New Wine Rewind...

New Wine Guernsey last weekend, longed-for and looked-forward to. A weekend of worship and teaching and renewal. Bliss.
Everyone's experience is different. Some liked one speaker more than another. Some would have preferred more 'old' songs, some wanted still more new ones. Some wouldn't have gone forward for prayer even if wild horses had dragged them (in which case, surely they would? How could you resist?) while others leapt at every prayer ministry opportunity.
I imagine that we all took something different away from the weekend, too.
This was what stayed in my heart:
Not my strength.
Emily Freeman, in Chatting at the Sky, says: It seems to me when I finally recognize my inability is when Christ shows up able within me.
The theme of the weekend was Power from on High.
How often do we subscribe to this, saying something like: "Yes, God, send more of your spirit, more power, Lord...etc etc."
And how often do we add, subconsciously, unaware: "...to add to my already quite impressive self - MY strengths and capabilities."
We think God is in the business of topping up an almost full jar instead of filling to overflowing an empty one.
Ha.
We avoid emptiness, because emptiness is an unpleasant feeling.

During the weekend, there was much emphasis on unity. Unity dependent on good relationships, friendship, godly affection. Agreed.
There was talk of receiving the power of the Holy Spirit: of faith, expectation. Oh yes.

In the middle of this, a few verses and thoughts slipped in, dominating my soul, then and now.

THIRSTY. "“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way, just as the Scripture says.” (He said this in regard to the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were about to receive." John 7:37 - 39

HELPED. "I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can’t take him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see him, doesn’t know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!" John 14:16 - 17
I remembered some old truths:
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A GENTLEMAN. There is no forced take over;  no sweeping away - unless I ask for it with a truly humble spirit; no invasion of my jealously guarded privacy.
THERE HAS TO BE ROOM FOR ANOTHER PERSON IN MY LIFE. If my life is just full of 'me', how can there be room for Him? The more preoccupied I am with myself, my thoughts, my desires, my demands, the less I am available to the Holy Spirit.

WEAK. As I pondered the loads I carry which the Helper could help me bear - work attitudes, relationship problems, future worries - I realised that I had been ignoring the Spirit's help and struggling on in my own strength.
Ridiculous. How can I even think about living out Jesus' example in my own strength? The demands of being a disciple are simply too big too accomplish on my own. If the first friends of Jesus struggled before the Holy Spirit came in power, then I shouldn't even think of trying it.
"... the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." (Romans 8:26) Or, as the Message puts it: "He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves..."

As the speaker reminded us of the work of the Spirit: the power of God - I realised how foolish  I am to do anything in my own strength. I need help beyond myself - for physical healing, for broken relationships, for forgiveness, for living...

And as I live with tension - aiming for the perfection of the Kingdom while living in the problems of the present - I need to remember that I CAN'T live this life well in my own strength, but only when I am humble enough to admit my need, come to Jesus and ask for God's power and peace.

Because, if we STAY HUMBLE and HUNGRY, there isn't anything God can't do through us.

As Peter says: "Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing." (1 Peter 3:8 - 9, The Message)

NOT DIFFICULT - IN HIS, NOT MY, STRENGTH.

Thoughts on strength...and Proverbs 31

In our study of the Proverbs 31 good woman with Good Morning Girls, we were reminded that:  the joy of the Lord is our strength; that we should do whatever our hands find to do with all our might; and that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

We are to be strong physically, mentally and emotionally, and spiritually.

Yes but how?

We need to remember that strength comes from God: it sounds obvious, but how often do we remember this?  I know I don’t – usually muddle along a best I can without particularly relying on God. In the day to day, I become complacent.

If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 4:11

Colossians 1:11 says that we are ... strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that (we) may have great endurance and patience...and  Philippians 4:13 that  we  can do everything through him who gives (us) strength.

Some key verses to keep us going and give us strength: TRUST

 

Psalm 20:6-8  Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed⁾

    he answers him from his holy heaven

    with the saving power of his right hand.

⁷ Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

⁸ They are brought to their knees and fall,

    but we rise up and stand firm.

 

Isaiah 12:2 says: Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.”

Isaiah 30:15

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.

Isaiah 31:1

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD.

                           

GOD TURNS WEAKNESS TO STRENGTH

 In the great list of heroes, the writer of Hebrews talks of how God gave the prophets strength (Chapter 11 v 34) and Paul (2 Corinthians 12:9) said:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

GO IN THE STRENGTH YOU HAVE  – as Gideon did. Things were bad, and Gideon questioned God as to why they were, but God didn’t explain – just told him how things were going to get better.

“But sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders^(A) that our fathers told^(B) us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned^(C) us and put us into the hand of Midian.”

¹⁴ The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have^(D) and save^(E) Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”   Judges 6:13-15

JOY

We do not necessarily associate the strength of God with joy, yet David, in his great psalm of thanks after bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem says:

Splendour and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place. 1 Chronicles 16:27

Nehemiah 8:10

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Zephaniah 3:17

The Lord your God is with you,

    he is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you,

    he will quiet you with his love,

    he will rejoice over you with singing.”

Nehemiah 8:10

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Psalm 28:7

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

Colossians 1:11

being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully

To finish, let us echo the words of David in his Psalm of thanks:

Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.

Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced.

...Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength, ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name...Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love endures forever. (1 Chronicles 16,

vv 11 – 12, 28 – 29

GoodMorningGirls suggests: follow Phil 4.8 … and think upon things that are good, right, noble …. even in the midst of pain and hardship. We need to flee to the basics of the Christian faith, and set our minds on “the things above,” on Christ himself. God is always good, he is always kind, he is never cruel, he has a perfect plan, he is with us always.

Strength

In our online Bible study at Good Morning Girls we've arrived at one of the most inspiring passages in Ephesians:   Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 

Or, as The Message puts it: And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

Be strong. 

I realised this week that 'being strong' isn't something extra special I have to do. I don't have to think, when I get up, that today I will be 'strong' - though getting in the habit of putting on the whole armour of God as I get dressed is a good thing to do. No, being strong has to be part of my very being, my whole life.  When Richard had to deal with an emergency while flying this week, he didn't have time to do anything except pray - under his breath, not over the tannoy, which might have alarmed the passengers somewhat! As years of training and practice for just such a situation kicked in, so did the years of faithful Bible study and prayer. Trained and disciplined in the Lord's ways, he was indeed 'strong'. After he had landed safely, preventing, as the company's manager said, a drama from becoming a crisis, he knew that the Lord had indeed guided and protected him.

So that is my aim, too. To be 'strong': faithfully keeping going with study, prayer and the encouragement of meeting with others. Ladies breakfasts, home groups, prayer partner, friends - real and online, as I read wonderful blogs and inspiring, articles...

But that's another story.

For today, I am content with the reminder to 'be strong'.

Always.
(For a wonderful talk on this chapter from John MacArthur, click here.)

Wisdom

Thinking about wisdom - and finding this article in Discipleship Journal.

I'm a teacher - and find my school day gives ample opportunity to share wisdom with colleagues, students and parents.

It also gives ample opportunity for Satan to interfere with God's work.

So I realized,when I read Proverbs 19:20 "Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise," that, strange as it may sound when I am the one 'giving instruction' - literally, several times a day - I need God's wisdom quite desperately.

I need advice and instruction when I am dealing with a difficult student, parent, or even colleague.
I need to listen more carefully than I do.
I need to be humble enough to accept that advice - particularly when the advice is to say sorry.
I need to be brave enough to accept that advice - particularly when it might take me to a place of fear.
I need to be strong enough to do put it into action.

Above all, I need to be wise. Help, God!

Encouragement

We all like to be encouraged. Just a few words is enough to lift our spirits and give us a different view on the day. Acts 20 says exactly this:

Paul called the disciples together and encouraged them to keep up the good work in Ephesus. Then, saying his good-byes, he left for Macedonia. Travelling through the country, passing from one gathering to another, he gave constant encouragement, lifting their spirits and charging them with fresh hope.

Again: Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints. (Philemon 1) and in 1 Thessalonians 2:
You remember us in those days, friends, working our fingers to the bone, up half the night, moonlighting so you wouldn't have the burden of supporting us while we proclaimed God's Message to you. You saw with your own eyes how discreet and courteous we were among you, with keen sensitivity to you as fellow believers. And God knows we weren't freeloaders! You experienced it all firsthand. With each of you we were like a father with his child, holding your hand, whispering encouragement, showing you step-by-step how to live well before God, who called us into his own kingdom, into this delightful life.

But I think there is more to encouragement than just individual brightening up. On my way to school this morning, I was stopped at a traffic light. Next to me was a huge granite wall,with some hefty stones on the top. But holding it all together were smaller stones and cement. Don't words of encouragement both hold our lives together, strengthening them and helping to build us up? And don't they also build us up as a community, helping make us more patient with and appreciative of one another?

Strength, encouragement and comfort

1 Corinthians 14:1-3 (The Message) Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it—because it does. Give yourselves to the gifts God gives you. Most of all, try to proclaim his truth. If you praise him in the private language of tongues, God understands you but no one else does, for you are sharing intimacies just between you and him. But when you proclaim his truth in everyday speech, you're letting others in on the truth so that they can grow and be strong and experience his presence with you.

The NIV says: But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.

The prayer training day emphasised that, in praying for others, we should say only what is strengthening, encouraging or comforting. Why keep that idea just for prayers? I'm thinking especially of today, as we start out inspection week at school. We ALL need strengthening, encouraging and comforting (though not, I hope, too much of the latter!)

If every word that came out of my mouth had the effect of strengthening, encouraging or comforting my hearers, I'd be a very happy bunny indeed!

Strength in numbers

The prayer training day yesterday was quite inspiring – faith-building, even. Even though I already knew and had experienced much of what was taught, it was great to be reminded.

The day was full: but, thinking about it now, one of the challenges I am left with is that we were recommended to pray with a partner. Mark 12:13 tells us that the disciples “preached with joyful urgency that life can be radically different; right and left they sent the demons packing; they brought wellness to the sick, anointing their bodies, healing their spirits”, Luke adding that Jesus sent them out two by two.

I was reminded that “By yourself you're unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped (Ecclesiastes 4:12) Two of us – and Jesus – an unbeatable prayer trio!

Strength

Thoughts in the context of our school inspection next week seem to be dominating - I wonder why?! Interestingly, my small group prayed for me that I will do everything not in my own strength, but in the Lord's. That would be great! Certainly, after having been quite chilled about it all I am now beginning to wonder when I will be able to get everything done before next Tuesday. It certainly seems as if time, at least, is running out and with it,the strength to get everything done and dusted.

I was amused to see a 'follow on' verse from yesterday, just a couple of chapters after the Israelites were encouraged to hurry out of Egypt. Safely out of harm, God's people were so excited by how God had saved them that they were inspired to sing:

The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father's God, and I will exalt him. Exodus 15:2

Or, as The Message puts it:

God is my strength, God is my song,
and, yes! God is my salvation.
This is the kind of God I have
and I'm telling the world!
This is the God of my father—
I'm spreading the news far and wide!