faith

Just Believe

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I’ve been reading the book of Mark again. I love reading about Jesus. Reading the Gospels keep you focussed on the important things, the wonder, the joy, the sacrifice, the love.

Mark skips Jesus’ first thirty years to get straight into His ministry time, His purpose – Son of God, Son of Man. Jesus preaches, teaches, heals, performs miracles, forgives, calls disciples… It is wonderful.

But very early in the picture, we see that some are not impressed with paralysed men walking, blind eyes being opened, or demon-possessed people set free. In fact, they are incensed, angry, indignant (2:7,16, 24; 3:2, 6, 22).

Go figure!

Oh, the crowds loved Jesus. Disciples followed. Towns and villages were transformed, but the Pharisees, teachers of the law, were unimpressed. Jesus healed on the Sabbath! Agh! How dare He! He told a man to stretch out his hand to be healed. How evil! He forgave someone. Who does He think He is?

Religious rules, forgetting the heart of the good news, pride, lording it over others, position, traditions… all these can silence the beautiful, the holy, the incredible.

But God!

One of the synagogue leaders, Jairus, had a terrible situation. His little girl was dying. I don’t think it’s a stretch to imagine Jairus as one of these detractors of Jesus, alongside the Pharisees.

Until now.

It’s amazing how desperation, hopelessness, and love for your own, can shift wrong thinking, pride, stubborn beliefs.

And so, Jairus approached Jesus. Not with pride, but humility, falling at Jesus’ feet. He pleaded earnestly, eyes and heart pouring out repentance (in my mind), along with faith and belief –

‘My little daughter is dying. Please come and

put your hand on her so that she will be healed and live.”

Matthew 5:23

There is no scolding, no reprimand from Jesus. Just a willing, compassionate heart to do as Jairus asked.

Jairus must have felt relieved, hopeful.

And then a test. A woman who had been bleeding for many years interrupts Jairus’ miracle. ‘Hinders’ Jesus from the task at hand. Delays the opportunity, the miracle.

Perhaps Jairus is too scared to hurry Jesus, concerned he may lose the opportunity if he complains or makes demands. But his heart must have been racing. He watched Jesus’ love and tenderness, His compassion and power as this lady, a Jewish woman, broke those very rules Jairus burdened the people with. (She was not meant to be in the crowd while bleeding.) He watched her treasured and blessed by Jesus, healed, made whole, congratulated –

“Daughter, your faith has healed you.

Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Mark 5:34.

As synagogue leader, Jairus could possibly have had her punished for even being there, removed the delay. But he didn’t. Perhaps he remembered the true calling of the priests, the joy and prayer and Presence of God that was meant to be in the House of God, the hope that should have been found by the people in the synagogue. Instead of rules. Perhaps this woman’s miracle gave hope for his own!

And then the news.

“Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher anymore?”

Mark 5:35

I might be reading too much into this, but I imagine these folk were not impressed when Jairus told them he was seeking Jesus out. It’s like they were almost glad the daughter died so that Jesus could not heal her and so receive more attention and praise.

Such a lack of compassion. Heartless.

But Jesus hears them.

Without even looking at them, Jesus tells Jairus,

“Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

Mark 5:36

These words are some of the most powerful we should have in our memory bank, our heart, our mouth.

Jesus’ instructions to Jairus are the most powerful, important words this man will ever hear.

I hear so much more than those few words. I imagine Jesus saying, ‘Will you trust Me? Will you believe Me, believe in Me? Will you follow and obey, correct your faulty and religious thinking? Will you serve the people instead of lord it over them? Will you remember who your Father God is, and His heart of love and compassion for His people?’

Jairus believed.

As they came to the home, the wailers were in full flight.

Those who heard Jesus’ next words, “The child is not dead, but asleep,” laughed at Him – in front of their friend and leader whose daughter had just died. What?!

So, Jesus sent them away and said –

“Little girl, I say to you, get up!”

Mark 5:41

This twelve-year-old girl stood up and walked around. The people were astonished. Yes!

Incredible.

“Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

Blessings,

Jenni

A Bouquet of Flowers

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The Lord gave me a picture of a bouquet, handed to me at a picnic. He touched my heart with what he showed me. I’ll go back a bit, though, to explain why he gave me this picture.

I was contemplating the words of a song, taken from Psalm 34:4,

‘I sought the Lord, and He heard, and He answered.’

It really challenged me. I’m leading this song at church this week. Do I really believe this, that God hears and answers me? Have I really been seeking Him? Sure, I study and ponder the Bible. I pray and worship and fellowship. I seek Him for words of encouragement for others. I pray with people and believe God for them.

But truth be told, I’ve been a bit discouraged with my personal level of answered prayer, seeing my own goals met; feeling like my dreams and hopes aren’t coming to pass. And so, I beat myself up, ‘You don’t have enough discipline, you haven’t prayed enough, you haven’t been speaking the Word of God over these dreams and callings, you haven’t stepped out in faith or started the actions necessary, you haven’t…’

I’m sure I’m not the first or last person to think like this. All those practices are great, even necessary, but guilt and shame should have no place, no authority, in a faith walk. Worry or discouragement need not be our negative default. On top of that, we have an adversary who loves the lies, the hints of failures he whispers, the poking of our disappointments, or our weaker character traits. He loves to sprinkle fear into our musings, shifting our hearts and words to worry instead of faith and decree. It is also easy to confuse his attacks, his insinuations, with our own emotions, and fall for his wicked ploys.

This may all seem a bit depressing! But I sense God lifting my eyes to see my situation, my heart, with fresh eyes; to recognise enemy tactics. I am reminded of who I am, that I have a relationship with Jesus (that alone is magnificent!), a purpose; plans, activities, giftings, designed by God Himself for my life. This is both thrilling and daunting. When I listen to the devil, or when I look at my own failings and weaknesses, I am discouraged. So, my attention needs to shift.

Lately, the phrase, Dream Again, has come to mind. I’ve heard it preached in the past. It brings hope and an injection of faith to our walk. So, I feel I need to believe again, instead of feeling like God or I have failed. (And God never fails!) Then, I read a message which prophesied this very thing, to get out our dreams and speak with God about them, injecting life and faith back into them. I love it when God confirms the areas He is bringing to our attention, bringing insight for my contemplation.

‘I sought the Lord’ – When I took the time with the Lord – to purposefully stop at that moment to listen for His voice, (accompanied by the usual interruptions and distractions – so don’t give up!), I saw a picture in my mind –

A picnic basket was placed on a rug in an open field, a woman sat down waiting. A stunning bouquet of flowers was given to the woman. I sensed it was God giving me the arrangement. I enjoyed their beauty and scent and was grateful. I love flowers!

But I knew they needed to be placed in a jug of water as soon as possible so they didn’t wilt and die. I could take them with me, into my activities, but they wouldn’t last long. Unless the flowers were ‘contained‘ (this was the word I sensed) in a vase of water, the gift would wither, die. The bouquet wouldn’t fulfil its purpose.

I was encouraged by this, to know God has a specific place for my gift, my bouquet, to serve, to bring life, even to enjoy. It was a reminder to me of my place in his story. It wasn’t a place of limitation. It spoke to me of the need for his Living Water to keep any gift I have been given alive. I must be ‘contained’, kept where God wants me to be to use his gift. I must be restrained from doing my own thing so that His purposes are fulfilled.

Jeremiah 2:13 NIV warns,

‘My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken Me, the spring of living water, and have dug cisterns, broken cisterns that hold no water.’

This is a challenge, to trust God in everything. I don’t want other things to be more important than Jesus, ‘…exchanging their glorious God for worthless idols‘ (verse 11). I don’t want my own desires to dominate my time and efforts. I don’t want to dig my own ‘cisterns’ (trying to provide and live for myself) just to be dry and broken.

Jesus invites us –

‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’

John 7:37-38 NIV

Come. Drink. Believe. Place yourself within the waters of life, as a bouquet is placed in a vase of water. Be happy with where God has you right now. Flourish there. Be refreshed. Imagine the overflow from your very position.

‘Come to Me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.‘

Matthew 11:28-30 TPT

This has been a verse I’ve been considering all year. The Lord gave me a word, Effortless, for my year. Not that I could be lazy, inattentive to him, or let go of the call of God. Rather, that I could find my rest and refreshment in him, so that all that I do is a flow from his Living Water, his power, not my own. A union, a yoking with Jesus – ‘Take my yoke upon you’ (Matthew 11:29 NIV). He carries the load, bears the brunt, directs the path, teaches me on the journey. He makes it easy for me, even when it doesn’t feel like it! This is trust. That Jesus is carrying the heavy burden, he is listening and answering, he is guiding my path and appointing the works he has for me.

One night, Zechariah 4:1-6, the prophet was woken by an angel and had a vision. He’d seen vases on either side of olive trees, a gold lampstand and more. When asked what it meant, he had no idea. The angel then gave him a message for Zerubbabel (a godly governor -see Haggai 1:1)

‘ “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit” says the Lord Almighty.‘

This added to my ‘picture’ of placing my flowers in a vase of water. I can’t do things on my own. We’re not meant to! Haggai was called to build a temple, Noah was called to build an ark, Abraham was called to build a family, Mary was called to birth Jesus. No matter what we are called to, gifted to do, we need God’s power, his Spirit, his strength. It has to be impossible – for us – if God has called us to do it! He wants to do incredible, miraculous, life-changing, wonderful things in, to and through us. And these can only happen through His Spirit and power.

I need the Holy Spirit.

‘But you will receive power when the when the Holy Spirit comes on you...’

Acts 1:8

‘Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit wo was given to us…

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.’

Romans 5:5; 15:13.

This is so wonderful. Instead of worry and shame, I can experience ‘joy and peace in believing‘.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your faithfulness and grace. I come to you with gratefulness that you are carrying the burden. I join myself to you, going where you go, staying where you place me. I trust the ‘containment’, the place you have for me. I trust your Living Water to flow over, in and through me; that I live from a place of refreshment, life and confidence in you!

Refresh my faith for the ‘impossible’. Help me to believe again. Remind me of your promises. Light my path so I can follow you. Fill me fresh with your Holy Spirit. Thank you for your joy and peace.

Thank you to Zoe @ Fine Flowers Katoomba for the beautiful bouquet photos. https://linktr.ee/fineflowerskatoomba?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=2b3fb68a-e9fb-43dc-b056-922711ec8dc8

Check out the song, Trust in God by Elevation Music. I hope it encourages you as it has me. https://youtu.be/QS04WbSnxok

The Cup

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“Awake, awake! Rise up Jerusalem,

you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord the cup of his wrath…

…This is what your Sovereign Lord says, your God, who defends his people:

‘See, I have taken out of your hand the cup that made you stagger;

from that cup, the goblet of my wrath, you will never drink again. ‘”

Isaiah 51:17, 22. NIV

Today is Good Friday, and I felt to read from Isaiah where Jesus is spoken of as the suffering servant (ch53). I started at chapter 51 and was amazed at what I saw. Three things in particular spoke to me from this passage – Rise up, The Cup, and Never Again.

Rise Up!

I love the way the mist rises from our gully. It is effortless. It is gentle and shifts slowly. I think this is a reflection of how God wants us to grow in Him.

We have a great privilege, a responsibility, to respond to our Sovereign God. He has provided everything we need for freedom and salvation. But it doesn’t just come. We receive, we accept, we repent, we believe, we follow and obey. We have a part to play.

Again, in Isaiah 52:1-2, it says, ‘Awake, awake, Zion, clothe yourselves with strength! Put on your garments of splendour, Jerusalem, the holy city… Shake off your dust; rise up, sit enthroned, Jerusalem, Free yourself from the chains on your neck, Daughter Zion, now a captive.’

We are encouraged in the New Testament to put on: the armour of light (Rom 13:2), the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 13:14), the new man (Eph 4:24), the armour of God (Eph 6:11), love (Col 3:124) as well as many ‘put off…’ commands. We have been given a robe of righteousness to wear. We clothe ourselves with strength by knowing who our God is in us. We read His word and renew our mind to who we are. We see His great love and power poured into us and we walk in that. We step out in faith, following the leading of the Holy Spirit, being strong and courageous. (Josh 1) Or at least, that is our goal. But we must rise to it.

The Cup

I hadn’t ever noticed how God described His taking away of the wrath and judgement the Israelites were living under.

‘I have taken out of your hand the cup…that cup, the goblet of my wrath, you will never drink again.’

(Is 51:22)

What an incredible promise to the Israelites of the day. As I contemplated Jesus’ death on the cross, it was clear that Jesus also took the cup for us. He knew He would carry the wrath of God on our behalf. Such a simple picture for us. As we take communion we see the hand of God at work, lifting wrath, the punishment we deserved. We are forgiven and made free.

Never Again

And then there is a promise, ‘…you will never drink again.’ We are forgiven and free forever. We may be corrected, we may experience consequences of our sin, but we will never have to carry the weight of God’s wrath. I am as forgiven, loved and righteous as I ever will be. Now I am free to walk in these, and respond with gratefulness, humility and love.

In Isaiah 52:1 there is one more little phrase,

‘The uncircumcised and defiled will not enter you again.’

This is another amazing promise. And it reminded me of Moses’ words to the Israelites as they faced the Red Sea on one side and Pharoah’s army on the other. They were terrified, angry, and ready to return to slavery.

‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.

The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you…’

Exodus 14:13-14

God then told them to move on! God knows how to deal with our enemies. And He knows how to stop them from returning!

In Zephaniah 3:15 it says,

‘The Lord has taken away your judgements,

He has cast out your enemy;

The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst.; You shall see disaster no more.’

At the Passover meal, Jesus took he cup, gave thanks, and then shared it with His disciples. After supper He again took the cup, and said,

‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’

Luke 22:20

Later that evening, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus prayed,

‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but Yours be done.’ (v42)

As the Lord had taken the cup of wrath from the Israelites, so, too, Jesus has taken it for us. He was beaten, crushed, mocked, bruised, whipped. He also carried our sorrows and pain, our curses, sickness and disease. Read Isaiah 53 to see what Jesus bore for us.

The Father didn’t take the cup that night because He knew the victory on the other side. Jesus’ punishment, death and time in hell won for us our freedom and salvation. Jesus has won His family back.

On the cross, Jesus declared, ‘Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.’ (Luke 23:34) The centurion seeing all that had happened, said, ‘Surely this was a righteous man.’ (v47)

And now we are gifted this righteousness.

‘For He made him who knew no sin to be sin for us,

that we might became the righteousness of God in Him.’

2 Corinthians 5:21

Blessings ,

Jenni x