Where in the World is Bougainville?

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God….

Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world. 1 Corinthians 1:18,20

I started this morning with a comparison between looking at the world through secular eyes, via Webster’s Universal World facts, a recent addition to my library, and Operation World, a prayer resource.

Being blessed with a couple of editions of Writer’s Forum, courtesy of a friend returning from a holiday in England, the September edition contained the free Webster’s so it was with anticipation that I looked through it for ideas. Looking to Operation World for the countries designated for today, I found, at the tail end of various pages about Papua New Guinea, a place I confess was unknown to me, Bougainville. With an interesting history of political struggle and instability in a fight for independence, the challenges for prayer were numerous. Problems between the Papua New Guinea government and the islanders in their desire for independence, as well as an ongoing unsteadiness of the economy, majority sub-standard income being from subsistence farming, made me realise how volatile is the existence of small communities or countries.  Together with Buka, a sister island, Bougainville is culturally and geographically a part of the Solomon Islands, but politically a part of PNG.

In Webster’s mention of this same place, all I learnt was that it is the easternmost island belonging to Papua New Guinea and that it is a part of, though politically separate from the Solomon Islands.

Where are my thought taking me, you may ask. Well, it is the difference between worldly understanding and Spiritual understanding. The information from Webster’s gives no encouragement for further thought, and the world shows little concern. But the knowledge of spiritual paucity, material poverty, and political insecurity from Operation World has my thoughts and prayers focussed on specific needs, and a desire for God’s good and perfect will to be made known to the Melanesian and Polynesian peoples of this 9,300 square acre blob in the South Pacific. I didn’t know about them but God does! They don’t know about the people who use Operation World as a prayer guide, and will be praying for them today, but God does. Before I can make myself out to be better than I am, I must say that Operation World is not a regular, but more of a sporadic tool, so I am no great intercessor, but Christ is!

Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. Luke 22:31. This is a  verse that has been an encouragement through the years. The people of Bougainville have great spiritual needs. There is little evangelical presence, and revival is needed in the church. Genuine faith in Christ is called for, and Jesus Himself is praying for them, just as He prays in intercession for you and me.  It is good to be reminded of small places, as well as the other mighty needs of the world, and to know the God who is in control.

Abandoned? Or Redeemed!

How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in Him should ponder them. Everything He does reveals His glory and majesty. His righteousness never fails. Psalm 111:2,3. (LB)

Why, then, do people fall away? How can anyone who has known His grace, set it aside and choose their own will against His? Is it because they have not recognised His grace, but choose instead to see it as refusal to bow to their will?

I continue in my musings on the apostate compared with the apostle. An apostate is one who abandons a belief or principle, and in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians he addresses this matter in chapter 5 when he writes of “anyone who calls himself a brother”. By this he appears to accept that once having called on the Name of the Lord, and therefore having expressed allegiance, but having since fallen back into sin, that person may still call himself a brother, but is not to be accepted in the fellowship. I see hope in this in that the Lord does not abandon His children, but estrangement must occur within the church family until repentance brings the brother back into the fold.

What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. Expel the wicked man from among you. 1 Corinthians 5:12,13. (NIV) Hard words indeed, which are difficult to swallow when on the receiving end of such judgment, and prone to feel persecuted and unloved. Yet the main reasons for such judgment appear to be clear and uncompromising.  But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. 1 Cor 5:11.

In conversation with people who have suffered this indignity, it is difficult for them to see the need for strict observance of God’s law, and it is easy for them to say, “Well, if that is how the church feels, then I will have nothing more to do with them.”  And so begins the need for a special ministry in helping a lost sheep back into the fold.

Many years ago I was excommunicated from the Anglican Church, and told I could no longer take communion, or serve as lay preacher, because I was considering re-marriage after divorce. In their eyes, my sin was not divorce but the prospect of adultery. Fortunately, because of my strengthened relationship with the Lord, and through Godly counsel, I was not permanently damaged spiritually, and I recognise that God’s grace is sufficient, and His forgiveness complete. He knows my innermost heart, and ministers to me daily by His Word and constant love. But what of those whose need is a fresh perception and deeper understanding of His Agape love?

As I continued my thoughts on Apostasy, and why people turn away from their God, I was challenged by the thoughts of broken relationships within the family. How can God’s Word be applied in the worldly situations of break down in family relationships, when estrangement seems unsurmountable? Sing praises to God and to His Name! Sing loud praises to Him who rides the clouds. His Name is the Lord – rejoice in His presence! Father to the fatherless, defender of widows – this is God whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families; He sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But for rebels there is only famine and distress. Psalm 68:4-6

I was a rebellious teen, a rebellious wife, and a rebellious parent, wanting things to work out my way, but the Lord has shown His faithfulness. I try not to rebel anymore, for who wants famine and distress? Living in Joy is a great privilege and one I do not want to lose! I have learnt, like Evelyn Christensen, to say, “Lord, please change me” as there was no way I could change anyone else.  I must accommodate their differences. God has said “No” to me many times, and I have learnt to say, “Not my will, but Yours, Lord.” I don’t ask for changes in anyone else anymore. I have asked for patience, a dangerous request, but the Lord as ever is gracious. He gives lots of opportunities to learn it.

Love is patient. Love is kind. Love isn’t jealous. It doesn’t sing its own praises. It isn’t arrogant. It isn’t rude. It doesn’t think about itself. It isn’t irritable. It doesn’t keep track of wrongs. It isn’t happy when injustice is done, but it is happy with the truth. Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up. Love never comes to an end. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (God’s Word)

Speaking from first hand experience I have learned that my constant prayer must be “Equip me, Lord, for I am weak.”

The glory of the young is their strength; the grey hair of experience is the splendour of the old. Proverbs 20:29 Therein lies hope!

Don't Let a Thorny Problem Keep You From The Promise!

I have been looking at the subject of Apostasy – the hows and whys – and in the midst of my musings we enjoyed our cell group meeting when the issue came up under another guise.

What was Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” allowed by God?

Paul is speaking of the wonderful ways in which God has taken him from unbelief, as a persecutor of the believers in Christ, to being an apostle – one sent on the mission of God, to proclaim the reality of Christ.

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of satan, to torment me. 2 Corinthians10:7.

There has been much speculation as to what the “thorn,” of Paul’s affliction was, but, as with Job, it appears to have been permitted as a satanic taunt, to keep him humble.

Verse 8 goes on, Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” In other words, in answer to fervent and persistent prayer, the answer was “NO!” And this is where many people battle, and don’t understand what Paul recognised. He had to depend wholly and completely on God and not on his own strength and abilities. The reminder stayed with him so that he would not become conceited and promote himself.

We are not all mighty preachers of the gospel like Paul but we all have a part to play in God’s perfect plan.

*He has called each of us by name. Isaiah 43:1; John 10:1-16

* He has a plan for us. Jeremiah 29:11

* He will equip us to do and be as he asks. Philippians 4:13

* He gives us free will, so we are at liberty to say “no” – and lose our rewards. John 3:16-21,36; John 6:35-40

Because we cling to our own selfish desires, and want to understand only in our personal sphere of perception, we lose opportunities to receive His provision in our lives. We ask, then cavil and complain when He says “No.” What we tend to disallow is that He is God and we are not, much as we would like Him to listen to our demands, and do things our way.

Andy Stanley says that our greatest weakness is God’s greatest opportunity – if we trust Him! His grace is given to us when we lean on Him instead of trying to stand alone.

In the Parable of the Sower, (Matthew 13:1-9 & 18-23) we read that some seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Our own discontent can choke our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, and our dissatisfaction with His provision can lose our security in Him.

Consider this God who calls us into a relationship with His Son. Isaiah 40:12 speaks of His being able to hold the waters of all the oceans in the hollow of His hand, and to measure the whole of the universe by the breadth of His hand – thumb to little finger! Of course we can’t envisage His fullness, but Jesus stands waiting for us. (Revelation 3:20) We can’t afford a thorn of discontent, or fear, or doubt, or lust, sent by the enemy, to keep us from acknowledging His Lordship. He paid for us, and He wants to provide for us.

Like many early Christians I wear a tiny anchor round my neck. It is a reminder that Christ came down from the cross, and lives to be my strength and guide. He is not only my anchor, but the rock I am anchored to!

Hebrew 6:19. Psalm 62:7

WOW! Wonder Of Wonders.

Through the years WOW has meant many things – Win Our World, Women Of Worth, War On Want, Window On Word, but this week it has been Wonder Of Wonders. We had a missionary friend staying with us, and when Rosie spoke to students at the Union Bible Institute on Acts 1:1-8, at a Chapel meeting, she changed their mindset. One student commented after the service, “I always thought the Holy Spirit would work in me to make me a better person. I never realised His intention is to empower me for His Glory. WOW!”

Rosie read: In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. After His suffering, He showed Himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over forty days and spoke about the Kingdom of God. On one occasion, while He was eating with them, He gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.”

So when they met together, they asked Him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Then she spoke of how the disciples had lived with Jesus during His ministry before His crucifixion and death. Now, as their risen Master, He spoke to them about the Kingdom of God. They were still confused, but we know what happened to them after the Holy Spirit came upon them as Jesus had promised!

WOW! Wonder of Wonders! They were empowered. They were guided; given insight and abilities. They were equipped by the Holy Spirit and their lives were changed. Through them the world of their times was changed. The world of our times can be changed through that same power if we too will respond and allow the Holy Spirit full control of our lives.

Jesus lived with His disciples, but He was leaving them to go to His Father, and He promised to send the Holy Spirit to live in them. It is a promise for all believers today. Jesus wants us to have His same passion for the Kingdom of God, and make it our priority. He wants to use us to draw others into the Kingdom. The student had it right when he said, “It isn’t about me. WOW! Wonder of Wonders! It’s about what He can do in and through  me.”

Amen! What are we waiting for?

Rosie was on a short trip from the US and is presently ministering in North Africa where she is involved in the teaching and encouragement of evangelists. She took a short break to visit old friends, bringing a fresh breath of wisdom with food for thought, and while she is officially “retired” from the mission fields, she is happily continuing in her “retread” or “re-tyred” capacity, empowered by the Holy Spirit. WOW!