WHAT DO YOU

What do you want? What do you want to do? What do you hope to achieve? What do you long to buy? What do you wish for your community? What do you need to change? What do you aspire to learn? What do you dream of leaving as a legacy for the next generation? What do you desire? Your life, your achievements, your reputation, your acquisitions, will inevitably be shaped by what you desire. I do not at all mean by what you claim you desire, but what you actually desire. Desires that are virtuous will shape you into a truly successful person. Desires that are wicked (‘concupiscence’) will deny you your path to you divinely intended destiny. When it comes to choosing your desires, choose wisely. 

¶ May He grant you your heart’s desire
and fulfil all your plans!
Psalm 20:4

How would you feel if a true prophet of the LORD gave you a Word from God that resembled Psalm 20:4? But even if you received that Word from the LORD it would still start with your true and godly desires. In fact, of my five decade study of people who have managed to achieve the extraordinary, I came to realise that they each had one thing in common: an undaunted and clear desire. Perhaps one of the greatest and most inspirational examples of this is the story of José Hernández. It is the true story of man who came from an unimaginably difficult upbringing and deprivation to reach his ridiculously big dream. After he realised his life-goal, he wrote his story ‘A Million Miles Away‘ (2023) to inspire others who have been told, “That’s ridiculous! … You’re crazy! … You could never do that —you’re uneducated! … That’s impossible! … Don’t be so idealistic!” The José Hernández story highlights what someone might be able to achieve when they have ‘proven’ desire. (‘Proven desire’ is the kind of desire that stands the test of time, leads to great sacrifices, produces dedication, and does whatever it takes.)   

WHAT DO YOU…

You have given him his heart’s desire
and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah
Psalm 21:2

What do you want / to do / achieve / buy / to do to improve your community / to change about yourself / to learn / to leave as a legacy for the next generation? Whatever it is, that aspiration (longing) is determined by what you desire. You may not know what you really desire. But others can see it clearly. These people, often your colleagues, friends, or family, can tell what your desires are (despite your own denials about knowing what you really desire). They can see what you actually desire by what you do everyday seen in how you spend your time, talents, and treasure. They listen closely to your constant excuses about why you couldn’t get something done, or why you didn’t have enough time, or why none of the diets you’ve tried have worked, or why you couldn’t make it to church lately even though you claim to love Jesus. But most of all they can tell by what you really desire by what you’re prepared to sacrifice to fulfil it.

But maybe you already know that these people who care about you are right? Perhaps you are even disappointed with how the way you spend your time or use your talents or even how you manage your money – does not reflect what you really really would like to desire? Then, my challenging question to you is: Do you desire to change this?  

Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

RESET YOUR DESIRES

Christianity is grounded in a vigorously denied truth: God can change people. This is called conversion. It begins with the acceptance of the truth. No matter what mistakes you have made in the past, GOD can forgive you and transform you into a new creature.

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

Without experiencing GOD’s transforming gift of grace we would all be left prisoners to the bondage of sin that corrupts desires into concupiscence (“evil desires”). But GOD’s gift of new life opens our eyes to how wretched we were without GOD’s help and why we need to turn to Him for the grace to live with godly desires that will be the doorway for each of us to fulfil our GOD given purpose in life (Prov. 10:24; 11:23).

He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him;
He also hears their cry and saves them.
Psalm 145:19

Resetting desires even begins with a feint desire for GOD to have His way (Matt. 6:33). Sometimes all it takes is a change from “won’t” to: “can’t”. GOD can help your “can’t” – but not your “won’t”. Reset desires shift your perspective from selfish to selfless. It shifts your vision of people as a means to get things done to a vision of getting things done as a means to get closer to people. (This is why being in church each Sunday is actually not about you. It’s about you together with other people getting closer to God and each other.)  

 

RESET DESIRES

For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work [NET “desire”] for his good pleasure.
¶ Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent,
children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation,
among whom you shine as lights in the world.
Philippians 2:13-15

Australia has a rather desperate need for more younger pastors. When I was 18-years of age I went to my pastor, Joseph Bowes, around at his house one weekday morning. I announced the purpose of my visit, “I think God is calling me into ministry.” But I then said to him, “But I guess you have a lot of young men tell you that.” He answered, “No I don’t.” (Two years earlier I had received the baptism in the Holy Spirit.) What followed this morning meeting with Pastor Joe, was an encouragement to finish school, get a job and even pursue a career. The desires that God had reset in me led me to connect with Richard Winter who had studied theology in the USA and who encouraged me to begin studying theology by distance with ICI Theological College (now Global University based in Springfield Missouri). Richard Winter connected me into Overseas Christian Fellowship where I helped where I could. Then one Friday night, unbeknown to me, the desire of my life walked in. She had bleached blonde hair and four earrings in each ear.

Just prior to meeting this 19-year-old young lady, I had had a vivid dream about her. When I met her that Friday night and looked at her for the first time at the end of the night I instantly recognised her as the woman of my dreams! Kim awakened in me a desire that I did not know I had. After a life of being a confirmed-bachelor I declared to my sister, Narelle, that “Last night I met the woman I was going to marry!” It’s important for me to tell you that my reset desires had involved a rock-solid commitment to Matthew 6:33 – seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. I had not made seeking first a wife my greatest desire. My commitment to God first led to Him awakening in me a desire to be married to Kim. After 36-years of marriage I can confidently say both Kim and I have the same desire, to – seek first the Kingdom of God.

I only share this story because I want you to understand that when your desires are reset by God with you applying Matthew 6:33, then God often awakens within you subsequent “secondary” desires that may have lain dormant within your soul for a long time. Some of you have dormant desires within you that will be awakened by your surrender to God that will lead you to be a business person. Some of you have dormant secondary desires that will lead to be an elite athlete. For some of you this will lead to being in politics, or education, or as a chef, or as a pastor (1Tim. 3:1), or as an actor, or even as an author. I hope the example of José Hernández inspires you to understand the price that has to be paid to fulfil your true desires. As my time comes to end, and in whatever time I have left, I hope to hear that many of you will pay the price for pursuing your desire to fulfil your divinely appointed destiny. (And remember Second Timothy 3:12 and First Peter 3:10 as you do.)

¶ Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.
Romans 10:1

Your Pastor,

Andrew

Let me know what you think below in the comment section and feel free to share this someone who might benefit from this Pastor’s Desk.

COMFORTING COMPLEX GRIEVERS

I have just spent some time with a grieving father. It’s been seven years. But he still hurts. Sadder still, he is still being hurt by those innocently wishing him well. Of course, wishing wells come in three varieties. There’s the one where you toss a coin in to make a wish. The other one can either be done poorly or well. And then there’s how we convey support for someone (when we wish them well). I’m sure all three have their place, but I am particularly interested in the last two of the three, and am most particularly interested in the last variety because it affects people like my friend, the grieving father. If you want to truly comfort those grieving a tragic loss, then consider this advice on wishing well.  

THE SPIRITUAL ART OF WISHING

Wishing is Biblical. The most common form of “wish” in the Bible (Greek word, ‘thelo’) means to will, desire, want. We use wish in this sense when we say things like, “I wish it would stop raining.” There are other uses of wish in the Bible which seem to go further than this and mean- to have a deep longing for. For example, the Apostle Paul had a deep longing and wish for his countrymen to come to know Christ and be saved from their sin.

¶ Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.
Romans 10:1

God’s wish and deep longing goes further and is toward all people to be saved –

The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Second Peter 3:9

Thus, wishing has a spiritual element.

THE LIMITS OF WISHING

Even though we wish for certain things to be different or to be changed, there are some things which no amount of wishing could ever change, such as, changing the past – especially a past where there was the loss of a loved one. Wishing works best when focussed on the future.

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
Philippians 3:13

WISHING WELL

What should we say to someone who is grieving the loss of a loved one? I’m sure that most of us would want to wish them well. However, this intention sometimes fails in its delivery. For example, “You’ll get over this” might be true, but it can sound like a lack of compassion and sympathy (as if the life of the lost can easily be forgotten). “God has a reason“, can sound like God had just smitten a person with His wrath because they were particularly wicked. Well meaning people can say well meaning things that sound cruel to the griever and become unintentionally hurtful.   

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs 12:18

How should we comfort those grieving the loss of a loved one who has taken their own life? Therapists call this kind of grief ‘complex grief’ because grief normally involves sadness and a measure of anger toward the cause of the death. This is made complex when the loved one is the cause. 

Counselors call this kind of grief a complicated grief or a complicated bereavement because grievers are actually dealing with two realities: grief and trauma. The grief of losing a loved one is normal and expected, but with suicide comes trauma. In processing a suicide, there is no easy path to peace and the grief journey cycles through all sorts of different feelings and emotions.
Christianity Today, October 20 2017

The kind of mental anguish that causes so much pain that it leads someone to take their own life is hard to understand. But I think that we as Christians should make every effort to try. Too many of us are too busy. It takes time and great patience to convey the kind of empathy the mentally ill could benefit from. In talking with my friend today, I asked him what was it that people said that really didn’t help? He gave me a list. Among that list were these things that he said should never be said to someone grieving the passing a loved one who has taken their own life.

“I know exactly what you’re going through.”

“How did they take their life?”

“How are you?”

It was difficult for my friend to share with me. He did said that the best thing anyone ever did in his grieving was to show their support by just being there but saying nothing. Don’t assume you can give someone a hug. They may not want anyone to touch them.

Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad.
Proverbs 12:25

To be wishing well those who are in grief or anguish, we need not be afraid of the various helps available. 

The church should not be afraid of psychology or medicine. Sometimes Christians think, Oh, that’s unspiritual. If we just believe or pray more, then we’d be able to heal this. But, no, these are ways that the church can minister to one another. God gave us people who are researchers and understand medicine, brain chemistry, and neuroscience. The better we understand these things, the better we can help one another. Just as we would not think it unspiritual to medically heal somebody for cancer or leukemia, it’s okay to provide treatment for depression and mental illness.
Christianity Today, October 20 2017

By being sensitive to those in anguish and learning how to support them appropriately, we can be a safe, healing, hope-imparting church. Such a church is surely better than any wishing well.

Pastor Andrew Corbett

To Hear You Must Get Closer

THE GENTLE RHYTHMIC POUNDING

The Son of God told a story to those who also called God "Father" about a Father who had two sons. The first son was asked to go and he said he would but he didn't. The second son was also asked to go and he said that he wouldn't but he did. Jesus asked, "Which one did the will of his Father?" And asking the same question a different way He might have asked, Which one felt his Father's heart more?

Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.Matthew 21:31 

When King David had won the heart of his men they went off into battle and in a brief moment of respite David let out an ever so-feint sigh. His closest comrades where his mightiest soldiers and all three of them were moved by the sight of David sighing and heard what he sighed. 

And David said longingly, "Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!"  Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and carried and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it. He poured it out to the LORD."Second Samuel 23:15-16 

In this graphic episode of devotion David and his mighty men show us what it means to love God. This kind of love is not minimum love. It's not lip-service love. It's not mere dutiful love. It's heartfelt love. It's the kind of love that goes beyond reasonable expectations or requirements. It's not just selfless love, it's another-focussed love. These men were watching and listening to the one they loved. It wasn't that David caught their attention with an abrupt command - it was that they were already voluntarily giving their attention to him so that they detected even his faintest sigh. To love God like this is to not merely be dutifully moved to obey His commands, but also to heed His warnings (which may not be commands), to welcome His advice (which may not be warnings), and then to be attentive to His desires which may not be immediately obvious. The Apostle Paul describes this progression as the progress of the mature. Not all Christians are sensitive to God's desires and thoughts. But the spiritually mature have learned to go beyond cold obedience to the laws of God to becoming sensitive to those things which God gently warns about, and then responding to God's heart desires.

Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
Philippians 3:15

God has certain desires. We can discern these from His Word and cultivate them by having a prayerful heart attuned to His. When the father of Jesus' story asked his sons to go and work in his vineyard there was a price to pay. Working in the open in the middle of a Middle Eastern summer's day is not pleasant. Little wonder the immediate reaction of his son was to say "No". But something happened in the heart that weighed up the costs between personal cost and discomfort with breaking his father's heart. How many of us see 'sin' as merely breaking the commands of God, rather than breaking the heart of God? How many read of a Biblical warning and fail to hear the heart of God behind the warning? Can you hear the warning in the New Testament command to not let the sun go down on your anger (Ephesians 4:26), or do you only hear a cold command? Can you hear the warning in the Scriptures about drunkenness (Ephesians 5:18), or do you only hear an alcohol limit? When we read 'that God desires all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth' (1Tim. 2:4) are we merely theologically informed or are we deeply moved to action - just like David's mighty men were? 

My eyes are dry
My faith is old
My heart is hard
My prayers are cold
And I know how I ought to be
Alive to You and dead to me

But what can be done
For an old heart like mine
Soften it up With oil and wine
The oil is You, Your Spirit of love
Please wash me anew
With the wine of Your Blood MY EYES ARE DRY, Keith Green

Behind every command of God is a warning. It's like God saying don't walk through that field of land-mines. Initially it sounds like a command. And whenever a born-rebel like me hears a command my most natural response is "Don't tell me what to do!" But behind this prohibition to walk through the field of land-mines is a warning: This field contains land-mines which could harm or kill you. Yet, if I "listen" to God even more intently, I hear not merely a command or a warning, but His heart: I love you and want the best for you and I don't want to see you hurt. Please don't go through that field. You might read the command of Hebrews 10:25 which commands believers not forsake weekly church attendance and only ever hear a cold command. You may have matured to the point where you recognise the warning behind the command. But too few have have pressed their ears to the pages of this Scripture and heard the gentle rhythmic pounding of God's heart for His children to be together in His Name as a witness to a world He desires to save.

¶ Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.
Romans 10:1

Ps. Andrew