Back from the Dead

The death of Sir Terry Pratchett, author of many best-selling fantasy novels, was one of the most-reported stories of recent weeks. Whether or not you had read any of his books – I must admit I hadn’t – you are probably familiar with his face and seen him on television. That was because as well as being a novelist, he had, in his last years, become a well-known campaigner about the Alzheimer’s Disease which eventually took his life. After being diagnosed with the early onset of the disease, he also filmed a television programme about his experiences of suffering with it, and gave and raised a lot of money towards research relating to it.
 I was interested to read how different people responded to the event. Quoting from one of his books, after Pratchett's death, his assistant wrote from the official Terry Pratchett Twitter account: “At last, Sir Terry, we must walk together. Terry took Death’s arm and followed him through the doors and on to the black desert under endless night. The End.” 
Perhaps you read too, about the fact that several of his fans began a petition which urged death to ‘bring back Terry Pratchett’. According to some press reports, over 5000 of his fans signed the online petition. The petition needless to say has been unsuccessful.
Death doesn’t ‘give people back’. That is why we rightly respect it and do so much to fight against it. There was a time, of course, when it had to give people back. When the Lord Jesus walked on earth we read of three cases where dead people did come back to life. A widow’s son in Nain (Luke 7), Jairus’s daughter in Capernaum (Matthew 9) and a man called Lazarus from a village called Bethany (John 11) all came back from the dead. This was not because death willingly gave them up, but because Someone more powerful than death overpowered it! He went on to prove that in His own life.
It’s Easter time again, and on Easter Day we will be remembering the Lord Jesus Christ, Victor over death and the grave. We will examine the overwhelming evidence for the truth of the resurrection and find it convincing! We will also rejoice in the great significance and meaning that the resurrection of the Saviour carries with it. The sacrifice for sin that He had made on the cross has been accepted by a holy God. We can know forgiveness, peace with God, and, what is more, eternal life as a result, because the resurrection of Christ means that the locked door of death has been opened from the inside. Heaven, shut to us because of our sin, can be ours through Him.
Look again at those final words on Sir Terry Pratchett’s twitter account. “Black desert … endless night … the End”. He never wrote anything more powerful or profound. But when the Risen Lord Jesus is real to us, dwelling in our hearts by faith, they could not be further from the truth. If we know Christ, death to us will be gain! We won’t go to endless night, but to eternal day! Death won’t be the end, but a new beginning that will never end! Do you have the hope of Easter Day?

The Challenge of Lent – Preparing for Service (Part 2)

Last time we looked at the Old Testament basis for prayer and fasting and found a marked contrast with the common practices associated with Lent. We concluded that prayer and fasting is designed more to prepare us for service than for mere spiritual uplift, or as works. Some say the New Testament does not teach fasting, that the Lord's condemnation of the Pharisees fasting methods was in fact a rejection of fasting. This is not so, there is in the New Testament just as powerful a case to regard prayer and fasting as a necessary preparation for service. As we noted previously our primary role model is the Lord who prior to commencing His public ministry and service - to establish the kingdom of God - spent forty days & nights in fasting and prayer, and being tempted by Satan in the desert. MATT 4:1; MARK 1:12; LUKE 4:1.

We could also think of Paul who spent an unspecified time in the desert of Arabia before commencing his great missionary work.

What should be the motivation or driving force to observing Lent? Is it just to feel good, to achieve some kind of spiritual experience? Certainly not! We noted in the Old Testament God required Israel on the Day of Atonement to afflict your souls. It was God who commanded Moses to appear before Him with the imperative be there. What prompted Jesus to spend forty days & nights praying and fasting in the wilderness? This was no mere human decision, but the Spirit of God working sovereignly (Matthew 4:1, Luke 4:1, and Mark 1:12 & 13) where we note - angels ministered to Him.

Matthew Mark and Luke use different words to describe the Spirits action.

          Luke has ηγετο - to lead to another place, e.g. to guide.
          Matthew has ανηχθη, - to lead or conduct away, e.g. a prisoner led into or from court.
          Mark has εκβαλλει, - to lead by force, impel. Often translated as ‘cast.’

Overall they combine to give a strong sense of compulsion. That compulsion is evident throughout Jesus ministry JOHN 4:4 He must needs go through Samaria. LUKE 9:51 ‘He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem’ (Matthew 16:21). Jesus began to show unto his disciples, that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer [...] and be killed, and the third day be raised up (Luke 4:43). Jesus said, 'I must preach the good tidings of the kingdom of God' (see Luke 13:33, 19:5, 22:37, and John 9:4).

Paul evidently felt the need to go to Arabia (Galatians 1:17) where it appears he had a great spiritual experience (2 Corinthians 12:2-4), although he does not say he was led there by the spirit, or that he prayed and fasted. However it is clear Paul did fast regularly, such as when acts of service were being initiated for example in Acts 13:2&3 when Barnabas and Saul were chosen as missionaries, and again at the appointment of elders in each church (Acts 14:23), not forgetting of course Paul's own calling (Acts 9:8).

None of these people entered lightly into periods of prayer and fasting. Nor should we. Lent, as preparation for service is a serious matter not to be entered into light-heartedly of casually. For implicitly we must emerge from such an exercise and impact upon society, if we do not, we must question our motives why we fasted and prayed in the first place. Was it merely to satisfy self, to follow the crowd, or were we compelled, driven by the Spirit. Those whom we have highlighted are those who were clearly called to be leaders. But every Christian, every child of God has been commissioned to proclaim the gospel to all men everywhere. So each of us have reason to seek a closer walk with God that our lives may more effectively witness for Him.

What was the mission or service? Jesus mission was to establish the kingdom of God on earth, and ultimately to die on the Cross in order that God's great redemptive plan may be fulfilled. Moses, was to lead a grumbling nation, and through the Law given at Sinai forge them into God’s own people. Paul’s mission was to spread the Word of God, to push the boundaries of the Church/kingdom of God to include all men. Our mission is no less, to proclaim salvation to those around us, wherever we are. To further the establishment of the kingdom of God by church planting as Paul did. To provide instruction in the Laws of God, building men up in the most holy faith that they in turn may be called to the service of the Master. For that we need the power that comes from time spent in the presence of God and in His word. When Moses met with God at Sinai his face shone, evidence that he had been in the presence of the glory of God. If Jesus, the Holy Son of God found it necessary to spend time in prayer and fasting, how much more necessary is it for us, weak and sinful as we are.

What will be the end result? The immediate result is twofold -

1. Increased opposition; as Jesus was tested by Satan so also shall we be tested (Matthew 4:2-11).
2. A dynamic Spirit of power LUKE 4:14,15. Enabling and endowing the Church for the task ahead.

Finally, WE, the Church, are the end result of our Saviour’s prayer and fasting. The Church or Kingdom of God on earth is evidence that God answered Jesus prayers and labours of love. When Jesus views His finished work on that great day, He will be satisfied. ISA 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: The prayer and fasting, the pain of His humanity and human suffering, the agony of the cross, separation from the Father - all will be considered worthwhile when those He has redeemed becomes His crown of Glory.

What about us? Will we have any sheaves to lay at His feet? Will there be anyone in heaven because I prayed, because I fasted, and because I witnessed. Lent, we conclude, is more than giving up this or that for a season, it is more than personal spiritual improvement, it is about preparation for service. Service led, inspired and empowered by the Spirit of God. Such preparation and service does result in personal spiritual improvement and spiritual enrichment. It is a time for sacrificing ourselves afresh as 'First fruits' unto God; Devoting more of our time and resources than previously we have done; Engaging more fully in the great commission; Serving the Lord and Him alone. How good it would be to see Lent become superfluous again as it was in the white hot passion of the early church where passionate Christian living was the norm. For that to happen, your life and my life needs to change - NOW. So let us, not only in the Lenten season, but always present ourselves before the Lord in prayer and fasting, seeking from Him the leading, the guidance, the enabling we need for our service in the task ahead.

The Challenge of Lent - Preparing for Service (Part 1)

The three churches in the Wiltshire village of Dilton Marsh where I was pastoring an Evangelical church, enjoyed regular fellowship as we met quarterly for prayer and bible study. Easter was approaching and it was my turn to bring a study at our pre-Easter fellowship which was to take place in the Anglican church. I felt the Spirit leading me to consider the practice of Lent. The following two part study is the result. Please read Exodus 34:10-35, Leviticus 16:29-31 & 23:27-32, and Numbers 29:7. Lent, is traditionally a time when people give up some of the luxuries of life in the pious hope of gaining some spiritual benefit. In the Church of Rome it is regarded as a time of penance, of forgiving others, a time of self-denial in favour of those in need thus it becomes works of mercy. Sadly Lent has become a ritualised precursor to Easter. But should it be like this?

Well for the more spiritually minded it is period of self-denial, fasting and prayer for a period of 40 days leading up to Easter. A time for reflection, for remembering our baptismal promises; a time to rededicate our lives to Christ and His cause, anew. It is a time for contemplation on the temptations of Jesus and His fasting in the desert over a period of 40 days and nights. A time when we are to afflict our souls (Leviticus 16:29) or put to death the flesh 'For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death (mortify) the deeds of the body, you will live.' (Romans 8:13) as we seek to live a more holy life. But is that all?

First we must ask, why was Lent instituted?

Lent was instituted by the Early church fathers Circa 345 AD - because the primitive church did not retain its perfection unbroken - it’s apostolic fervour declined post Pentecost, and that rapidly. The case of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5) shows how quickly the principle of having all things common lapsed. Selfish thoughts began to make inroads into the faith. The early fathers alarmed at how quickly believers lapsed into sin and half-hearted service of the Lord concluded that ‘of a truth sin cannot exercise dominion over those who live faithfully under the liberty of grace.’ So it seemed good to the clergy to institute a fast whereby men could be recalled to their pious duties of faithful living. Now that is a very laudable aim. It is one we readily identify with today in these days of spiritual apathy and decline in the church. However the problem here is that the fast itself soon became a duty, and thus part of the ritual of the Church which is seldom performed heartily as unto the Lord. So, although Lent is still observed, we have lost sight of its true purpose as its keeping has become a matter of individual choice. True times of prayer and fasting, times of solemn assembly, have become extremely rare, but have been attended by great blessing as in the 1845 Welsh revival under Daniel Rowlands.

However it was in (AD 350) St. Cyril the then bishop of Jerusalem began to use military terms in his traditional Lenten call for baptismal candidates, as a call to service. This is a concept I want to explore today, linking it to the biblical teaching on prayer and fasting.

So let us explore this concept of Lent as a call to service.
The primary role model is of course the Lord who prior to commencing His public ministry / service - to establish the kingdom of God - spent forty days and nights in fasting, prayer, and being tempted by Satan in the desert (Matthew 4:1; Mark 1:12 and Luke 4:1).

We could also look at Moses, forty days and nights on Mount Sinai, before presenting and implementing God’s law in the newly constituted nation. We might also think of Paul who spent an unspecified time in the desert of Arabia before commencing his great missionary work.

Thus self mortification, fasting, periods of intense spiritual exercises, communion with God, may be seen as preparation for service. It is not merely a pious way of increasing our standing in righteousness, its purpose is to enable us to serve God more fully.

Who should prepare for this service, and how? When Israel assembled before God on the Day of Atonement they were instructed, by God, to afflict your souls (Leviticus 16:29,31 & 23:27-32 and Numbers 29:7).

What does it mean to afflict ones soul? John Gill puts it thus - abstaining from eating and from drinking, and from the use of baths, and from anointing, and from the use of shoes, and of the marriage bed; thus we see it is a means to deny ourselves those things which bring us personal comfort.

Now those who were required to afflict their souls were those whom God called ‘My People’ - Israel, and who in obedience to Him brought and made a sin offering. Thus they would be reckoned by God as righteous children called to His service. Today they would be those who are born again and in a right relationship with God. JOHN 3 tells how when Jesus was baptised in Jordan, heaven opened and acknowledged Him as the Son with whom God was well pleased, and upon whom the Spirit rested. Clearly Jesus was in a right relationship with God.

Jesus here of course typifies every baptised believer in whom God’s spirit dwells. Thus we can say only true believers benefit from this service of prayer and fasting (Lent). Only those who know God in this way will truly be blessed by this fast, for others it will be nothing more than a ritual of works.

What is true of the body of God's people is also true for individuals called to particular service. Here we consider the OT example of Moses, he was very evidently called by God even from birth, remember the burning bush experience of God. But his calling and burning bush experience is not sufficient for the task ahead. He needs to afflict his soul and mortify the flesh to equip him for the kind of service God had in store for him. Only a man fully and humbly committed to the Lord could spend forty days and nights there with the Lord (Exodus 34:24). From that experience Moses emerged arguably the greatest leader Israel ever knew. Furthermore his encounter with God was evident to all as the glory of God shone in his face. Oh that we might emerge from our meeting with God the stronger and more fruitful in ministry and service of Him.

Sadly what had been designated as a means of blessing quickly fell into disrepute as men presumed upon the blessing of God. Little wonder that God through His prophets warned Israel time and again that their service was unacceptable, and rejected their fasts because they were not done for Me - for Me (Zechariah 7:3-7). Jesus criticised the Pharisees for fasting in order to be seen by men (Matthew 6:16) and for boasting about the frequency of their fasting (Luke 18:12). But He told us how to fast v18 - without show (even to disguise the fact) - secretly. He would then reward openly.

There lies before us, the Church, a great task. The task of serving the Lord and representing Him in the community. For that great task we must prepare ourselves as Ezra prepared that little band of exiles returning to Jerusalem - by prayer and fasting to seek from God the right way for us our little ones and all our possessions.

See Where His Body Lay

Jesus tomb, as was common practice, with kings, was sealed with a large circular stone, sealed with a Roman seal 27:66. A guard of soldiers was also set (Matt 27:66). Early on the first day of the week an earthquake occurred as an angel of the Lord descended. Despite the earthquake the stone was not moved - the angel did that (Matt 28:2). Earthquakes produce chaos and disorder but on this day there is peace and orderliness. The women on the way to the tomb mused as to who should roll away the stone (Mark 16:3).

A single angel is more powerful than a watch of soldiers, has more authority than Imperial Rome itself. Having opened the tomb the angel sat upon the overturned stone with its broken seal. The stone represents the limit of man’s power. The seal represents the limit of Rome's authority.

From this angelic being, his first task complete, now a word of comfort to the women. 'Do not (you) be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified'. The disciples had scattered but the women, devotedly, were back at the tomb. Some would censure the women for their lack of faith in not expecting the Lord to rise as He said He would. The angel does not upbraid them for their lack of faith but sees their devotion, and rewards them.

Following that word of comfort, an invitation 'Come see the place where the Lord lay'. That is the invitation we hear again each Easter morning. It is an invitation to strengthen our faith - at an empty tomb. However we must come not as an Historian or Archaeologist would come, we come as the women came - ready to minister to the Lord. Those who minister to others, themselves receive great blessing. The women certainly were greatly blessed that day.

Luke 24:3 tells us they were 'greatly perplexed' because they found no body. Having embalmed His body they had every reason to be perplexed. Indeed the lack of a body caused no small stir then - and still does today. Not only were the women perplexed, so were the chief priests who offered bribes to the soldiers to say the body had been stolen by His disciples (28:12-13). Just think, the responsible authorities had lost His body!!!

Then there was His disciples LUKE 24:23,24 Cleopas on the Emmaus road, tells how they had not believed the women and how they went to the tomb but did not see a Him either alive as the women said, nor His body: 'And when they found not His body, they came saying that they had seen a vision of angels which said that He was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the tomb and found it even as the women had said, but Him they found not'.

The lack of a body causes many problems even today. The life and death of Jesus is so well documented both in religious and secular history that few would be foolish enough to deny Jesus had once lived on earth. But His body - disappeared - no body, no proof! The world wants a body - to believe. The Christian, does not need a body to believe, for a body in His tomb would destroy our faith, and hope of resurrection. An empty tomb, and a risen Lord is the guarantee that we shall rise again to be with Him.

The women looked for a body, but did not find one. What did they find? An angel with a glorious message of hope - 'He is not here He is risen'. A commission - 'Go and tell My disciples, and Peter'. Peter, who later visited the tomb only saw a pile of linen burial clothes. Now I wonder why? As Peter had been mentioned specifically by the angel. Clearly Peter had doubted the testimony of Mary Magdalene: 'And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe' (Mark 16:11), and 'Their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they did not believe them' (Luke 24:11)

What will you see at the tomb on Easter morning? Will your doubting heart cause you to see just emptiness - a pile of burial clothes? Or will you like Mary receive confirmation in your heart that He is who He said He was, and that He is alive forever more. Your faith strengthened.

You may have to struggle through the darkness and coldness of doubt and unbelief - BUT DO COME. The women pressed through the darkness of the night, through the pre-dawn chill, through their natural fears of a graveyard - and found not so much an empty tomb, but a Risen Lord. The promise in the Word is that if we draw near to God, he will draw near to us. This is brilliantly fulfilled with the women at the tomb.

The Outcome of That Morning: 'They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to bring His disciples word' (Matt 28:8).

First we note the sense of urgency - departed quickly - ran. Next we note their - fear and great joy. Fear - because of the majestic, holy angel, and the message Jesus is alive. Great joy - because their friend, their Lord was alive – alive - alive. So they ran to proclaim the good news.

Hardly had they been entrusted to spread the word - they're off, at speed. It is at this point that something happens beyond their wildest dreams. 'As they went to tell His disciples, Jesus met them, saying "Rejoice" and they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him'

The Lord who honoured their devotion to Him by sending His angel to them, now in the face of such utter devotion - REVEALS HIMSELF TO THEM. The doubting disciples must wait to see the Lord. The devoted heart will meet Him at the empty tomb.

So how will you approach the empty tomb this Easter morning? Do you have doubts in your heart concerning the Lord, who He is etc.? Then all you will find is a pile of burial clothes, like Peter did. But do you come to His tomb, ready to minister to Him, from a heart totally dedicated and devoted to Him. If so, then you will find your Lord waiting to reveal Himself to you in all His risen glory, so strengthening your faith and trust in Him. JESUS IS ALIVE!

Looking to Jesus

At the family service last month we thought of the way the Lord Jesus ministered to a man who was profoundly deaf. From the story recorded in Mark chapter 7:31-37 we saw how He used his own version of sign language to show the man what he was going to do … and then wonderfully did it. We were reminded that if we have ears we need to hear (Mark 7:16)! 
One of the things that always fascinate me when I see it is someone signing for those who are deaf and hard of hearing. Occasionally when there is a news bulletin on the television you see someone signing in the bottom corner of the screen and I can’t take my eyes off it, so much so that I often forget to listen to the news report at the same time. Though I have ears to hear, I don’t hear because I’m too busy focusing on the little person in the corner. I read this week of the sign language used to ‘say’ Jesus. Do you know what it is? To make the sign, apparently, you simply put the tip of your index finger of one hand into the palm of the other, and then the index finger of the second hand in to the palm of the first. With Easter coming up, I’m sure you can work out why. To think of Jesus you must think of the nail prints in his hands. 
On Good Friday we will remember the death of Christ. After the mockery, the scourging, the spitting, the stripping, the striking and the humiliation, those hands that had ministered to, and healed, so many were taken and nailed to a cruel cross. He died, not just because he was taken by cruel hands, but because God’s perfect plan for our salvation could only be executed if He was (Acts 2:23). Without the shedding of his blood our sins could never be forgiven (Heb 9:22). On Good Friday we will remember his death afresh. But on Easter Day we will celebrate the resurrection of the Jesus put to death on Good Friday. He is the Son of God! He is the Resurrection and the Life! He has conquered death and the grave, as well as sin and Satan, and gives eternal life to all who will trust in Him. That truth is so wonderful it cannot be anything but true! The early disciples struggled to believe it and even to recognize the risen Lord when they saw him. But the nail prints were still there. John 20:20 tells us that the fears and doubts of those disciples hiding away at the end of that first Easter Day were gloriously removed when they saw His hands. Then they were glad because they knew they had seen the Lord! 
Whoever had the idea of making the sign for Jesus revolve around the nail prints was very perceptive. As important as the life of Jesus was, with its perfect obedience to the law of God, and its endless outpouring of compassion to those who were in need, it is the death and resurrection of Christ that is key to our understanding of him. He came to give his life as a ransom for our salvation. It is his death and resurrection that gives us hope. It is trusting in the Christ of Easter that will bring us salvation. Have you done that?

All Sorts of Emptiness

What springs to mind when you hear the word empty?  It’s not one of our favourite words is it?  The definition in the dictionary we have in the house goes like this; “void, containing nothing; devoid of, vacant, unoccupied; unloaded, destitute, desolate; meaningless, unsubstantial, shadowy; senseless, inane; without intelligence, ignorant; hungry, unsatisfied.”

If that were not bad enough it goes on to give some ways in which the word is used, in expressions such as empty-handed, which reminds us of someone with nothing to call their own, or, what is worse, empty-headed.  I guess we’ve all had to deal with people we could apply that to!  Even worse would be to describe somebody as empty-hearted.

As we look at the world around us we see spiritual emptiness.  It is clear that many people have a void at the centre of their life which they vainly try to satisfy with the material things that they can buy in the shops they visit.  Indeed the whole process of materialism seems to depend on such an ‘emptiness’.  Many people who are part of that approach to life often look at Christians and think that we must be empty-headed to believe in an unseen God and live for a crucified Saviour.

But as Christians we have to own up to the fact that our faith is based on something empty!  Right at the heart of the Christian faith there is something wonderfully empty.  It is the grave of the Lord Jesus Christ!  If it were still occupied, Christianity would be truly empty.  It would be futile.  As we celebrate another Easter Day, we rejoice that the fact that the grave is empty means that Christians, of all people, have a ‘fullness’ that the world will never give us.

The emptiness of the tomb of the Lord Jesus is one of the indisputable facts of history.  Unlike Mohammed, or any other great religious figure, there is no corpse and no occupied tomb to visit.  Though men for twenty centuries have advanced other explanations for the emptiness of the tomb, the only one that really stands up to investigation is that the resurrection of Jesus Christ really happened.  Scared, cowardly disciples, absent at the cross and dejected for the next two days, are transformed into fearless preachers of the resurrection, willing to be martyred rather than deny that it happened.  The Apostle Paul staked his life upon the fact and was willing to refer people who doubted it to over 500 people who had met the risen Jesus, in his writings (1 Corinthians 15:6).  Have you examined the evidence for this great event?

 But if Jesus did rise from the dead, everything is changed.  Death has been defeated.  There is a hope that goes beyond the grave.  And if He did rise, He must be who He claimed to be – the Son of God and the Lord of life itself.  We need to worship Him as such, and repent of the empty lives we live.  We need to come in worship to the Lord of the empty tomb and receive the fullness of life that He came to bring.