. But the past one hundred years have also been a time of great upheaval with empires crumbling, governments toppled, wars waged, genocides committed, pandemics raging, nations birthed, rulers assassinated, and massive refugee movements from oppressive Islamic and Communist regimes. Added to this has been the demise of professional journalism and the rise of internet-citizen-journalism where it is now common for TV News reports to feature footage taken from someone’s cell-phone which was posted on social media rather than the more expensive option of sending their own film crew there. And while we’re mentioning the internet, let’s not forget to mention – the internet. This alone has possibly been the most monumental change in the way people communicate, work, learn, and shop. But while it was noted that the Queen had witnessed all of these many changes, it was also noted that the Queen herself was an unchanging constant during all these upheavals who brought about a sense of stability, peace and reassurance. To millions of people around the world, she was their rock in a world of turmoil and change. Yet this was only possible because she herself had an immovable, dependable rock upon which she had built her life.  

WHEN EVERYTHING AROUND YOU SEEMS TO BE CHANGING, YOU NEED A ROCK YOU CAN RELY ON

Before David of Bethlehem became King of Israel, he was wanted man who was being hunted by the government falsely accused of treason. He had gone from being a national hero and the son-in-law of the king where enjoyed fame, fortune and favour. But then everything changed. In his journal he described this change as, “Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked”. It seemed to David that his world was in upheaval. His wealth was gone. His wife had left him. His father disowned him. His father-in-law wanted to kill him. David had no choice but to flee from his former security into the wilderness of uncertainty. But it was there that he found in the foothills of the mountainous territories a huge hollowed out rock. In this cave David found a sanctuary. Everyone had abandoned him. He was alone with no-one to help him. It was then that he penned these words of a song –

Within this rock David reflected upon the only One who stood by Him. His Rock. The LORD. So much in his life was now uncertain, but there was one thing that remained certain. Because he had surrendered his life to the God who had made Heaven and Earth – he was certain that God would protect and guide him. He knew that if he called upon the LORD that he could rest in the assurance that only the unchanging God could bring.

Even though he was in the grip of depression, he had good reasons to turn to his Rock, the LORD, to Whom he could turn for help and guidance – 

The Queen had discovered what David had discovered long ago, that in the midst of massive change and uncertainty, there is One who remains unchanged in His goodness, care, faithfulness, and mercy, who is a Rock to those who enter into His fortress of care. It is in this hollow of safety that those who have taken refuge in Him are compelled to show Him their gratitude in worship.

“This God—His way is perfect; … for all those who take refuge in Him” became David’s declaration to all those who are ever unsettled by uncertainties and great upheaval. No matter what is rocking your world there is a Rock who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving, who can your Rock too.

Your Pastor,

Andrew

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WHO BUILDS A CITY ON A HILL?

 

For those who don’t know, I was born in Geelong, and have always been fan of the Geelong Football Club. But I’m not just a fan, I’m a paid-up member of the Club. In fact, I’m a student of AFL (as one of my recent Pastor’s Desk illustrated). Coincidentally, at the start of the AFL season this year I was invited to preach in Victoria by a good friend, Jim. Jim used to pastor in a large inner-city Melbourne church then a few years ago had a sea-change when he and Robyn moved to the country to pastor a historic church. Normally when I am invited to speak at a church I speak at meetings on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. But Pastor Jim said we were not going to do any meeting on Saturday—instead, we were going to Melbourne to watch the opening AFL game of the season between his team, the Essendon Bombers and my team, the Geelong Cats. And when I say “his” team, I mean Jim is just as passionate about the Bombers as I am about the Cats – except that Jim is able to make it to most of their games. And while my team ended up winning the season and then the Grand Final, Jim’s team ended the season in turmoil.

On Wednesday, Pastor Jim rang me and asked if I had heard the news that the Bombers had just appointed a new CEO? But more importantly, he wanted to know if I had heard that the appointment of the former CEO of the National Australia Bank, Andrew Thorburn, as the new CEO of the Essendon Bombers had aroused such hostility from a particular journalist? Apparently the journalist had taken great offence that Mr. Thorburn was the Chairman of an Anglican Church, City On A Hill, which actually believed what Jesus taught about the sacredness of life, the sanctity of marriage, and the sanctitude of sex. While journalists are often unaware (in my experience) of what Jesus Christ taught and Christianity represents, Premiers — such as Dan Andrews — is actually expected to be aware of it! Instead, Premier Andrews accused Mr Thorburn of being ‘homophobic’ and said that the Essendon Football Club should not associate with such people. What followed was that some journalists began referring to the church – City on a Hill – as a cult with extremist ideas such as “anti-abortion”. This accusation illustrates just how Biblically-illiterate many in our culture have now become.  

 

HOW CHRIST CHANGED THE VALUES OF THE WORLD!

The Cross

The universal symbol of Christianity is the cross. The symbol of the cross, now worn as jewellery around people’s necks, symbolises love, peace, sacrificial care, and the work of Christ. But the cross, the instrument of the Roman Empire’s most violent vengeance and wrath upon those who dared to defy them, stood as a despised symbol of the ultimate humiliation and pain.

¶ 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.
First Corinthians 1:18

And being found in human form,
He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:8

The Church

Cities are always built near abundant fresh water or harbours – not on top of hills! Which is why the choice for the ancient location Israel’s capital, Jerusalem, was very odd because it was built on a hill where there was no water (a problem creatively solved by King Hezekiah in 2Kings 20:20). Jerusalem was chosen by God to be His city which was to be a statement and a wonder to the surrounding nations. Coincidentally, Christ said that His followers would be “a city on a hill”.

¶ “You are the light of the world.
A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Matthew 5:14

In other words, Christ’s followers would be a wonder to the world that would defy reason (Jn. 17:20-21). By describing them with the odd expression “a city on a hill” Christ was describing the spiritually supernatural nature of His followers united together as the church. The Church is unlike any other organisation or corporation on earth! While companies and governments need masses of money to solve their many problems, the Church taps into its supernatural resources of prayer, spiritual gifts, ministries, and servant-hearted volunteers, and can often solve the same problems at a fraction of the cost. 

Humility

In the Greco-Roman world into which Christ entered humility was seen as weakness. The most despised role in the Greco-Roman world was that of a slave. Yet, after Christ came as a humble servant, the world no longer regarded humility or servant-hearted leadership as weaknesses – but as virtues.

Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me,
for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:29

Love, Sex, and Gender

The basis of relationships in the Greco-Roman world was often transactional – that is, people would form alliances through treaties or marriage contracts. Love rarely entered into the equation. But when Jesus came He taught that the basis of relationships and interactions with other people – and especially marriage between a man and woman – was love.

¶ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Matthew 5:43-44

Christ’s description of marriage included statements about how His Father created all people as either male or female and that human bodies are created sacred, and sexual. Jesus said that sexual union was designed by God to be exclusively between a husband and wife (“the two become one flesh”) –

He [Jesus] answered, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said,
‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?
So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Matthew 19:4-6

 

SO WHO BUILDS A CHURCH & NAMES IT, A CITY ON A HILL?

When the journalist and then the Premier of Victoria accused both Andrew Thorburn and A City on a Hill church of being anti-abortion and homophobic they committed two mistakes. Firstly, they named-called. Whenever someone does not have a case to make they often resort to name-calling. Secondly, they ridiculed people they did not know. Mr Andrew Thorburn is a highly respected corporate leader who has a wealth of corporate leadership experience. A City on a Hill is a church in eight locations around Australia which is under the auspices of the Anglican Church of Australia. It is a highly regarded church that teaches the Word of God and strives to encourage its members to live authentic Christ-following lives. This is why Melbourne Archbishop Philip Frier was quick to defend A City on a Hill and its leadership as godly and Christ-honouring people, including Mr Andrew Thorburn, its Board Chairman. While I feel for the unfair treatment that Mr Thorburn has had to endure, I also feel sad for the Essendon Football Club who would have benefited greatly from the much needed culture change that Mr Thorburn would have instigated. May God continue to bless the members, leaders, and Board of City on a Hill and may God also continue to use them to raise even more Company CEOs of many of Australia’s leading companies, and maybe even a few CEOs of AFL Football teams! So Who builds a city on a hill? Christ does, that’s who! And He calls it His Church.

Your Pastor,

Andrew

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