So… in America, a coven of witches gathers publicly to place a hex on a public figure they don’t like. Without getting pulled into a political debate, I think most people would agree that to have a public meeting to curse someone, (as a display of their “religion” – for surely they worship someone?) has got to be looked upon as a hate crime, hasn’t it?

But then most people probably think it’s all just a puff of wind because witches are just fanciful (Disney!) imagination and have no powers to do harm – they’re good really aren’t they? And anyway, in this case, it’s just a way to get publicity and make a protest…

And that is the deception that is so prevalent in our society. Heaven and hell aren’t real; the devil isn’t real; witchcraft isn’t real; …and Jesus isn’t real.

What we believe as Christians is that Jesus IS real, he’s alive today and he is the ONLY way to the Father. The bible warns us in 1 Timothy 4:1

“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”

Halloween will be upon us imminently. There’s no harm in trick or treat, they say. But if you don’t participate, you’re condemned as boring and miserable and can expect an egg on your window or something unsavoury through your letterbox. But it’s all just a bit of fun, isn’t it? You have to let the kids have fun! No! It’s opening a door to the darkness and giving the enemy a legal right to come in.

We are told to stand against the schemes of the enemy. And let’s face it, if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything!

WAKE UP CHURCH! “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

…And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Good old Martha. She’d opened her home to Jesus and all his disciples and wanted to make them feel welcome. I expect we’ve all done that – invited someone round on the spur of the moment. It seemed like such a good idea at the time, but then we start to worry… is it clean and tidy enough, what will they think, have I got enough food in, what if they don’t eat… (whatever it was you’d planned to make)? Worry, worry, worry!

So, you bustle about, being so busy (and possibly the teeniest bit self-righteous?) preparing everything, while someone else is enjoying your guest’s company – but, oh how you resent it! That’s what you’d really like to be doing… sitting, chatting, and not feeling stressed and cross! Mary, on the other hand, saw Jesus for who he was. She found rest in his presence. She recognised that Jesus had something she needed so she sat and focussed on him and listened intently to every word he said. I wonder which of them made Jesus feel more welcome?

Jesus gave to all who came to him, yet the more he gave, the more he still had within him to give. He said he had come, not to be served, but to serve. Often, we feel we have to give of ourselves all the time, to serve, to be busy… yet Jesus was pleased with Mary for receiving FROM him and said that she had chosen what is better. The thing is, we can’t do anything of worth for long, without receiving from Jesus. He is our reason for being AND doing. Mary rested in Jesus’ presence, she took from him all that he was willing to give. How much more do we need to rest in Jesus today?

When he was scourged and crucified to death, a divine exchange took place. Jesus became as sin for us and we became the righteousness of God in him. All that was unholy in God’s eyes was punished in the body of Jesus and justice was met! We have no righteousness of our own, only that which we receive when we believe on Jesus. When we are saved, we often say we have given our lives to Jesus, but the reverse is actually true – he has given his life to us! That defining moment at Calvary, when Jesus said, “It is finished.” – it was! Court adjourned. We are now free of our orange jumpsuits and dressed in clean white robes!

I know we know all this, but…

The enemy’s strategy is to keep us busy. The last thing he wants is for us to sit at Jesus’ feet, gaze into his eyes and listen to his voice..! To KNOW that HE is already defeated because Jesus is victorious over every unholy thing in this world and the whole spiritual realm. He wants us to think we must always be doing and serving, because “that’s what Christians should do”!

And if you’re about to say, but faith without works is dead… you’re right! But they work together. And we cannot expect to do anything to serve the kingdom, without knowing first WHOM we are serving – the King! We must know who he is, what he stands for and what he requires of us.

Eph 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Our service to the kingdom consists of the works prepared in advance for us to do, not to labour and strive in areas where we are not gifted or able, or be the one who never says no, which causes us to become exhausted and burnt out. We must rest in Jesus, sit at his feet as Mary did and receive from him, so we are equipped to do whatever HE asks of us, then our yoke will be easy and our burden light.

I love this version of psalm 23 from the Complete Jewish Bible, which really speaks to me…

ADONAI is my shepherd; I lack nothing. He has me lie down in grassy pastures, he leads me by quiet water, he restores my inner person. He guides me in right paths for the sake of his own name.

Even if I pass through death-dark ravines, I will fear no disaster; for you are with me;
your rod and staff reassure me. You prepare a table for me – even as my enemies watch;
you anoint my head with oil from an overflowing cup.

Goodness and grace will pursue me every day of my life;
and I will live in the house of ADONAI for years and years to come.

THIS is how to live life resting in the Lord!

So, here I am, spending a few days in a cottage at Ashburnham Place in Sussex with a friend. About 12.30am, with said friend fast asleep in bed, I was pottering about and listening to quiet music when I thought I heard knocking! We are on a private gated estate with no lights, extensive woodland all around and in the darkness outside, I realised someone was at the door…

I wasn’t scared actually, but thought it best to act with caution! I put the porch light on and called, “Hello?” through the bolted door. A man’s voice came back, “Hello? I’m booked in to stay here tonight.” I thought, You’re not Mate! And if you think I’m opening this door, you’re very much mistaken!

Anyway, the conversation continued and I realised he’d come to stay at the community up at the main house. He sounded French and there are a lot of young Christians from all over the UK and Europe who volunteer their time to help run this Christian retreat throughout the year. I told him reception was about half a mile up the lane, over the bridge, then follow the signs. He thanked me and left.

So, I then started thinking, I should have offered to drive him, as it really is DARK out here. I worried he might get lost and fall in the lake, or arrive to find all in darkness and end up sleeping on the grass. Poor guy…

So, I prayed for him. It was all that I could do in the circumstances, but I kicked myself for not being braver and bolder and having the courage of my convictions to help a lost stranger.

What would you have done? And, I wonder, what would Jesus have done?

Thought for the week from April 2014

I was pondering how to tell people, and especially young people, about Jesus in a way that they can relate to. We often tell non-believers, “Jesus DIED for YOU – even if you were the last person left on the planet he would still have died for you!” – and we expect them to understand!

Whilst Jesus did indeed die for us all, I’m not sure that the average person these days can see the relevance of a man who claimed to be God, but was tortured to death 2000 years ago! Instead, I felt the Lord was saying, “Don’t tell them I died for them, tell them I am alive and I LIVE for THEM now!” People need to meet the person of Jesus first – the understanding of the why and how of the Gospel message will come later.

The modern world is instant – people can Tweet, post pictures and messages to numerous social media websites, text, e-mail, instant message or phone. Worldwide news is available 24 hours a day and information can be found on almost any subject with just a few keystrokes, so this is how I might explain Him now, in a nutshell of course, using a more Facebook-like analogy!

Jesus has an eternal time-line, endless in each direction, with His years on Earth somewhere in the middle. He’s not on Earth now, but we can chat with Him using personal messaging and He often gives us encouragement, help and comfort during these conversations. He puts up pictures of where He’s been and where He is now, so we know what it’s like there, and He posts important messages on His wall that are available for everyone to see. We are His friends and we are connected to all the other people who are also His friends. One day, He will de-activate His account and gather all His friends up to be with Him in person, and we will, as they say, all live happily ever after!

Of course, sharing the good news is not really that simple… Or is it?

I visited a nursing home today to see a relative. It was 34°C on my car thermometer and, in the home, there was a bit of a party going on for one of the carers, who was leaving. It was very warm and humid and the staff looked somewhat tired and bedraggled. As the entertainer worked her way through a number of well known musical favourites, one particular member of staff stood out. Smiling and laughing, she sang the choruses at the top of her lungs as she whisked various elderly people to their feet for a dance – and they absolutely loved it!

I marvelled at how much energy she still had, even though she was almost at the end of what would likely have been an 8-10 hour shift. The rest of us were wilting severely, though not nearly so active, and huffing and sighing as we mopped our perspiring brows! Her joy was making a noticeable difference to the people she cared for, as well as sustaining her through a physically and emotionally demanding day.

I don’t know if this wonderful lady was a Christian, but I was reminded that “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)

What is the joy of the Lord and why is it our strength?

Hebrews 12:2 For the joy that was set before him, he endured the cross.

The joy that was set before Jesus was the restoration of the personal relationship between God and man; right back to the beginning, when Adam and Eve walked and talked with God in the garden and did not have sin in their lives. Jesus was going to reverse the curse and make righteous all who would believe in his death and resurrection, turn away from their old lives and turn back to God. The veil has been torn and we have a new and living way to come into the Holy of Holies. His name is Jesus!

His joy at enabling this is our strength because, by his sacrifice, we have been made righteous and restored as heirs to the kingdom.