1 John 3:18 ESV - Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Always remember, Love acts. It's not enough to just speak and sing about the life, freedom, salvation, healing and peace Jesus brings - we must give love in a real way to others. We weren't saved from sin, hell and destruction to be a pretty, polished, once a week stage show. We were saved to be vessels used by God to bring His light and love to this broken and dark world in a real, tangible way.

Just like Peter and John at the steps of the temple in Acts chapter 3... They gave Love. Love is a sacrifice. Love moves. Love gets its hands dirty.

Give them JESUS. 

Hey again, so God put this on my heart to share a few weeks ago and has been building on it since that time. What He wants me to do is share about what Grace is from a true biblical perspective and not just my opinion or feelings on it. I've been a church kid for most of my life and have heard and seen many different explanations of grace in the past. For me, understanding grace came when God did something in my life that no one else could do - but I'll get to that later. So, at church a few weeks ago I was asked to explain to some very little kids what God's grace is. I prayed and asked God for help because I knew the typical textbook definition answer wasn't going to cut it to under 5 year olds. You see, I was brought up in a very strict religion that firmly taught the Bible but from a very incorrect and loveless perspective. In fact they made the Bible itself an idol before God through their pride and tradition essentially nullifying the voice and ability of God to speak to them. I learned later in life by God opening my eyes that studying the Bible from an intellectual perspective alone isn't enough. Jesus taught us this when He answered the Devil who was misquoting the Bible saying in reply "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).


You absolutely MUST have the Spirit of God to guide you to the truth that is in the Bible otherwise it simply becomes a lifetime of useless, formulated head knowledge. This is why you see in the story from Acts chapter 8 Phillip asks the Ethiopian eunuch "Do you understand what you are reading?" and then went on to help him understand who Jesus is and why he came from the Bible he was reading. The end result was the Ethiopian eunuch became a believer in Jesus. Grace is similar in that you can understand it in your mind but to know it in your heart is a very different matter. So back to the kids... The definition I was given of grace as a kid was this "Grace is unearned or undeserved favor or kindness". While this statement is quite true, I know it wasn't at all relevant to me as an 8 year old boy whose main focus in life was transformers and Lego - I needed someone to break it down for me. So that's what I did for these kids. I prayed and this is what God told me to say... "Grace is someone else taking the punishment for the bad things you've done." I told them "this is what Jesus did for us. He chose to take the punishment for our sins in our place. that's what grace is".


The kids understood it perfectly because every kid out there knows what it is to do something wrong and also knows that some form of punishment comes as a result. To skip out on that punishment and have someone else take the fall for your crimes is unnatural and also quite surprising. Grace has the ability to bring wisdom through education of the acquittal. Now just to lay down some fundamentals before I go on... everyone has sinned. There's not a single person alive that hasn't sinned at least once in their lifetime. As a matter of fact, all of us have sin in our bloodline. It's in our nature to sin because of who we come from... Adam and Eve. They committed the very first sin of rebellion and disobedience in the garden and then a whole truckload of problems including death followed. Basically as humans we were doomed - and Jesus knew that. So that's why He came to die for us to be that grace for us. To wear our punishment and have it skip out on us. But it wasn't enough for just anyone to die - they had to be perfect... sinless. So this is the very reason Jesus was born of a virgin. He didn't come from the sin stained male bloodline of humanity. He was the perfect sacrifice for an imperfect world.


Now, what I need to share is this... By Adam and Eve sinning it caused an existence of perfection to plunge into sin, darkness and death for all their offspring. Perfection ruined. So imagine this... God just says "Ok, everyone can now come to Heaven. No need to believe in Jesus sacrifice for your sins... All the people that love me and follow my ways in you come. And all the murderers, thieves, adulterers, those that practice witchcraft etc... in you come too. My grace says everyone can come in..." Now, obviously I'm speaking as a fool here. Can you imagine how perfect Heaven is going to stay if God did that? I would say less than 10 seconds and the whole place is ruined. It'd be like the garden of Eden all over again and I'm sure God doesn't want a repeat of that not after the amazing lengths Jesus went to redeem us. I use this as an example to show you that God's grace never goes above His character, His Word, His love or His justice. God is completely holy and just and perfect in all His judgements. He is the only one who can judge accurately and justly. So what is grace then? I'll explain it like this. Grace is an awakening and an enlightening to the truth. It's when you know the truth of the situation that you are set free from the lies that blind you and lead you astray.


Jesus taught us this in John 8:32 "And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." Grace is not an excuse to continue doing the wrong thing when you full well know it's wrong. In fact the Bible says in Romans 6:1 "Do we keep on sinning and abuse God's grace? God forbid!"  Grace is actually the exact opposite. Grace is the knowledge that you deserve full punishment for what you've done yet Jesus chose to take all that punishment on Him that day on the cross instead of you. Grace prompts your heart to just humbly say "Thank you Jesus..." and not "I'm justified in all I do because of God's grace" while you continue in blatant sin harming yourself and others. The Bible says in Titus 2:12 that "God's grace teaches us to do the right thing, and to deny the impulses to sin" - not that God's grace is an excuse to stay in rebellion and sin. I'll use myself as an example to reinforce this. I was an addict to some very shameful and life robbing practices for probably a good two thirds of my life. Even though I was a "church going Christian" I couldn't break free of these things no matter how hard I tried. I think my best effort once was to last 3 days but then I was dragged back into the same horrible and shameful existence.


No one in the church could help me and no one spoke of these things because I believe they too all were slaves to it just like me. None of them knew the truth and none of them were set free because if they were, they would have spoken about it and been able to help me. They were all just desperately trying to hide it from being seen and keep up their pretty little religious facades in front of each other. What happened to me is this... I almost died. I got to the point of suicide and very close to losing my mind then something truly amazing happened. God opened my eyes to the pain my life was causing my family and those that loved me so I came clean to them about everything. I allowed them to pray for me and to tell people they trusted to pray for me too. Within 3 days, God appeared to me and ripped out of me an evil that had lived in me for far too long. It was this evil in me that was driving me and had me chained to this horrible sin for years and years. Since that day which is now years ago, I've been free all thanks to Jesus and His immeasurable grace for me. You see, I deserved every bit of punishment for all the things I had done but God in His grace chose to set me free.


A 'get out of jail free card'. Why? Because He had plans for me. He saw past my addictions and saw a vessel that just needed to be cleaned before it could be used. That day my life changed forever all because of Jesus and His amazing grace for me. Honestly, there is no way the guy I was back then could write these things but I can today because of God's grace. So now that I'm set free from all those horrible things that haunted me day and night do I go right back and do the same things knowing that God's grace is always with me? Absolutely No! I ain't ever going near that stuff again as long as I live. To tell the truth Jesus said these words to me "Mark, you're now free. You'll stay free as long as you don't let them back in..." Jesus said the same thing to a paralyzed man He healed in John 5:14. So for me, Grace is an understanding of how truly lost, hopeless and broken I was before Jesus intervened. Grace prompts my heart to an attitude of gratitude and also teaches me to avoid going back to that place and those things that robbed my life and caused me so much pain. So I hope that helps explain God's grace to you in a plain and useful way that reaches your heart. God's grace is an outward expression of His limitless love for us to save and help us even when we don't deserve it.


God's grace and man's grace are two very different things. Man's grace is to overlook or ignore an offence pretending in ignorance that it never happened - but God's grace is the full knowledge of the crime and also the full payment for it provided on the cross through Jesus. And remember God says if we ever do sin, we always have Jesus there ready to forgive and defend us when we confess and turn from it in our hearts (1 John 1:9). God loves you. I pray that today His grace shines bright and leads you into the truth of what He says and sees you to be. Priceless, Amazing, Full of potential and Worth dying for. God loves you always. Stay Gold. 

[ May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace - 2 Corinthians 1:2 ] 

Home now and totally wrecked after driving over 3200kms in under 3 days but it was so, so worth it. I got to talk to and say goodbye to a truly amazing man who means a lot to me and so do the words from his heart. He's 85 years old and knows he's going to die very soon but behind him he leaves such a legacy of selfless love from the heart of God. So many lives have been touched by this man and his heart to invite in the broken, lost and hurting and to guide them to the hope and life that Jesus brings. He was never flashy or loud but wow - he sure knew how to work and how to reach people for God. The passion for God in his heart drove him to serve in such a way that it was contagious to all around him. A true leader. Selfless, strong, caring, sure and always put God and others first. I pray that God will help me to grow to be even a fraction of what this man was in his lifetime. A heart so big for others and the kingdom of God. While lying in a hospital bed not even able to reach up get himself a drink - he prayed for me, gave me his blessing and shared with me invaluable wisdom that comes from a heart completely and totally at peace and in tune with God. He answered questions I didn't even ask or couldn't even form into questions by simply sharing some of his last words with me. So incredibly humbled to have known him. His wife died several years ago and he told me that when he opens his eyes the first person he plans to find up there is her - and I have no doubt he will. He quoted me to from the Bible that it says in Heaven there will be no marriage but he says as far as he's concerned it's just him and her forever and ever. Sad to see him go as this world will lose one of the real men - one who knew how to fight in passion for what's right and how to love equally as passionately God and others. A hero fades but his memory and legacy of love lives on strong. (Art drawn using coloured pencil by his daughter) 

While visiting an 85 year old God-fearing man in hospital today whose been diagnosed with lymphatic cancer and given only a month to live - He said his main concern as he knew he is dying wasnt about his money, his property, his relationships or anything on this earth apart for a younger man who he has contact with to know Jesus as his saviour. The dying man had been helping this younger man to know God but now knew his time to depart is drawing near so he asked his son who also knows Jesus to help this man to know the truth and freedom that comes from Christ alone.

What a true and pure heart for the Kingdom of God. This dying man wants nothing in return but for his neighbour to know the love of his God. That's the selfless love of God in action. In a world full of greed and self serving ambition its so rare to see that kind of heart these days and yet so hope filled and encouraging. While this world will soon lose a truly great man who has such an amazing and humble heart for God who has poured his life into a legacy of care for others down through generations - I pray his dying wish is granted by God and this younger man comes to know Jesus as His own personal saviour. Father in Heaven... Your Kingdom come! 

John 3:16 says "For God SO LOVED the world that He gave His only Son Jesus..."

Notice that it doesn't just say "God loved the world..." it says "God SO loved the world". His immeasurable love for us motivated Him to give His only Son to save us and make the way back to relationship with Him. The ultimate price paid in ultimate Love.

Never forget that the reason God gave His Son to save us all was Love. And that's precisely what we are instructed to give others... His Love.

God is love. As God's children we are called to be walking, talking, living signposts of His Love.

Only Jesus... He is all I need. He is my Alpha and Omega. If I lose all else and keep only Jesus - I have everything. He is the missing peace to the broken puzzle of this world... 

"Be still and know that I AM God..."

 
In the storm - He is God.
In the calm - He is God.
In the most terrible loss - He is God. In the greatest triumph - He is God.
In the sadness of death - He is God. In the grand parade of life - He is God. In the coldest loneliness - He is God. In the countless bustling throng - He is God.
Nothing at all can change or assault who He is.
This is why He is called... The Great I AM.
He is all things and in all things He remains God.
Immovable, Invincible, Indescribable.

Stay awesome guys because we have a truly awe inspiring God :) 

Hey, so it's Monday morning here and it's a dreary, wet, cold winters day. I woke up feeling less than great after doing landscaping and moving 2 tonnes of roadbase on the weekend on top of having one of those really annoying colds that just wont seem to go away. Adding to that I've had a stack of stuff on my mind and haven't been getting great sleep. So I dragged myself out of bed to get to work feeling pretty lifeless and started praying while I was driving asking God to help me restore my focus and give me the strength to get through today. While I was praying this song came on my car stereo "Lights of Day - Shine like the Morning"... Now you might have already picked up that I'm a skater and obviously grew up in the 90's so that makes me a huge sucker for anything with a techno beat, electric guitar and loads of synth - but more importantly anything that's gonna make some noise for my King Jesus. Well this song had it in spades and needless to say that song got cranked so loud all the mirrors in the car were buzzing like it was a level 5 earthquake.


At first I didn't feel like singing along but I learnt a long time ago it's not about how you feel - it's about Jesus - so I was screaming out lines like a rockstar for my King in no time. Why am I saying this? Because in the Bible in Acts 16 two guys called Paul and Silas were locked up in a prison and they too were feeling pretty sorry for themselves and the circumstances around them. But instead of sitting there moping in silence they started to raise their voice and sing about God and who He is. These guys didn't need a subwoofer to shake the room because God sent an actual earthquake that split open the entire prison resulting in a hardened jail keeper and his entire family coming to know God and His love. Can I encourage you that if today looks bleak - don't look at the storm clouds, look at the Master of the Storms. Look to Jesus and make some noise! It doesn't matter if it sounds pitch perfect or is even on time - just start making some noise for the King and things will change. King David also knew this and was given a gift of the Holy Spirit to change atmospheres with the music he played.


Here's the cool part, that same Spirit was poured out on all flesh because of what Jesus did for us. We have that same Holy Spirit full of the power of God! So if that's you today and that's not something you'd normally do -  can I encourage you to look up the song mentioned above on YouTube -  crank that volume to 11 and make some noise for the King. Make those speakers beg for mercy and get that bass to punch like a sledgehammer. Dance if you can, hey... dance even if you think you can't dance. Why? Because Jesus is worth it. Jesus is greater than your problems, your sadness, your pain and your loneliness. So make some noise - not for you, not for those around you... All for Him! Take the limiters off and let it all go because He's worth it - and watch and see your prison get shattered to pieces in the bright light of His Majesty. His Name is JESUS.

There are 60 seconds in a minute. 3600 seconds in an hour, 86,400 seconds in a day, 604,800 seconds in a week, at least 2,592,000 seconds in a month and 31,557,600 seconds in a year. Why all the figures and calculations you say? Jesus Christ is recorded to have lived on this earth in human form for 33 years. That means Jesus lived for at least 1,041,400,800 seconds. Again why all the crazy numbers? Because every second we exist on this earth is another chance for us to sin. Every bad thought, every harmful action, every act of greed, theft, lust, envy, jealousy, rage, fear, doubt is another sin. We as humans are so prone to sin because of our sin nature passed down through the generations from the very first humans that sinned.  God knows this and understands, in fact that's precisely why He came - to save us from our sins. He knows we can't save or even help ourselves to stop sinning so that's why He stepped into time as Jesus. Here's the amazing part. In all those millions of seconds of Jesus existence here on earth He never sinned once. Not even once. Not even a bad thought. Not a bad word. Not an action out of place.


I know you might be thinking "yeah, but Jesus was God... He can't sin anyway" but there's more to it than that... The Bible says in Hebrews 4:15 that Jesus was "in all points tempted just like us, yet without sin". What this means is that while Jesus existed here in human form He very much had the ability to sin. He could have chosen to give in to temptation but He didn't. The Devil isn't stupid and he wouldn't have wasted his time tempting Jesus if Jesus didn't have the capacity to sin. Just like us and the angels, Jesus has the choice for free will too yet He chose us the whole time. You see, if Jesus did give in once to the temptation... even just once.... then it was all over. There was no saviour for Him and then there would be no saviour for us either. The whole world would have been doomed. In fact it gets much worse than that... Jesus made everything and everything is upheld by the authority of who He is and His everlasting words. So if Jesus did sin, it meant that He wasn't the Son of God, it meant that He wasn't the Creator, it meant He wasn't the Beginning and the End. By sinning even just once it would have discredited who He was and everything would have changed.


A very scary and dangerous thought if you can get your mind to comprehend the ramifications of what it means that everything in existence plunges into darkness and total chaos. It would have been the complete opposite of creation. Ultimate destruction. Everything Jesus created would have ended all at once. And who do you think would have loved to see that happen even if it meant he ended with it too? That's right... Lucifer. The archangel that rebelled and became Satan the Devil because he wanted to be Jesus and sit on the throne in Heaven. This is why Jesus called Satan "the destroyer". So now you can understand why Satan the devil was trying so hard to get Jesus to sin. If Jesus sinned even once, then Satan won. In his mind, he would have got his twisted and perverse revenge on the rightful King of everything. But as we all know the story didn't go like that... Jesus existed in human form that whole time completely and totally sinless. Not... even... once. It says Jesus was tempted in ALL points like us too. That means every single sin. I mean EVERY single sin. Suicide, Rage, Lust, Murder, Sexual impurity... every single sin including the really dark ones we don't like to mention.


Jesus felt and faced every single one and defeated all of them. Now that's what I call a King. Only a King could do that. This is why there are angels in Heaven whose sole purpose is to sing continuously forever and ever "Worthy is the Lamb!" because He really is just that... Worthy. He did all that for you. He never gave in once... for you. Everything Jesus did here on earth was for us. To make the way for us back to where we were always meant to be... with Him.  Yet, He felt the temptation of every single sin so that He can understand what you're going through and be the place you can run to in your time of need. Indescribable empathy. So when you are weak, He is strong because He's already walked that road. And in His act of dying for us as the sacrificial Lamb of God He made the payment for us when we do sin so that we can be forgiven if we humbly confess our faults. And every single time He forgives us and restores us back to relationship with the Father through Him. What a truly amazing King to do that. What kind of love is that? It's a love that's not from this world that's for sure. What a King... Truly the King of all Kings that walked among us.


So no matter what you're facing and no matter how hard it is - Jesus is there for you. He understands and will help you if you just take His hand. He endured everything He did... for you. Because you were worth giving life. You were worth saving and you are worth more.

[ Hebrews 4:15- This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin ]

In the past few years Jesus did some really radical stuff in my life turning almost  everything about me upside down. I used to be a very negative, critical, mean, nasty, introverted, anti-social, selfish, uncaring person that used to swear and curse all the time as well as do and be addicted to many horrible and shameful practices. Jesus set me free of all that haunted, tormented and chained me in the space of a few months and as a result I had to examine the friends I used to keep close company with. You see these friends were just like I was back then... reprobate, corrupt, perverted, unlawful, self righteous, deceitful, hateful and selfish. I tried to show and tell them I wasn't that guy that did those things anymore but they only tried more and more to drag me back into my old ways and mocked and undermined my new found freedom and excitement about the Jesus that set me free. The truth is, the choice is theirs to stay that way and the choice was mine to change. I can't judge them because I'm not their judge but I am fully accountable for my own choices and actions. I too was once blind like they are and it was only through Jesus love, mercy and grace that my eyes were opened. Jesus never says for us to judge one another but we are called to be wise and have discernment because the heart of mankind is desperately evil and needs the guidance of God for life.

When depression and suicide almost claimed my life Jesus presented me with a crossroad and I choose Him and His ways over me and my ways. I chose for me to die and for Jesus to live. I gave up my life to Him and in doing that I got my life back just like it says in Matthew 10:39. Because of that choice - I found peace, love, identity, confidence and the relationship I always wanted and so badly needed with my Father in Heaven. I found God.

I was praying the past few days about having friends and wanted Gods perspective on it. God never says we are to be friends with everyone. In fact He says not to be friends with foolish or corrupt people because they will do exactly that... corrupt you and make you into a fool. The Bible is very clear about the association you have with others and it's effects on us and tells us to "guard your heart because out of it flows all the issues of your life".

So what's the answer then? Do we live in a cave alone? Do we shield ourselves from everyone out there and never let anyone close? What the Bible says is that we are called to serve one another in pure selfless love. The difference being serving selflessly means we want and seek nothing for ourselves but instead seek only good for others. Friendship is a two way street but serving as Jesus did is a one way street.

We are most certainly not asked by God to be friends with everyone. Only Jesus has the capacity and ability to do and be that. Instead Jesus asks us to serve one another in love, honour and truth.

Jesus is asking us to trust Him and do it His way and He promises He will bless you with all you need - including good friends with pure hearts that seek after God and show His love to others. Trust Him, He knows what He's doing and He loves you.

[ Matthew 6:33 - But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you ]



The Bible and Gods view on Friendship


Choosing Friends...

Proverbs 12:26
One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

Proverbs 13:20
Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

Proverbs 14:6-7
A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge

Proverbs 22:24-25
Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals."

Proverbs 27:17
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Proverbs 18:24
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 12:26
A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

James 4:4
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

Proverbs 20:6
Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable?

Proverbs 22:11
Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as a friend.

How to treat your friends...

Luke 6:3
And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

Romans 12:10
Love one another with brotherly affection. Out do one another in showing honor.

Ephesians 4:29-32
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Colossians 3:12-14
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.


Examples of Friendship in the Bible

Ruth and Naomi

Ruth 1:16-17
But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you."


David and Jonathan

1 Samuel 18:1-3
As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.


Job's Friends

Job 2:11
Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him.


Elijah and Elisha

2 Kings 2:2
And Elijah said to Elisha, "Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.