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Judges 6 vs. 33-38 – Seeking a Sign

Feb 15th, 2011 by

We live in a world obsessed with “Spirituality”  In the last ten years mediums, psychics, spirtualists have come out of the woodwork and gained prominence. Just about every night there are on our television sets series whose content is devoted to the “Spirit world”

We are warned in the New Testament that there will be counterfeit miracles and such practices. We need to be very conscious and not get sucked into the vortex around us.

In Judges we see Gideon called by God, in his weakness he struggled to believe God could use him. I can understand his uncertainty, we all doubt, we all struggle with what we can do for God. Rather we should think what can God do through us. Gideon seeks a sign and God delivers! Don’t be afraid to seek for understanding and wisdom as for Silver and Gold, do it with all your heart (Proverbs 2v1ff)

Judges 6 vs. 33-38 – Seeking a Sign

Soon afterward the armies of Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east formed an alliance against Israel

And crossed the Jordan, camping in the valley of Jezreel, then the Spirit of the LORD took possession of Gideon.

Sometimes it is as everything is about to come against us, the storm clouds gather, others against us rail

Things build up there is a sense if things continue in the same vein that they will only get worse, we’ll be hit full on

That we won’t be able to stand, we’ll be blown away by the impact of the load, and we seem doomed to fail

But it as we get to the point of frailty, of no return, that God’s spirit is enabled to bring a change in condition

For we in ourselves do not have the answers or the capability to do it on or own, in God’s strength we will avail

For in him all things are possible, like Gideon we can be enabled, the Spirit of the LORD took possession of Gideon

He blew a ram’s horn as a call to arms, and the men of the clan of Abiezer came to him he also sent messengers

Throughout Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, summoning their warriors and all of them responded.

Gideon in God’s strength and authority could call the warriors with certainty and there were from them no dissenters

For they recognised that God’s mantle was upon him, that with him leading them victory was certain, assured

For it is not my might, nor by power that this world bestows, but by God’s spirit we can do all things, be conquerors

 As we trust in God and believe in his word he is then able to work in us and we can be joyful not despondent

Then Gideon said to God, “If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, prove it to me in this way

I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry,

Is this really you Lord? Like Gideon there are times when we hear a word but are unsure about it, it has hues of gray

It is alright to test what we hear, as I Thessalonians 5 v 20 says “but test everything” discern, know what to do and try

For we can easily mis-hear or not comprehend that which God intends, allow the Spirit to guide, his word then obey

We need to go forward in that which God purposes, for it is to grow and embolden us, otherwise we will weep and cry

Then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised.” And that is just what happened.

When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out a whole bowlful of water.

Gideon laid out the fleece wanting to see if God could prove himself, which he did, even then Gideon demurred

And asked that God did one more thing to do in reverse so that the fleece was dry and the ground wet with water

Sometimes we need to be shown more than once that God is faithful and that we can believe what we’ve heard

We live in a world where to trust in something or somebody is an anachronism, rare, we should trust God no other

Belief or system can assure us of eternal life, provide us with a God who is omniscient, full of grace, a living word

We can stand on the promises of God, listening every moment for the Spirit’s call, as we do drink of his living water

Mark Maffey, January 2008© (NLT) http://maffster.blogtown.co.nz/

Posted in POEMS, Poems Old Testament | No Comments »

Colossians 1 vs. 1-8 – Paul’s Thanks To God For The People in Colossae

Feb 7th, 2011 by

 

The book of Colossians is a powerful pastoral letter, Paul had never met the people of Colossae, but had good reports from others. Paul was in prison but this did not stop him writing or praying.

In the introduction to this book, we again see Paul’s pastoral heart, his concern for his flock.

Colossians 1 vs. 1-8 – Paul’s Thanks To God For The People in Colossae

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To God’s holy people

In Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father

Paul writes to the people for Colossae whilst in prison, he hasn’t meet them but calls them holy people

He has had reports from others as to their faith, their resilience, and their belief in God as their Father

They were being challenged by other views and doctrines, Paul is keen to help them stay holy people

To be holy is to keep pure, to stay focussed on Jesus, and to be steadfast in belief of God as their Father

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith

 In Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up

Paul and Timothy are greatly encouraged by what they have heard about the people in Colossae and their faith

Paul is quick to focus on his three keys to a church being strong, being: faith, hope, and love, to keep these held up

To be a people that have a love for other Christians, prepared to help others and to outwork a practical faith

Which is based on the hope they have, the belief in Christ as Saviour, and as one who will return and be lifted up

At whose name every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that he is Lord, it is the essence of our faith

A faith founded on love, not a gushy love, but a sacrificial love, one prepared to lay down his life, to be lifted up

For you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you.

In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world

Paul reinforces to the people of Colossae that the have heard the true message of the gospel, it has come to you

He is urging them to keep firm to their belief, a belief spreading through the whole world

Paul is saying to them you are not alone in your belief in the gospel, it is gaining acceptance, people just like you

In different towns and cities are hearing the true message, it is going through the world

Just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.

 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,

A tree is known by its fruit, you Paul says has grown through faith and understanding of God’s grace

Also your fruitfulness is a direct result of your learning the true gospel from Epaphras on our behalf

Epaphras is held up by Paul as being a faithful minister, one who is able to teach, they learnt of God’s grace

And the true message of God from him, he was one who instructed, built up their faith and not by half

Because of his faithfulness they have absorbed and are living faithfully and truly understood God’s grace

And who also told us of your love in the Spirit, for this reason,

Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you

Paul again acknowledges what he has heard of their love in and out of season

That they love one another is due to the work of the Spirit that is in you

Epaphras not only taught faith, but showed how to live faith in an out of season

He showed what it was to lead a life lead by the Spirit, to more than a few

Paul and Timothy knew interceded for the People of Colossae, they had reason

They understood the challenges they faced, so they prayed with this in view

Mark Maffey February 2011© (NIV) http://maffster.blogtown.co.nz/

Posted in POEMS, Poems New Testament | No Comments »

Judges 7 vs. 9-15 Gideon’s Fears Overcome by a Dream

Jan 24th, 2011 by

 

Gideon was appointed as a judge for a divine purpose. In this passage we how Faith is really spelt risk,  Gideon took a physical camp in stealthily going down to the Midianite Camp, the forces arraigned against him were massive, he took a spiritual risk in believing in a way out there dream and its interpretation, he was prepared to believe God’s purpose to worship and then to act. Are we open to listen, to hear from God even when what we hear seems outlandish? Check it out, seek and interpretation, dwell on it and if it settles in your heart as a step to take, worship God, then take action. As the words of the old hymn go ” Trust and obey, there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey!”

Judges 7 vs. 9-15 Gideon’s Fears Overcome by a Dream

That night the LORD said, “Get up! Go down into the Midianite camp, for I have given you victory over them!

 But if you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah, listen to what the Midianites are saying

For I will demonstrate to you that I am in control of the situation, you won’t be overcome, the Midianites won’t you hem

Rather than get perplexed by what you see, be prepared to listen, for as you do you will have cause to me be obeying

For I know beforehand each and every situation I am placing you in and you can be confident I am all of them

For I am able to do more than you can imagine, and it is as you place your trust in me I can my power be demonstrating

For I am greater than he who is in the world, I will overcome all your enemies, no matter how strong they seem

Go down to their camp, I will protect you as you eavesdrop with Purah, listen to what the Midianites are saying

And you will be greatly encouraged. Then you will be eager to attack.” So Gideon took Purah and went down

To the edge of the enemy camp, the armies of Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east had settled in the valley

Gideon took a risk in going to the edge of the camp, he needed stealth to ensure he wasn’t caught like a pawn

He had to make his move carefully for it was a large camp with sentries posted it was prudent to move slowly

To be conscious of his surrounds and yet to trust in God’s word and listen to the Midianites and from them discern

What they would say to cause him to be encouraged, so he went to where the people were, settled in the valley

Like a swarm of locusts. Their camels were like grains of sand on the seashore—too many to count!

Gideon crept up just as a man was telling his companion about a dream. The man said, “I had this dream,

The people of the east were so numerous they were like a swarm of locusts a considerable amount

So large where their numbers that it would have been easy to be afraid to attack, defeat it could mean

 However Gideon and Purah went did what they were asked, and a man a dream did start to recount

So Gideon and Purah did listen in as he began to tell his companion about his unusual disconcerting dream

And in my dream a loaf of barley bread came tumbling down into the Midianite camp; it hit a tent, turned it over, and knocked it flat!”

His companion answered, “Your dream can mean only one thing God has given Gideon Son of Joash, the Israelite, Victory

We can have times when we wonder what God is doing, sometimes we have dreams or words for other which seem way out of it

Faith can be spelt risk, sometimes we have to step out of our comfort zones and share what we hear, even a weird dream or story

Imagine a round loaf of barley bread probably about a kilo in size rolling into a camp hitting a tent, turning it over and knocking it

Flat a bit out there, don’t you think, but the interpretation of dreams is important and the answer was Gideon was to have victory

Over Midian and all its allies!” When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, He bowed in worship before the LORD

Then he returned to the Israelite camp and shouted, “Get up! For the LORD has given you victory over the Midianite hordes!”

Gideon could have reacted in one of two different ways, either rejecting the dream and its interpretation, not trust the LORD

Or believe in it and in the power of the Lord, he chose the latter, I believe his heart rejoiced in it, he would beat the hordes

He was prepared to worship his Lord and wasn’t afraid to rouse his men and shout that victory was theirs ordained by the LORD

Are we prepared to listen to others as they share, to seek interpretation, and to act in accord with the Lord, he overcomes hordes!

Mark Maffey, January 2011© (NLT )

http://maffster.blogtown.co.nz/

Posted in POEMS, Poems Old Testament | No Comments »

Ecclesiastes 3 vs. 1-8 – A Time for Everything

Jan 6th, 2011 by

 

Life is a mixture to misquote Forrest Gump “Life isn’t a box of chocolates, you don’t know  what you are going to get. It is a bit of a lolly mixture, some sour, some sweet, nor is it all happy or all sad, the reality is that we do go through seasons. Ecclesiastes 3 captures this well, one of the things I am trying to say in this meditation is that it is okay to display our emotions to God, but the relationship is two sided, are we prepared to place things at his feet, to move on, to trust and obey, despite not knowing what the full picture is, we know this he is faithful, just, he does have a plan for each of our lives.

Ecclesiastes 3 vs. 1-8 – A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

Sometimes life doesn’t seem fair and the unexpected ones leave us for heaven

Or things we think are secure disappear and life is far from being a hoot

Often the first thing we do is blame God, for it is ok to beat at the door of heaven

To let out the frustration, the pain, the angst, and tears, let it all hang out

But we need to give God a chance, ask his help and let him our lives leaven

For there is a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot

A time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

There are many different seasons in our lives both quiet and really wild

In all those seasons we need to wait on our God, to give him a chance

To actively work in our lives, to bring change and in us his word build

God desires that we have life in abundance, and there is a time to dance

A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

A time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,

We hold on to that we need to let go of and let God deal with, if we do don’t we him constrain

He calls us to cast our burdens upon him, yet we struggle to these words say:

“Father this isn’t for me to handle, I give over to you my burden” from this we shouldn’t refrain

 We need to seek his will, he will show us what to keep and what to throw away

 A time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

 A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

There are different times and seasons in life in all these we need to God seek

If we with thanksgiving and supplication pray to him, he will give peace

To us which surpasses understanding, wait on him in his presence don’t speak

For as we trust in him we do not need to worry and our striving can cease

His promise to us “ I will never leave you or forsake you”, he will us safe keep

Through all the times of life our God is able to give us his perfect peace.

Mark Maffey, July 2008© (NIV) http://maffster.blogtown.co.nz/

Posted in POEMS, Poems Old Testament | No Comments »

The Greatest Gift of Christmas Morn

Dec 20th, 2010 by

Hands up those who are over the commercialism and craziness of the build up to Christmas! I am looking forward to my home town of Blenheim in a couple of days, where there will be less humidity, less traffic, I am so looking to forward to being able to stop and reflect on the true reason for the season, going to various services including Christmas Eve at Nativity. I hope that the true reason for the season, the birth of Christ.

The Greatest Gift of Christmas Morn

Jesus my saviour, you came to us, Emmanuel, to earth

Not in glory, but in a manger, in humbleness of birth

They came to see you; the barn was your holy turf

The wise men came with gold, frankincense, and myrrh

The angels spoke to the shepherds, it is you they prefer

The shepherds though fearful, went, they did to you defer

LORD again we come to Christmas, life it is a fast frenzied blur

We hear your call stop and come into my presence hearts astir

To this world we announce a son is given, a child is born

Jesus is his name, in his light we face a new dawn

Your word, your truth too many needs to be borne

This world needs to hear it, like a resounding horn

In the commercialism of their world people are worn

Yours, the greatest gift, needs to be opened Christmas morn

Mark Maffey December 2004

Posted in POEMS, Poems - Christmas | No Comments »

Luke 2 vs. 8-14 – The Shepherds and the Angels

Dec 6th, 2010 by

Imagine you are at work, whether it be in your office, road-marking, fixing someones plumbing, driving your tractor in the field, in the kitchen making a cup of tea, and a humongous angel appears to you and the Glory of the Lord shines around you, would you be a bit taken back, terrified, say Whoa that must have been some caffeine hit I just had! Imagine the lowly shepherds, virtual outcasts because by handling sheep they were ceremonially unclean, standing in their fields in rural Palestine minding their own business, when an angel appears, and then a band of angels, it would be a surprise that would scare you more than a little bit. Yet God shows that he can and will do the unexpected, Jesus’s birth wasn’t announced in a royal court but to Shepherds in a field. This Christmas allow God to surprise you be prepared to wait and listen for the still small voice.

Luke 2 vs. 8-14 – The Shepherds and the Angels

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

Could you imagine if you were sitting in the middle of a field, and an angel appeared in your sight!

God does the unexpected shepherds were ceremonially unclean so for angel to appear to them logic defied

Logic would say that the Angel would have appeared to someone important, perhaps a high priest

Luke’s gospel turns logic upside down, the priests were seen as rich, refined, the shepherds poor and unrefined

As we see in Luke 4 v18 Jesus came to preach good news to the poor, to save and help the weakest

The shepherds were the least likely choice for the good news to be announced, like them I would be terrified

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

The angel endeavoured to calm their fear I wonder if it worked, or if the shepherds were less than calm people?

The message the angel brought was one of hope and specific about the birth of Christ the Lord

Stating where he had been born, his name, and gave a sign for them to believe, to them help and enable

Often we seek clarity, a sign, yet do we read God’s word or listen to him so we can speak his word?

Can we like the Wise Men have the faith to follow a star, and trust that we will be led to a humble stable?

God is a God of his word; many prophecies in Isaiah, Malachi were fulfilled with the birth of Christ the Lord

This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel,

The Shepherds must have wondered what next; things were getting stranger and stranger

I imagined they were open-mouthed, eyes wide, a host around them every angle

The Glory of God surrounding a blinding whiteness but yet the shepherds were in no danger

Despite the speed of events they needed to believe the words of the angel

Praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests.”

Those that are his, need not fear, even if they are the lowest

In the eyes of men, in God’s eyes they are of him blest

They can stand in his midst without fear for he them knowest

This Christmas worship Christ the Lord on you his favour rests

Mark Maffey, December 2008©
(NIV)
http://maffster.blogtown.co.nz/

Posted in POEMS, Poems - Christmas, Poems New Testament | No Comments »

Luke 2 vs. 1-7 – The Birth of Jesus In Bethlehem

Nov 29th, 2010 by

Hi All

Advent is upon us, It is all too easy for the Birth of Christ to be passed by in the midst of  getting wrapped up in all the other things which seem to happen throughout December, it should not be about presents, rather God’s presence on earth through the birth of his Son, Emmanuel, God with us. Luke’s account is the most detailed gospel account of the birth of Christ so it’s good to re-familiarise ourselves with it, and to consider how Jesus ended up being born in Bethelhem instead of Nazareth. The prophets foretold his birth in Jerusalem, and it was because a Roman Governor ordered a census that this it how it unfolded.

Luke 2 vs. 1-7  –  The Birth of Jesus In Bethlehem

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  

(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went

To their home town to register, this meant many people had to travel around Israel via roads rural

Often walking or travelling by donkey for many miles, arriving at the destinations tired, dusty, spent

Looking for somewhere to sleep and rest feed them and their donkeys, from travels unwind, unfurl

To catch up with family members and do what was required to complete the census and to it relent

For by completing the census it meant that they could be identified for tax purposes in the Roman world

And they knew that the Romans would ensure their taxes were collected and that caused much resent

To his own town to register so Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to

Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there

To register with Mary for them it was a journey of 80 miles from Nazareth, and was hard for them to do

Mary heavily pregnant had to endure much bumping and jolting on a donkey for 7 days to get there

By the time they arrived in Bethlehem they both would have been tired, resting all they would want to do

To arrive to find the town jam packed, knocking on many doors and being turned away everywhere

To register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth

Not in a nice room in an Inn, but in a stable surrounded by animals, rough and wild

Smelly amongst the dung and straw, hardly a place fit for a king, a very lowly birth

Jesus’ arrival was inconspicuous; his start to life was not one which was tender and mild

Yet in his birth he fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies in coming to this earth

To her firstborn, a son, she wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger,

Because there was no room for them in the inn               

Mary and Joseph made their best in the circumstances putting straw in the manger

Wrapping Jesus in swaddling cloth and putting him in

The clean and warm manger, in the days to come they would be visited by strangers

From the east, from the fields, all would glorify him

Today too we should glorify him, remember the greatest gift came wrapped in a manger

In a stable, for there was no room for him in the inn

Mark Maffey, December 2009©

(NIV)

http://maffster.blogtown.co.nz/

Posted in POEMS, Poems - Christmas, Poems New Testament | No Comments »

Proverbs 2 vs. 1-10 – Seek The Wisdom Of God

Nov 18th, 2010 by

Hi, in recent weeks much of what I have been hearing is that first and foremost God desires that we are in relationship with him. To do this we need to spend time with him, i.e. wait upon him, seek his face, to desire like Mary the best thing, spending time listening to God. Proverbs 2 calls upon to seek for wisdom as for silver and gold. God wants us to hunger and thirst for the things of his kingdom, to seek his kingdom first and all its righteousness. The time for winnowing, for separating the wheat from the chaff is coming, we need to be able to stand as approved by God, to do this we need to know him, to seek his face, to treasure his commands, to live a life worthy of our calling, to be approved labourers in the whitened harvest. Open yourself to him today!

Proverbs 2 vs. 1-10  –  Seek The Wisdom Of God

 

My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands, tune your ears to wisdom,

And concentrate on understanding, cry out for insight, and ask for understanding.

For I understand who you are, what you think, seek first the things of my kingdom

Don’t worry about the temporal, instead look to me, I’ll be of you comprehending

I know, I understand your confusion, your uncertainties, seek my Godly wisdom

Meditate upon my word, it will show you my purposes and messages I am sending

For my promises do not return void, trust in my word the message of the kingdom

As you seek and search for my wisdom and word, I will increase your understanding
 

Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures

Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.
 For as you dig and search you will uncover my truth beyond measure

You will comprehend the unsurpassing love I have for you, and know that I am your Lord

I will reveal to you that which is hidden, my words you’ll cherish, and treasure

I desire that you are able to discern, comprehend and gain knowledge of your Loving God

For the Lord grants wisdom! He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.
 He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.

As we are prepared to look to him, he enables us to sense what is for the best

To be aware of the insidious things that can try and drag us into worldly sin

To know and rightly divide his word, to be guided by the Spirit in what is blest

We need to trust in his precepts, for they help those who are faithful to him

Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair and you will find the right way to go.
For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy

It will clearly show you that the choices you must make, let your yes be yes, your no be no

Beware the Devil who stalks likes a lion, his troops will attack and deploy

You need to resist and stand on Gods word, unless you understand it you are without a show

Seek the Lord your God, his wisdom and knowledge you will then enjoy

For without him there is no going, knowing or living, I am the way he says this you must know

My way is narrow, few find it, seek me in all things, and know then my joy.

Mark Maffey, November 2007 ©

(NLT)

http://maffster.blogtown.co.nz/

Posted in POEMS, Poems Old Testament | No Comments »

John 15 vs. 10-17 – Love One Another

Nov 1st, 2010 by

John 15 is a rich chapter, In these verses Jesus again re-emphasises the imperiative of love. Agape unconditional love which sticks with friends no matter what.. No greater love hath no man than this… to lay down his life.. Of course Jesus was going to do exactly this .. this was to be the night of his betrayal, soon he would be dead.

In verse 16 we see two keys to our Christian Life, first we are chosen, second we are fruitful. We should remember that we have been purchased with a price, we are chosen and given gifts to use, don’t be shy about using what God has given, remember the fruit of what we do for God will remain, he is the Lord of the Harvest he determines when the fruit will ripen and come to it’s fullness.

John 15  vs. 10-17 –  Love One Another

When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love; just as I obey my Father’s commandments            

And remain in his love .I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy.                                    

For it is as you obey his commandments you will have clarity; life will not be filled with ritual requirements               

Rather the new covenant gives to us status as his children, his presence in our lives we enjoy                                    

Jesus simplified the law, to love God with all we are and love others as ourselves his clear commandments             

By this shall all men know you are my disciples, by your love one for another, he said, clear as day                    

People will see me through your actions, if you have not love, they are empty and without commendment             

For it is only as you remain in my love that people will see me in you and be filled with my joy                                                                                      

Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way                                          

I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.                                        

We live in an age which is selfish rather than selfless and out of other affairs we stay                                          

Where to show a little kindness is not common, and with the world we tend to blend                                                  

Yet Jesus’ call to us is to be his disciples, to show his love, not expecting others to pay                                                 

Jesus’ promise to us we will be filled with joy if we are prepared to give to our friends

You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide                  

In his slaves, now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.                                                

Jesus called his disciples his friends, he confided in them, and called them to in him stay, to in him abide                             

He shared everything that his Father had told him, he did his best to teach and get them to see                                      

That which was going to happen, the value of the new life he was offering, yet from him they would turn aside                   

Peter would deny him three times and weep bitterly, the others would in the face of opposition flee                                  

Holding onto our faith in uncertainty and doubt is the biggest challenge we face, we need to with Jesus side                 

Believing that he is the only way, truth and life, hold onto his word, to continually in him trust and be

You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father                 

Will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.                                     

Jesus chose the disciples and he chose people recruitment consultants would suggest take no further                           

Jesus sees not as the world sees, but he sees the inner person, knows who will storms weather                                             

And will stay the race of faith being witnesses to and of him, fruitful people who other lives make better                    

For they understand that he first loved them, and out of that know how to love each other.

Mark Maffey, April 2008©

(NLT)

http://maffster.blogtown.co.nz/ 

Posted in POEMS, Poems New Testament | No Comments »

E100 Summary of The Bible

Oct 27th, 2010 by

My church has been working through E100 via Compass,

I have been asked to summarise the Bible from Genesis to Revelation in poetic form – below is my attempt

In the beginning God created humans and desired that they live in relationship to him, walking with him day by day

He desired that they obey him and follow his ways, the apple had appeal to Adam and Eve and they lost their way

 Cain killed Abel, their descendants lost sight of their God he decided to send a flood to take them out of the way

Noah was a righteous man who listened to God and built an Ark, he and the animals he took were not carried away

Abram was not a halfway man he was prepared to leave his family in Haran, and was prepared to follow God’s way

To go to the Land God would show him, God promised he would make him a great nation, blessed, if he would obey

When he was 99 God called him to walk before him and be blameless and would make a covenant in his mighty way

Abram‘s name was changed to Abraham which means he was to be the father of many nations, because he did obey

Joseph was a young man beloved by his Father Jacob, who made him a multi-coloured coat; it was bright in every way

Joseph got up his Brother’s noses, he had dreams, including one where they would bow before him, they said no way!

They put him down a hole and sold him off to Egyptians, 13 Years later a famine came and Joseph made them pay

They bowed before him and he did help them, because of his great standing with Pharaoh, Joseph was their way

His family and many others moved to Egypt, after 400 years the Egyptians enslaved them Moses was called to obey

He said who me, I can’t speak, find another, but God said you’re the man, Aaron can be your sidekick, don’t sway

So he waved his Rod, it turned to a snake, then there were plagues Pharaoh hardened his heart, you can’t go away

Moses said let my people go, but Pharaoh wouldn’t relent, until the firstborn were killed, then he sent them away

Moses lead them through the Red Sea, God gave them manna and quail to eat, yet all they could do was moan

God called him up the mountain, the Ten Commandments he did receive, these are the laws to follow and own

You shall have no other Gods before me, You shall not make for yourself an idol, but the people did this disown

Whilst he was up on Mt Sinai, the people grew restless and built a golden calf to worship from things they did own

Moses had to intercede for them for God was angry, but they would never see the Promised Land or it take or own

Joshua led the next generation like the Red Sea; the Jordan was separated so they could make the land their own

Courageously Joshua led them to take the land, Jericho was destroyed on the seventh day, and they made it their own

Joshua called them to serve the Lord, but they took on the religions of the Canaanites and they did God disown

The book of Judges covers the time period between Joshua and King Saul when Israel had no king 

The Lord wanted his people to follow his instructions through the law and prophets, but they always turned from him.

Because of their disobedience God allowed foreign powers to rule them, of him they had no inkling

They wanted to be like other nations, to worship idols, to have kings who would be their rulers, they turned from him

Eventually God gave them a king; Saul was half-hearted in his worship, so David was anointed king

David grew the nation into a great power, he was whole hearted in his worship, but even he fell, and God spurned him

Solomon’s wisdom gained him great renown, but he worshipped the God’s of his wives and was an unjust King.

After his death Rehoboam and Jeroboam squabbled and they split into North and South, becoming a divided kingdom

The Northern Kings did not do what was right in the Lord’s eyes instead they were unjust and enslaved their people

They did not worship the Lord their God, instead Ahab and Jezebel focused their worship upon Baal

Elijah rose up against them, and said enough! He destroyed the Prophets of Baal at Mt Carmel in front of many people

Jezebel ordered him killed and he ran for 40 days, but God fed him and called him to do for him his all

Amos stood against the Evil Kings and called them to stop their false worship, to be do what was just for their people

Warning them that if they didn’t they would go into exile beyond Damascus, in 722 to Assyria they did fall

The South fluctuated doing what was right, and wrong in the Lord’s eyes, but eventually fell to the Babylonian people

For 70 years they were in captivity, mourning “How can we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land”

Isaiah promised that there would come a time when their mourning would be replaced with Joy

You shall go out with Joy and be led forth with Peace! It took a long time for them to rebuild the land

Ezra helped the remnant to rebuild the temple and Nehemiah rebuilt the wall despite enemies’ ploys

They struggled along under various regimes, and by the time of the Birth of Jesus, Romans ruled the land

The Jews hoped for a Messiah warrior king who would overthrow their enemies, and would them buoy

Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph in a lowly manger in Bethlehem, the circumstances were very poor

Jesus grew in stature and wisdom and in favour with God and Men, at 30 into his earthly ministry was released

Proclaiming “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,

To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour, he preached with signs accompanying, saying blessed are the poor

In spirit for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them, Jesus turned perceptions around, reaching out to the oppressed

He debated with the Pharisees and Sadducees, who despite their religiosity were oppressing the poor

Jesus chose as disciple’s people from the margins, he knew his mission, he resolutely towards Jerusalem pressed

He knew his earthly end, yet in the Garden he said not by my will but your be done, on the Cross for us he hung

On The third day he rose again, and over 40 days appeared too many, and promised the coming of the Holy Spirit

On the Day of Pentecost, it came like a rushing wind, the Disciples were empowered, in tongues they spoke and sung

The people gathered from many lands, heard them stunned by what they said, Peter stood in the Power of the Spirit

And preached from Joel, 3,000 heard the call, the church grew, Stephen was stoned by the crowd, Saul was among

Later on the Road to Damascus, by a bright light Saul was blinded; God turned him around and filled him with his Spirit

He became Paul, and God unleashed him upon the World, Paul went on three separate missionary journeys

He was strategic in setting up churches in the key cities of the time like Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi and Rome

God used him to plant, teach and equip the churches, even when Paul went on to other places in his journey

He did not forget these churches; his epistles to them form much of the New Testament, and are rich loam

Earthly yet heavenly inspired, profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training on our Christian journey

Paul also inspired, challenged, encouraged, and rebuked those he loved; to his colleagues his help did come

His letters to Timothy provide us with much to encourage our faith, the way we should live out our journey

Paul letters challenge us today, like him will be able to say I no longer live, but Christ lives in me, like him become

John teaches us much about how the word became flesh in John 1 and 1 John 1, God is light; we are to live in light

To have fellowship with one another, and to live righteously, to live in light of Christ laying down his life for us

To not believe everything we hear but to test every spirit, to learn how to determine what is darkness, what is light?

We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit, God is love, and he does live in us

His perfect love casts out all fear, God is approachable, if we ask according to his will, and he will hear us, in us delights

John’s Revelation tells us about the end times, times which we do not know when will happen, but will affect us

Behold I stand at the Door and Knock, will you let me in your lives, will you follow me, read my word it is your light

His desire to redeem creation Genesis 1 restored in Revelation 21, a new heaven, a new creation is what awaits us

Mark Maffey, October 2010 ©   http://maffster.blogtown.co.nz/ 

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