Members Exclusive November 2024
Members Exclusive
Part 2: Fear God and Keep His Commandments
by Bruce Billington
Introduction
Psalm 16:6 – “The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.”
For those of us who live in the Western world, this would be a very true statement – despite our hardships in the journey of life.
A Wonderful World
As we look at this world, through the eyes of God we do see great beauty, but unfortunately, it is true that we also see so much that falls short of His glory. As a result, the beauty we see today is a beauty that gets attacked constantly, making it hard sometimes to recognise this world as the one which God spoke into existence.
For this reason, Romans 8:22 states that the whole of creation groans – it is a world of beauty that has a cling on – which is the ugliness that tries to mask the beauty. It does not penetrate the beauty, but it does try to suffocate and hide it.
While we walk with God in today’s creation, we are challenged to live above the fallenness that we see — above the greed and strife, above the reach for personal interest, self-satisfaction, and immediate gratification, above hatred and anger.
We are meant to be an expression of all that is true, honourable, right, pure, and lovely as Paul describes in Philippians 4:8.
Our Role
Jesus taught that a good steward is expected to hand over that with which he was entrusted, in a better condition or in greater abundance than when they received it.
Yet as stewards of creation, we have clear felled rainforests, hunted species of animals into extinction, contaminated rivers and streams, fouled the air, wasted the land, and in manifold ways proven ourselves either inadequate or disinterested in being good stewards of the creation.
We are created in the image of God, and as those given some responsibility for the stewardship of this planet, should we dare behave as a mere creature without reason, responsibility, or hope?
Today we are the temple of the holy spirit of God.
The Psalmist wrote in the first verse of Psalm 1, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.” We are to walk carefully in this world, wary of the things and places and situations that would inhibit our relationship with our God and one another. We are empowered to be good stewards of the grace of God through Jesus Christ because we have been brought out of the muck and mire of sin and the flesh.
Before we get too critical of the world, we need to sweep our own porch, clean out our own basement and the attic, dust every corner, sort out what matters eternally and toss out what burdens or contaminates our soul in Christ. The Scriptures teach that judgment first begins at the household of God (1 Peter 4:17).
As good stewards of God’s grace, we do not keep His blessings to ourselves, but we pass them on to as many as will receive them. When they receive them as good stewards, then they will also clean house and pass it on again to as many as they find that will receive it and on it goes. We are called to a lifetime of service for the Kingdom of God.
The Dawning of a New Age
Imagine what a wonderful world this would be if all creation, especially those who are true disciples, lived up to God’s design and plan. Now that really would be a Wonderful World! Of course, this won’t happen in its fullness before Christ returns – but it is here and available today – and as those who have entered into it – we need to lead others to it and disciple them to continue the work.
We need to see the world today, as it is in Christ – not only as the age to come but as something that is already here amongst us. Then we need to express it everywhere we go. Let’s finish with an admonition from Paul.
Ephesians 1:18-20 – “18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,”
Question – does this describe what is being expressed by you as a son or daughter of God? Is this the life you are living?
We Are the Champions
Remember this song by Queen? Well, it should be about us. We are the only people that have hope. Why?
Isaiah 9:7 – “There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.”
This began 2000 years ago, and nothing can stop it. But most of it is going to be done through today’s kings and priests – according to 1 Peter 2:9 that is us. The enemy is not winning – he was defeated 2,000 years ago, but this victory must be appropriated through the sons and daughters of the living God. As His redeemed, we have a calling in Christ to achieve and each of us only gets an allocation of so many years on earth to achieve it. Our rewards for the rest of eternity depend on this.
Our gospel has the power to create societies that are based on freedom and life as found in Christ. We cannot meet this call unless we go out and address the real-world issues and be creators of life – not defeatists proclaiming despair.
Free societies, like most of us in the Western world enjoy, do not fall from heaven. They are born within the hearts of people who are grounded in Biblical principles. These principles must grow generationally – they must be planted in the hearts of our children and their children.
Western society built its foundations on Biblical principles, but they have all been done away with now. What can we do? Become an example of the society that we want to create. Fix the vision in your heart and start to outwork it in your own life. This is what SRT is all about. The formula we embrace goes individual; family; community; and nation.
The Great Commission
Matthew 28:18-20; “18 – And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
What does this mean? I see it as having 2 primary tasks.
- To disciple nations. Read culture here, not nations. This requires us to infiltrate our and other cultures with the nature and character of God – using our own lives and communities/churches as the demonstration.
- We are to teach them to be obedient to all that Christ has commanded them – transforming them to reflect the truth, goodness, and beauty of God’s kingdom.
Considering all the so-called world events that are going on today how can I believe this can happen? – because God tells us that right here, right now – this is what He is doing. Our role is not to judge His progress – it is to put on His yoke and participate with Him.
Hebrews 12:2-3 – “2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Because we know the end of this glorious story, we are a part of, we can live with hope in the midst of all the conflicts we face.
Acts 13:36 – “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep.”
So – what is the purpose of our generation? Part of it right now is a call to war because war has been declared on the nations and the moral vision that used to influence the West. So, what should we do?
It is well framed up in this following quote.
“You cannot fight something with nothing.” ‘Nothing,” is what western civilisation is increasingly being built upon. It has come to be about personal comfort, increasing consumption, tolerance, and stimulating entertainment. These values qualify as conveniences not convictions.
That is an important point. Where are our convictions?
The good news is that God’s Spirit is arousing globally a measure of concerned citizens. Some of them are Christians and some of them are not. Our situation friends is simply this, what are we going to do in this defining hour that is God-driven and strategically viable? D. Peacocke
As God’s church, we need to speak truth to lies, to create beauty in a society that is increasingly ugly and vulgar, to be and do good, and to challenge evil and injustice in society. If you don’t want to fight, here is a strategy for you – be pleasing, polite, well-mannered, hospitable and do acts of kindness. This is a lifetime calling that will change the world around you. It is much more powerful than violence and killing people.
The words of the prophet Micah remain powerful and effective today – he simply urged us to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). This will change our environment immediately.
Don’t let the cry of hopelessness and despair paralyse you – that has nothing to do with us. We are culture changers, and we must push past any fear, be a light on a hill and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
We all have a role to play here – now is not the time for cowardice or fear – now is the time for heroes of the faith to arise, supported by the whole body of Christ – we could well make this our finest hour.
Come and be part of it with us.
May God bless you.
Bruce Billington