Missions offerings

2Co 8:1  Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
2Co 8:2  How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
2Co 8:3  For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
2Co 8:4  Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
2Co 8:5  And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

We are going through a series right now about Missions giving.
In this passage we see a group of people from the churches in Macedonia, who gave gifts of money to Paul for the work of the ministry. Now understanding that Paul was doing the work of a missionary, that makes this a missionary offering.
And it is interesting to note a few short points about this giving for missions.

• It was a grace that God had bestowed upon them. God allowed and provided for them to give in this way - not the money, but intent.
• They were in a "...great trial of affliction..." and also in"...deep poverty..." when they exercised this grace.
• They had an abundance of joy when they exercised this grace.
• They were very liberal - or generous - in this offering.
• They gave not only "to their power", but also "beyond their power". They gave not only what they had, but they even gave that which they didn't have to give.
• They insisted that this gift be given to the missionary Paul - they would not be refused.

This is really interesting to me, because in this we see that these people gave what they could, and then gave what they (in the world's eyes) shouldn't have given. They were already in great trial of affliction and deep poverty, but they gave what little they had - everything they could afford to give, and even more that they couldn't really afford to give.

And they did this because of what is written in vs 5 - they gave their own selves to the Lord.
The series we are going trough, the preacher says "If you say you love God and don't give to missions, I don't believe it". "If you say you love God and don't come to services, I don't believe it". "If you say you love God and don't witness and share the Gospel, I don't believe it".
Their love for God was shown out by them first giving their own selves, and the actions followed - actions where they gave money they couldn't afford to, so that the Gospel could be preached. I wonder where that money came from? I wonder if that money meant that they had to do without lunch for a week so that the missionary could eat?
Love is not some mushy emotion - it is seen in action, and these people first gave their own selves, and that meant that they gave to their power and beyond their power, even though they were in affliction and deep poverty.
I shake my head at myself when I think of this - at how little I love the Lord when I look at what of my life I give to Him and I allow Him to direct.
I wonder what would happen if Christians today truly "..first gave their own selves to the Lord."?

My problem...... well, one of the many anyway.

I have this way about me that makes people think I am not working hard.

I don't quite know what it is - maybe it's because I don't seem to panic or get flustered very much, but just get on and do what needs to be done?
Maybe it is because I don't fuss too much about the small details, just do them?
Maybe it is because I tend to ignore the unimportant even if other people think it is important?

I have always had this problem, as long as I can remember.

I apparently make things look effortless, and therefore people think I am not putting any effort in.

Many years ago, when I was working a labouring job, I got into trouble for being slack with a shovel, even though I had moved more of the clay dust than any one else in my group. One guy in our group I don't think actually used his shovel at all, and we got the job done in time, but I was the one singled out as being slack while the other guys laughed about it. They made fun of me for it later - they all thought it was a great joke.

Later, when I moved into an office situation, I was sacked after 8 months with the company for not putting in enough effort. That news was given to me an hour and half after closing time, when I finally got back from delivering a project to a client that a job manager had me deliver in peak hour traffic on a Friday night, after having worked till 2am that morning on this project that the project manager had not started until Thursday morning. That guy went home after sending me on the delivery by the way. And when I finally got back after battling the traffic there and back for 60km each way, one of the bosses called me into his office and let me know that they didn't think I was putting in enough effort. That was 6:30pm on a Friday night after having started at 7am that morning, and having done a 17 hour day the day before.

I have always been amongst the best producers in any office I have worked at in my field of work, sometimes producing nearly twice the volume of work of others in the various offices I have worked at.
The only time that was recognised was when I was poached by an old workmate who was then in charge of an office. He needed someone to show his junior workers how to work, and he thought I would be a good candidate.
I accepted the job, and the young guys in the office were a bit put out of joint with them bringing in an "old school" guy who had never even used digital methods in that line before.
They got a huge shock when, in less than a week I had picked up the basics of the digital software, and was producing three times as much as any of them were.
Shook up the office alright, and within the next month the production of the section improved dramatically as they tried to keep up with me.
Within six months one of them was outproducing me, and the rest were not far off - so my job was done.
After about 4 years there was an industry downturn, and I volunteered to move to another section and learn a different process.
I admit I struggled to grasp all the intricacies of the process, but I was as good as most - never fantastic, but passable, which I personally found frustrating. I like to be able to do really well at my work, and that only happened in certain aspects or particular projects.
But my boss in that section called me in for a talk one day to discuss why I was so sloppy and careless in my work. He totally got it wrong. I was not careless in my work, just average, and I messed a few projects up in a row. What I needed was better instruction and possibly not to be given jobs from certain people. Instead of making sure that proper and clear instructions were given to me, he accused me of being lazy and careless - which was not the problem at all.
In fact, there were a few project managers who gave very vague instructions and expected the operator to know how to fill in the gaps, and I just didn't know how to fill in those gaps - more experience for me, and better instructions from them, and it might have been different. But it is always the operator's fault. It did seem funny that I never got any complaints from the managers who gave clear and complete instructions. I left there voluntarily when Redundancies were offered, and my first boss there said that if things ever lift again he will have me back.

Now I find the situation still abides.

I still have people who think that I am lazy, in spite of the fact that in 20 years of this I have never missed a deadline, and always been there when I was needed.
I have people who expect me to do the impossible, and when I fail them I am a waste of space.
I have people who are disappointed when I don't have fresh milk on hand for their coffee.
I have people who are disappointed when I don't do for them that which they could easily do for themselves.

The problem is that there is no "statement of duties" for my current position.
There is no outline of what is reasonable expectation and what is not.
And I am apparently expected to be able to do every kind of maintenance job, every kind of administrative job, every kind of counseling job, every kind of teaching job, as well as keeping track of what everyone is up to and needs without spying on or intruding into anyone's life, and all this while I am the best husband and father in the world.

And people think that this is a breeze for me.

I don't know how, but I apparently make this all look so easy that the reason I can't do all these things is because I am just not trying and working hard enough.

I put a fair bit of effort in - I know there is more I can do, and I keep trying to do better and more, but in the end I am only human, and I can only do so much, and I only have so many skills and talents with which to work. And some who read this will just think to themselves that I am just making excuses. And maybe I am. Maybe I should just shut up and take a spoonful of concrete, toughen up and work harder and longer.

I could go and find a red cape and some blue tights, but I can't seem to find that big "S" to put on the chest, and without it, people just laugh at me in tights.

Movie: Let The Lion Roar

There is all this hype going on in my area right now about the movie "Let the Lion Roar".

Now, let me state at the outset that I have not seen the movie.
You may think it a little presumptuous to form opinions before seeing the movie, but let me explain: The information that is being pushed around to promote the movie is fairly general and bland - there is little detail in the promotional material, and even the "preview clip" does not reveal the nature or premise of the movie.

So, in order that I might decide whether it was even worth seeing to check on it, I went searching for information.

Let me further say that the information I found was on the official website, so it is information that they approve of.

And again, on investigating the information, their stated purpose is a good one:

However, the focus of our particular message is that God's covenant love was for the entire Jewish people, as much for the unfaithful as for the faithful. Clearly He deals with the unfaithful very differently from the faithful, but the key point we make is that they have never ceased to be His chosen people despite their unfaithfulness.

(Second paragraph, FAQ "Why don't you say more about the remnant of Israel".

However, I have some very serious concerns about this movie, probably the greatest of which is:

Let the Lion Roar did indeed begin with a repeated prophetic vision and a word of knowledge to 'Complete The Reformation'. But it was tested for over 20 years, so that its interpretation and application fitted with the 150 verses which Escaping The Great Deception quotes.

(Fourth paragraph, FAQ "How sound is it to base Let the Lion Roar on a prophetic vision?)

The Bible is plain about one thing:

Rev 22:18  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

There is to be no words of prophecy added to this book. Whether you want this to be only the book of Revelation, or the whole Bible makes no difference to the fact that there was to be no further revelation once the Bible was completed.

This passage aligns perfectly with:

1Co 13:8  Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
1Co 13:9  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
1Co 13:10  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

Now it for another time to discuss this thoroughly, but that which is perfect is the Word of God - the whole subject of this passage is knowledge, and the Bible says that "when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away". And then it tells us what is "in part" - knowledge and prophecy. The last words of the book of Revelation tell us that the Bible is completed, and therefore extra knwoledge and prophecy is done away.
We don't need any more special knowledge and new revelation, for we have all that we need in the Word of God.

Even Peter put little store in visions:

2Pe 1:17  For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
2Pe 1:18  And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
2Pe 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

He says in this passage that we have a more sure word of prophecy, but note what it is more sure than: "....this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount."
Peter said that they saw the Lord transfigured on the mount (See Matt 17), but that the Word of God was more sure than even that vision - which was a real physical thing they saw with their own eyes, not even something in a dream.

 

 So to base this movie on some sort of prophetic vision is simply not biblical.

The second concern I have about this movie is the claim with regard to "completing the Reformation".

Only God can complete the Reformation. However He will do it through His body, so that no one usurps His glory.

(First sentence of FAQ "Isn't it pretentious to claim that you could complete the Reformation?")

I have an issue with this because God's goal has NEVER BEEN to complete the Reformation.

The very idea of the reformation was to "return the church to the truth", but that church - the Catholic church - never had the truth. They were based on a faulty and unbiblical premise from the first, and have never held to the way that Jesus taught and bled and died for.

Likewise the Reformation, started by men who saw the false doctrine and wrong teaching that was rampant in the catholic "church", was about bringing truth to the Catholic church. When they would not accept that truth, these men started their own "break away" churches from the Catholic "Church", but they based their new "churches" on the old one, just with the little bits of truth that they had found from the Bible.

But they did not forsake all the false teaching of the Catholics, and they also invented some of their own.

We agree that there has always been a remnant, but it was never found in the Catholic "Church", nor was it found in the Reformation or protestant churches.

There has always existed a number of people who have followed the Word of God alone, and whilst among these there has been variation of belief in the lesser points of doctrine, there has always been those who have taught salvation by grace through faith and not of works. (Eph 2:8,9)

The Reformation  and the protestant movement was not against a "church that had lost it's way", but in fact a false "church" which was not a church at all, and who preached another gospel which is not another." (Gal 1:6,7)

How can "completing the Reformation" be condoned of God when the purpose of it was never to return to the Bible, but simply to add some more Bible to a false system?

And let's not forget that the reformers were just as hard on the  true Christians of their day as the Catholics were. Both Luther and Calvin hated the "anabaptists" or "rebaptisers" or whatever other name they chose to call them by, and persecuted them by direct order, often with death.
And plenty of others joined them in their persecution of true Christians.

Personally, I don't want that work finished. I don't want the Catholic "church" reformed - I want the people in it to be saved by the precious blood of Christ, and to .."come out from among them" (2 Cor 6:17).
And I don't want the reformation work of the persecution of true Christians completed either.

I won't be seeing this movie, and I won't be recommending anyone else does either.
It is based on an unbiblical vision, and it has an unbiblical purpose.

There can be no value for any true Christian in this movie.

Discouragement

I have been thinking about discouragement lately, and thought it would be a worthwhile subject for a short study.

In reading I came across this passage and it occurred to me that whilst we wouldn't normally associate this passage with discouragement, I think the marks are there.

Luk 17:1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

Luk 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

Luk 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

Luk 17:4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Luk 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

Luk 17:6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

Luk 17:7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?

Luk 17:8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?

Luk 17:9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.

Luk 17:10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

The Lord is talking about offences, and his primary words to them are about forgiveness.

The interesting thing about this passage is that their response to the Lord is to ask Him to give them more faith.

I think they knew what the Lord said was right, but they also knew it is a very hard thing to be offended and then forgive that person – we are so quick to hold offences.

I am so glad that God does not hold our offences against Him, against us once we are saved.

In fact God says that if you are saved by faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, that He has cast your sins as far as the east from the west.

But the apostles here asked the Lord for more faith so that they might be able to do what He has just told them to do.

I see in this the marks of discouragement.

I see in this an attitude of resignation, in that they know what they need to do, but they just don't think they can do it. They think it is too hard for them, and they want to honour the Lord, but they just don't think they can do it.

This is discouragement – when you know what you should do, but you simply can not find the wherewithal to it – it seems impossible, but it is necessary, and that is when discouragement rears its ugly head.

So at this point in the passage I am all ears, because discouragement is no stranger to me – in fact it is close neighbour at times.

So I want this advice and instruction.

I need more faith.

I need stronger faith.

Then the Lord answers his apostles.

Luk 17:6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

It is not the amount of faith that matters – even a small amount of faith is enough to do miraculous things.

No, the answer to discouragement and the ability to do as the Lord commands us is in the verses that follow vs 6.

And it will not be a popular answer.

I don't like to hear it myself, so I don't expect that too many reading this will like what the Lord ahs to say.

When I am discouraged I want someone to come up beside me and say “You poor baby. Life is really tough for you right now isn't it?”

But what does the Lord say?

Luk 17:7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?

Luk 17:8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?

Luk 17:9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.

Luk 17:10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

This is a really strange answer to give to someone who is discouraged, especially at their own inability to do what the Lord commands.

Basically the Lord here reminds the apostles that they are servants, and that their job is to serve their master.

It actually doesn't matter if they are discouraged about their task, and it certainly has nothing to do with faith.

They didn't need more faith.

They needed do what they were told.

And at the end of it, they needed to realise that they are only doing what a servant should do – what he is commanded to by his master.

So the Lord told them to set aside their offences and forgive the people who offended them, and simply to get on with the forgiving that they had been told to.

In other words – discouragement is neither here nor there – just get about the master's business.

And then He emphasises the point by saying that when the servant has done what he should do, he is not to be looking for any special reward – it is simply the servant's duty.

This is probably the hardest part of this to swallow – and this is the real answer to their request for increased faith.

They wanted more faith so that they could do this forgiving that the Lord had commanded them, but the Lord replies to them that this command is no special thing – it is simply what needs to be done, simply their duty.

In other words, discouragement is not a lack of faith, it is simply a lack of obedience.........

THAT, my friends, is a bitter pill if ever there was one.

When I am discouraged, I want to put the blame of it onto the people around me, but the Lord simply says “Get over it and get on with it”.

As I have been looking at this passage, I dearly wanted to find a different message in it than this one, but this is what the Lord is teaching me through it.

Discouragement is a lack of obedience.

Not due to the people around me.

Not due to the things that happen to me.

Not due to the troubles of this life.

Simply an unwillingness on my part to do “that which is my duty to do”.

And if I want victory over this discouragement, I simply have to be about the Master's work.