IF YOU JUST HANG IN THERE, GOD MAY GIVE YOU THIS

IF YOU JUST HANG IN THERE, GOD MAY GIVE YOU THIS

For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
First Corinthians 12:8-10

God offers some amazing gifts of the Spirit to help His people to share the gospel and bring blessing to others. I’m sure that there are many of us who would love to have the gifts of miracles or healing, or perhaps the gifts of prophecy or words of knowledge? But there is something perhaps more necessary and even more powerful than these gifts, that is also more important to acquire than these gifts. Without it, our witness is undermined and our credibility is diminished. With it, our witness is strengthened and our credibility is buttressed. Of all the virtues commended in the New Testament, apart from love, endurance is the most commended. 

By your endurance you will gain your lives.
Jesus Christ (Luke 21:19)

I want to encourage those of you who do not feel that your witness for Christ or contribution into His Kingdom is anything significant – yet you have endured setbacks, disappointments, and hardships and remained faithful to Christ, His Word, and His Church. Well done! You, then, are the beneficiaries of the apostle Paul’s Romans 15:5 prayer.

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,
Romans 15:5

Speaking of the apostle Paul, he knew a thing or two about spectacular miracles and dramatic spiritual experiences. Yet when his credibility was challenged by hostile critics from Corinth, rather than dwell on these experiences to validate his apostolic ministry, instead, he cited his examples of endurance in the midst of afflictions, hardships and calamities.

but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,
Second Corinthians 6:4

The Apostle told the Colossians that his praying for them; their increasing knowledge of Christ; their walking in a manner worthy of Christ; their seeking to please God in how they lived; and, their bearing of the fruits of kindness and service of others, was all for nothing if they weren’t consistent with it in the midst of discomfort and adverse circumstances. Not only did he encourage them to endure, he encouraged them to endure patiently and with joy.

¶ And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;
Colossians 1:9-11

One of the last books of the New Testament to be written was Hebrews. Its author, quite probably Barnabas, wrote to these Jewish believers who were having doubts about Jesus as their Christ and the reality of the New Covenant’s arrival. Added to this, his audience were under mounting pressure from their countrymen to forsake Christianity and return to their old ways. Rather than tell them to have more faith, or believe harder, or seek God for further confirming miracles, the author of Hebrews implores his audience and fellow Jews to endure. Endurance, he tells them, has an ultimate reward from God. Sure, it means going through hardship, some deprivation, a measure of social pain, but in the end it delivers a reward that nothing else is able to deliver. 

For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
Hebrews 10:36

There’s lots of commendable things to seek God for – wisdom, strength, knowledge, opportunities, increased love,but none are commended to us as much godly endurance. in the closing book of the Bible, the Apostle John commends endurance at least six times (Rev. 1:9; 2:2; 2:19; 3:10; 13:10; 14:12). 

¶ Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
Revelation 14:12

Christ’s call for God’s people to endure, as prophesied by the Apostle John, is perhaps more necessary today than ever before. As a church we might become known for many virtuous things, such as – our care for each other, our welcoming attitude toward newcomers, our depth of Biblical teaching and knowledge, our willingness to stand up for the oppressed and voiceless, our support of welfare programs, our ministry to young mums, our vibrant youth ministry, and our professional approach to children’s ministry – and all these reputational markers can be buttressed if we can also become known as a community of Christ-lovers who endure hardship, some deprivation, and a measure of social pain, in order to be faithful to Christ, His Word, and His Church. Whatever you are praying for from God, I hope that I have now encouraged you to ask God to help you endure. When the world, the enemy or just circumstances, tries to keep you from God’s Word or the weekly gathering of God’s people, I trust that you will exercise your spiritual endurance muscles and hang in there. And of all the things you really need or just want, perhaps if you can hang in there and continue doing the right thing, God may grant you this one request – that you will have the strength to do what’s best: endure!

¶ “ ‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.
Revelation 2:19

Pastor Andrew Corbett

THE GOSPEL OF YESTERDAY WE’VE NEARLY ALL FORGOTTEN

THE GOSPEL OF YESTERDAY WE’VE NEARLY ALL FORGOTTEN 

I really like a clever movie and Yesterday is a really clever movie! All too often movie trailers reveal the two best scenes of a movie. But Yesterday’s trailers only hinted at the movie’s premise without spoiling it – or giving the plot away. All we are told in the trailers is that the entire world – except for one struggling singer-musician – has absolutely no recollection of the Beatles! After being hit by a bus just as a freak solar flare caused the entire planet to lose electrical and battery power, Jack Malik (the struggling singer-musician) is then hospitalised. Upon being released, his friends present him with a new guitar to replace his bus-crushed one. They beg him to try it and play them a song. He performs Yesterday and moves his friends to admiring tears. They ask him when he wrote this song. He thinks they are pulling his leg – but they aren’t. When he gets home he is baffled by their response and Googles “the Beatles” only to discover that not even Google has heard of the Beatles!

Watch the trailer 

THE ENTIRE WORLD HAS FORGOTTEN

In the movie Yesterday, the entire world has had its collective memories erased – except for this struggling singer-musician, Jack Malik. Imagine that; the entire world has forgotten what no one ever dreamed would – or could – ever be forgotten! Impossible you say?

¶ “Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments and His rules and His statutes, which I command you today,
Deuteronomy 8:11

After I ministered at three services last Sunday in Ipswich, Kim, Ruby, and I were taken out for lunch by Pastor Carl and Jess and their family. My last session was “The Book of Revelation Explained In Thirty Minutes!” Like many pastors, Carl had heard many unsatisfactory interpretations of this wonderful book. What he had just heard, though, was, in his own estimation, theexplanation of what the Book of Revelation means. “Does anyone else teach this understanding of the Book of Revelation? Is this a new way to interpret it?” he asked. I began to point out that this view first appeared in the fourth century – largely because the Church was, instead, pre-occupied with getting some of the more foundational doctrines clarified in the first three centuries. It was taught up until the 18th century and was largely forgotten from early in the 19th century. I also pointed out that Dr. R.C. Sproul had taught it in his book, “The Last Days According To Jesus“, and others such as Prof. Paul Copan and Hank Hanegraaff (‘the Bible Answer Man’) also held to it. And this is when Kim chimed in that this view of the book of Revelation was like a ‘Yesterday’ moment, and that I was some kind of ‘Jack Malik’!

In the movie, Jack begins to gain international fame as a master song-writer and performer as he simply covers  the Beatles classics. He is continually amazed that no one remembers what they should never have forgotten. Kim might have been right, but not just about what I am trying to remind the Church of – but because I too am amazed that the Bible itself is largely becoming (or has already become) a forgotten book! 

Such are the paths of all who forget God;
the hope of the godless shall perish.
Job 8:13  

WE ARE CALLED TO REMEMBER

And He took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”
Luke 22:19

It would indeed be a travesty if the world forgot the music of the Beatles. But it would be a monumental and epic travesty if we let the world forget about the Word of God and thereby the God of the Word. I’m concerned that it seems too many ambassadors of Christ have forgotten that God is the Maker and rightful God of all people and that He expects all people to worship and obey Him (Acts 17:30). 

But My people have forgotten Me;
they make offerings to false gods;
they made them stumble in their ways,
in the ancient roads,
and to walk into side roads,
not the highway,
Jeremiah 18:15

So much of what God calls His people to do involves remembering (Mark 8:18; Luke 17:32; John 15:20).

¶ Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel,
Second Timothy 2:8

When God’s people forget God and His Word, nonsense is equated with an equal understanding of God and the unique authority of His Word! I guess this is why so many people who identify as Christians consider that the Qur’an is a holy book on par with the Bible, or that the god “Allah” is indeed the same God identified in the Christian Bible? (Dr. David Wood has some powerful things to say about this nonsense on his YouTube channel Acts 17 Apologetics.) One of my primary tasks and a pastor and preacher of God’s Word, is to help God’s people rememberwhat they should never forget. But our task is not just to remember, it’s also to remind.

WE ARE CALLED TO REMIND

But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God
Romans 15:15

The Bible is God’s Word to the world – not just believers! Someone has once said that the message of the Bible lives as a sleeping memory deep in the minds of every human being. Missionary, Don Richardson has written extensively about this. He gives numerous examples of missionaries reaching previously unreached people groups with the gospel only to find that they already have traces of the story and hope of God’s redemption of mankind embedded into their culture. Some of their stories which have been passed down from generation to generation reflected many of the Biblical accounts, and many of their practices and conventions bore an uncanny resemblance to the Bible’s story of redemption. When a person hears the gospel, which involves the story of redemption from Paradise Lost to Paradise Restored, they have those ‘sleeping memories’ awoken and we are reminding them of them of what they should never have forgotten. There is an urgent need for us to do this because our world has largely forgotten the gospel and its implications. The implications of the gospel include – 

• All people matter – from the womb to the tomb
• God has created mankind as biologically/psychologically/emotionally male or female
• This life has eternal consequences
• Religion cannot and does not bring our reconciliation to God
• All people, regardless of race, gender, preferences, or religious affiliation are equal before God – but not all ideas are equal
• Church is not just for the religiously minded – it’s God’s model of community and hope for a world blighted by despair, brokenness and loneliness

Don’t be afraid to remind your children of these truths. Don’t be afraid to remind your work colleagues of these truths. Don’t be afraid to remind your friends of these truths. Don’t be afraid to remember what you should never forget! 

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8

-Pastor Andrew

SUPERNATURAL CHURCH

The recent Israel Folau furore highlighted something truly shocking. Media personalities, politicians, bloggers, and most importantly, celebrities, all condemned the (now former) Australian Rugby Test player as a ‘bigot’, a ‘hater’, and recently, a ‘non-Christian’!? The Daily Telegraph columnist, Claire Harvey probably speaks for many Australians when she reveals that she has little-to-no-idea about what Christianity really means or what Jesus of Nazareth actually taught. She might be shocked to discover that Izzy simply quoted the Jesus-inspired Scripture found in 1Corinthians 6:9-10! Adding to this picture of desperate confusion is the average Australian’s perception of ‘church’ and the picture that many or most Australians have of Christianity is even more confused. This was revealed during Australia’s recent Federal election when the media escorted Pentecostal Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, to his church (Horizon Church affiliated with ACC) which led to the rather odd media comment that he was giving the “Hitler salute” while singing in church!

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:18

WHERE ARE THE STEEPLES AND STAINED GLASS WINDOWS?

Church is not a building. Don’t misunderstand me. I don’t think that a church’s building is irrelevant, or that when the ancients built their centres for housing congregational worship as statements of the transcendence and immanence of the Almighty Triune GOD, they were misguided. But it seems that most Australians only think of ‘church’ as that cold, dark, lofty bluestoned, wooden-pewed, and empty-on-a-Sunday, building that wedding photographers love to shoot in. But the vision of church that its Founder gave is one of people who know God – who hear from God, who talk to God, who experience God, who are set free by the power of God, who are filled continually with the Holy Spirit of God, who learn from God through His living Word, and find their truest delight in worshipping together with other born-again believers each week! In this vision of church, it is not the building that is essential – it is God’s people! 

Two years ago we had the privilege of stretching our faith and building a new worship centre that would accommodate hundreds of worshippers each week. We chose to make a statement with our building about how we saw Christ’s vision of the church in our community. It was to be a church without an ‘old-fashioned’ steeple – yet one with a frontage that was tall and pointed toward heaven! (You might remember our last TV ad encouraged people to “look up” as is followed the line of our building’s frontage upwards.) We wanted our auditorium to be light and spacious and somewhat transparent. That’s why there’s lots of glass in it. We wanted the interior to have lots of wood in it. That’s why we have huge exposed wooden portals inside our building holding it up. But the most important thing about the church we are building in Launceston’s Tamar Valley is that it is made up of people who have been transformed by Jesus of Nazareth and filled with His Holy Spirit and power. It is these people who pray, seek God, cry out to the Lord for miracles of salvation, healing and deliverance. It is these transformed and empowered souls who seek to invite the hurting, lost, lonely, and confused, to the life-giving waters we freely offer each Sunday. This is why we are building a church that is supernatural. We are not just about formal ceremonies, or   dry religious lectures and rituals. Rather, we are about being open to the Holy Spirit, led by His guidance, and open to the various gifts He manifests including prophecy, tongues, words of knowledge and wisdom. 

Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
First Corinthians 14:5

¶ “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
 ¶ “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:13-16

RELEVANT?

A much-previous Prime Minister of Australia, who claimed to be a Christian, famously said that Australia’s greatest moral crisis was addressing climate-change. No wonder so many Australians are confused about what Christianity is all about when they hear things like this from those who are apparently prominent Christians! Our “greatest” moral-crisis has little to do with driving our cars or boiling our kettles – it is about how we treat God and His Word to us! (When you don’t treat God as He deserves or obey His Word, it is called: sin.) Yet this former PM is not alone in identifying as a Christian and completely confusing what Christianity is all about – and what our Founder stands for! Someone has said that if the God you worship never challenges you to change your behaviour, you are probably worshipping yourself! And many people who identify as followers of Jesus actually sound like they are mistaken self-deifiers because despite Jesus not tolerating sin or endorsing abhorrent sexual practices they tell people that sin doesn’t matter anymore to Jesus! 

I hope that when you meet these people, you invite them to our church. And that they experience something profoundly supernatural. And, I hope that this experience is with the real Jesus in the midst of His supernatural Church where the power of the Holy Spirit to convict, convince, reprove, and transform lives freely flows. And I hope that this is your hope too! Perhaps now would be a good time to pray in the Spirit that this Sunday – and each Sunday – will be the case. And if you do, we are being the supernatural church Christ calls and empowers us to be – not just on a Sunday, but everyday!

But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
First Corinthians 14:24-25

Pastor Andrew