Poetic Licence

In light of  Christ’s example set in the preceding verses, we are challenged by Paul to Shine Like Stars!

Philippians 2 vs. 12-18 – Shining Like Stars

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed not only in my presence,

But now much more in my absence continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,

Keep in the word; seek through the Spirit to gain understanding of it essence

Treat it with reverence and apply it precepts to your life, of its tenets do not be condescending

For God’s word to you is life giving, to both lead you, and give life resonance

His word is sound, reliable, trustworthy, its power and authority in our lives never ending

God’s desire is that we seek first his kingdom, to desire to be in his presence

For in drawing near to him, he will draw near to us and bring change and spirit enabling.

For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure,

For we are called to be salt and light, to be beacons of truth and not from it repose

For as we serve and do so as to our God, of the upward call to him we can be sure

For it is not by might, nor by power, but we God’s Spirit we can achieve his purpose

Even though we face the challenges the world present in God we can be clean, and pure

Children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life in order that I may boast on the day of Christ

Like the church at Philippi we face the challenge to be blameless in world from which sin pours

To stand on the promises of God’s word, to be prophetic in our speaking out to put God first

To love the Lord our God with all our strength, mind, heart and souls, and to love our neighbours

We like Paul need to have the desire to push on toward the Goal, to boast on the day of Christ

That I did not run or labour for nothing, but even if I am being poured out

Like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith

At times it is a struggle to stand for God, we like we’re blown and tossed about

That all our energy is being is being drained, and we feel far from safe

Remember this God in us over the world prevails, over Satan he has clout

In his word, which does not return void, but prospers we can cling, have faith

 I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

This is the day the Lord has made, don’t be blue

The whole earth is his creation, all land and sea

Worship him, keep his promises in full clear view

Seek him while he may be found, in his will be

Mark Maffey, July 2007

(NIV)

http://maffster.blogtown.co.nz

I find myself pondering again the self-indulgent, independent nature of  New Zealand society, in stark contrast I believe we as Christians are called to something quite different. Philippians 2 should be focal in the way we interact with others…

Philippians 2 vs. 4-11 Having The Attitude of Christ

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus; Who, being in very nature God,

Came to earth, not to be served but to serve, learn to be a servant to your sisters and brothers

This world says to you, look after number one, don’t care for others, for them don’t give a sod

You can be the best at others expense, don’t worry be happy, who needs to love others

Yet Christ shows us another way, the world should not hold sway, live your life in God

Did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing

Taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness

Christ the Son of God, worthy of our praise, he did not have to prove he was something

He knew his destiny, he foretold his death, what he chose was more than loving kindness

In the Garden of Gethsemane he faced the toughest choice, he did the hardest thing

He knew and obeyed his father, nevertheless thy will be done, he said, in real humbleness

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient

To death even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

He knew the impact of accepting his father’s cup he knew the painful ingredients

He was lead to Golgotha, nailed and hung for our sin, what amazing saving grace

If we are prepared to confess to him, and of him, of our salvation we can be confident

We are called to journey with him, to look toward him to continually seek his face

And gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow

In heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord

We are his children; behold what manner of love he has shown to us, all we can say of this is WOW!

We can believe in him, he is our Lord, the only way, truth and life, believe what’s written in his Word

Come before him with thanksgiving in your heart, worship him, Christ the Lord not some holy cow

Praise the name of Jesus, he is your rock and fortress, stand on his promises, truly he is Lord!

To the Glory of God the Father

For it is the Father who gave his Son

We should remember this as we gather

Worship the three in one, Father, Spirit and Son

Holy, Holy, Holy, worship them nothing else is better

To abide in them may we be one as they are one

Mark Maffey, January 2006

(NIV)

John is given seven very clear, distinct for the seven churches in Asia Minor. His key issue with the Church of Laodecia, was their lukewarmness. It is a clear warning for the church in NZ as well, the time has come to hot, their will be a sifting of the wheat and the chaff, people need to be prepared to listen and learn and have substance to their faith, lest they be blown away

Revelation 3 vs. 15-22 – Message to the Church in Laodicea/NZ

“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the

 Other, but since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!                   

Have you not seen, have you not heard, there is no searching of God’s understanding, don’t you see?                

He neither tires or gets weary, he knows all you do or don’t do he sees all from north to south

From East to West nothing is hidden from him, he is all-seeing, all-knowing, he will forever be

This is not a time for fence sitting, there will be a winnowing, a sifting, of the couth from the uncouth

The wheat from the chaff, is your faith in God such that you will withstand this and with God be

For you were born for such a time as this, be hot or cold, or else God will spit you from his mouth

You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you

Are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked so I advise you to buy gold from me                  

Money can’t buy you love, money can’t buy its way into the Kingdom, keep this firmly in view                                 

Are you prepared to put God first, to seek first his kingdom and its righteousness, to in God be?                              

For it as you are prepared to seek him with all your heart that he can of his plans for you                                       

Begin to reveal for he needs us to hear him when he says I advise you to buy gold from me                                                          

Gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me                                   

So you will not be shamed by your nakedness and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.                     

The things God wants us to see are the things that we have to change and with his eyes see                                   

The plans and purposes he has for us, which are for good and not of evil which will come to be                            

He alone can give us a future and a hope that will not be destroyed, even greater than we can see                       

God desires that we are pure, untainted by the world, will you let him in and change what you can be?

I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in,

 For in order for there to be change in your life, first you need to give God precedence                                               

 To not only say come in but open yourselves to his Spirit and step away from your sin                                               

You need to accept the change, it might be painful at first but God will see your diligence                                            

And if you pray about everything you will know his peace, open your life door, he will come in

And we will share a meal together as friends. Those who are victorious will sit with me                                          

On my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.                                                            

For behold what manner of love my Father has bestowed on you so you can sit with me                                           

For through my death and resurrection you can be called Children, God’s own                                                              

I will lift you up to my banqueting table, my banner over you is love, come sit with me                                                 

Hear my voice caIling to you, I stand and knock, listen do not me disown                  

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit                                                                                                           

And understand what he is saying to the churches.”                                                                                                           

Be still like Elijah listen to the still small voice, wait and sit                                                                                                    

Listen to what he says and then do what he urges

Will you trust and Obey? You can’t do what you thinks suits                                                                                    

But you must do according to God’s word and what it urges   

Mark Maffey, October 2008

(NLT)

John Chapters 13 -17 cover the last night before Jesus’ betrayal and as Jesus does his best to explain what is going to happen there is one imperative that comes through “If you love me, keep my commandments”. Anything we do in our lives should be because we understand this truth, we did not first love him, but he first loved us, and has appointed us to bear fruit and fruit that will remain. If we are to be fruitful, that fruit must come first out of our love for him.

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)