FRESH Official Podcast

Imagine that you discover a precious, solid-gold cup in a rubbish heap. You pick it up – it’s filthy, it’s tarnished, it’s chipped. So you set about cleaning it up again until it’s bright and clean, pure as gold. Stunning! But now, what are you going to do with it? Well, what are you going to do with it? Put it in a display cabinet where it’ll stay clean and safe? Probably. But what would God do with it? Well actually, we already know the answer because it’s precisely what He did with you and me after He’d found us on the scrap heap and cleaned us up. He’d throw it straight back into the middle of that mess. Really? Twentieth Century evangelist and author, Leonard Ravenhill, put it like this: The greatest miracle that God can do today is to take an unholy person out of an unholy world, make them holy, and then put them back into that unholy world and keep them holy. God’s plan was always to save you, to transform your life, to set you apart pure and holy, and then to throw you back into the mêlée to be used of Him to pull someone else out. But here’s the catch. When He throws you back in, it’s so easy to lose your shine despite your purity within, and to start looking like everyone else on the outside. So, today … a word of warning: 1 Peter 1:15,16 Be holy in everything you do, just as God is holy. He is the one who chose you. In the Scriptures God says, “Be holy, because I am holy.” Don’t let the world’s sin rub off on you. Stay holy, for the Lord your God is holy. That’s His Word. Fresh … for you … today.

There’s a lot of pressure on any Christ-follower these days to bend their belief, their understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, away from that old-fashioned interpretation of the past and to make it more accommodating to the social and moral trends of today … a lot of pressure. When I first believed in Jesus, the Good News that His death had paid for my sins, that I’d been forgiven through His suffering and received a new life, an eternal life, through His resurrection … that all seemed so simple. And what God said was good, was good. And what HE said was wrong, was wrong. Pure … and simple. But pretty soon I discovered that those who didn’t believe in Jesus weren’t all that pleased with my simple worldview. There were big chunks of it that offended them. And so began the pressure to compromise on this pure and simple truth; to bend the Gospel towards them so it could accommodate their sin more easily. But as Jesus Himself said, those people … John 3:19-21 … are judged by this fact: The light has come into the world. But they did not want light. They wanted darkness, because they were doing evil things. Everyone who does evil hates the light. They will not come to the light, because the light will show all the bad things they have done. But anyone who follows the true way comes to the light. Then the light will show that whatever they have done was done through God. Let’s get something straight here. When Jesus hung out with sinners, they changed. He didn’t. So don’t bend the Gospel. Don’t dim your light. That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.

When something’s truly important it’s worth saying twice, would you agree? And what’s truly important today, for you, me and anyone else who believes in Jesus, is not to rush on ahead without Him. Moses had been through a lot in leading Israel out of slavery in Egypt. For starters, Pharaoh had sent his army after them. Then the Israelites grumbled and complained. There were challenges over food and water … on and on it went. We chatted about that yesterday but, if you were able to join me, I wonder whether you really “got it” deep in your heart. So just in case, here it is once more – Moses’ prayer to God: Exodus 33:13-16 Now if I have found favour in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favour in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And he said to him, “If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favour in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.”NRSV Moses simply didn’t want to move forward without God. Famed 19th Century missionary to Africa, David Livingstone, prayed like this: God, send me anywhere, only go with me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to yours. Whatever journey lies ahead, whatever frontiers you’re called to cross … don’t go it alone. That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.

Few people realise the very significant burden that leaders carry. That mantle of leadership is one which can weigh heavy some days. Big decisions need to be made – sometimes, life and death decisions. We’re continuing today with Moses’ story, as He struggled with what seemed to be the insurmountable opportunity, set before him by God, to lead Israel through the wilderness and into the Promised Land. These people … they grumbled, they complained, they even rebelled against God so badly that Moses, in his righteous anger, destroyed the two stone tables with the Ten Commandments and had to go back up the mountain to God a second time. Moses found himself between a rock and a hard place. So, what did he pray before God? Exodus 33:13-16 Now if I have found favour in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favour in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And he said to him, “If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favour in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.” NRSV The upshot of Moses’ prayer? God, if you don’t come with me, I ain’t going! It’s a prayer that found favour with God. It’s a prayer that God honoured. #NoteToSelf: When God sets an insurmountable opportunity before you, never, ever, go it alone. That’s His Word. Fresh … for you … today.

Christians say some stupid things sometimes; seriously … like, “God never calls you to do anything that you’re not capable of.” Really? What planet are they living on, pray tell? I remember the day when God called me to proclaim Christ to millions of people. A visiting preacher was in town. There were around eleven thousand people in the auditorium. My life was a mess. My hopes and dreams lay shattered on the floor. Yet I looked around at the crowd, and in my heart I said, “If only I could tell this many people about Jesus.” And clear as a bell, seemingly out of nowhere, He whispered, “This is nothing. Think millions.” Now, that was nuts. It was plain crazy. Was God setting an opportunity before me? If so, it was an insurmountable opportunity. But it turns out that there’s nothing new in any of that. Exodus 33:12-14 Moses said to the LORD, “See, you have said to me, ‘Bring up this people’; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favour in my sight.’ Now if I have found favour in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favour in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” (NRSV) Moses had no idea how he was going to lead Israel out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. But then, if the opportunities that God sets before us weren’t insurmountable, if we were able to do them in our own strength, we wouldn’t need Him. That’s His Word. Fresh … for you … today.

Jesus promised His disciples many things. One of those promises that we can stand on with shouts of praise and hallelujah is that if they persecuted Him (which they did) they’re also going to persecute us. Now there’s a cheery thought, amen? But it’s true, isn’t it? In places like where I live, Christians have had it pretty easy for a good many years. In other places, they’ve been severely persecuted. Wherever you live, whatever your situation, persecution is either here or it’s just around the corner. And as much as this rising tide of persecution comes as a shock to those who’ve had it easy up to this point, it’s nothing new. Writes the wise old Apostle Paul to his ministry protégé Timothy: 2 Timothy 3:12,13 Everyone who wants to live showing true devotion to God in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. People who are evil and cheat others will become worse and worse. They will fool others, but they will also be fooling themselves. Who are those who’ll be persecuted? Everyone who wants to live showing true devotion to God in Christ Jesus. So the easiest way to avoid persecution, it would seem, is to stop showing that true devotion to Christ; simply to blend in and become part of the crowd. After all, I can just believe in Jesus in private and look like everyone else in public – the perfect solution for avoiding persecution. But as Charles Spurgeon once said: It will be a sad day for the church and for the world when there is no distinction between the children of God and those of this world. You are the light of the world. Stop trying to blend in. That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.

So how do you turn a truth – even a biblical truth – into a lie? Easy! You cut it in half or quote it out of context – or preferably both. Just look at the devil. The father of lies has turned it into an art form. Here’s a case in point: Romans 8:28 We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him. These are the people God chose, because that was his plan. Hallelujah, praise the Lord, it’s all going to turn out just fine. Zippedy-doodah! Sounds great … until you read the next verse: Romans 8:29 God knew them before he made the world. And he decided that they would be like his Son. Then Jesus would be the firstborn of many brothers and sisters. God decided what? That we should be like His Son; that bloodied, brutalised Saviour who hung lifeless on that Cross.

So the trials that we go through in life, far from taking us toward our personal goals of comfort and success, are meant to make us more and more like Jesus.

The crucifixion always comes before the resurrection. That’s going to hurt, because the good that God is working towards in your life and mine – through all those ups and downs, twists and turns that cause us such great anguish – has a much higher purpose.

As someone else once said: I’ve found that trying to become more like Jesus yields far better results than trying to become a better me. God chose you before time began. And He’ll work His good for you and for His kingdom in you and through you, through every trial you face. The objective?

To make you more and more like Jesus. That’s His Word. Fresh … for you … today.

There’s a risk (rather a large one actually) that the more we grow in maturity in our relationship with Jesus, the more His commands rule in our heart, the more we can get to feeling … well, rather superior to everyone else. It’s one of life’s great paradoxes. Christ calls us to humility; to take up our cross and follow Him wherever He may lead, whatever it may cost, which is precisely what He did when He laid down His life for you and for me. So, you’ve been walking with Jesus for a while now and you’re starting to get the hang of it. Yep, it fits rather well. this Christ-suit in which you’ve clothed yourself … just as the Scriptures say you should. I’m doing this whole Christian-thingy pretty well. I’ve nailed it! And would you look at that woman who just walked into church late. Didn’t even comb her hair properly. Seriously! She needs to get with the program. Time for a reality check: Romans 14:9-12 That is why Christ died and rose from death to live again—so that he could be Lord over those who have died and those who are living. So why do you judge your brother or sister in Christ? Or why do you think that you are better than they are? We will all stand before God, and he will judge us all. Yes, the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘Everyone will bow before me; everyone will say that I am God.’” So each of us will have to explain to God about the things we do. Do you really want to explain your pride, your sense of superiority, to the Lord on that day? Really?! That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.

So, might I ask you today, what is it that’s chipping away at your faith in Jesus right at this moment? What issue, what doubt, what concern, what fear, what relationship is trying its best to undermine your faith? There’s always something, isn’t there? Sometimes you’re just worn out and you get to wondering whether your faith in Jesus is making any real difference in your life, let alone in the lives of those around you. Doubts and fears creep in, and in any case, the grass seems so much greener on the other side of the fence. The reason I can articulate this so clearly is that I’ve been there too. Man, there are struggles on this faith journey, and as much as we might not want to talk about them, they’re real. Very real. But just when you’re at your weakest point, when it seems that all hope for a successful conclusion to our faith journey is lost, God comes along with a powerful, life-giving Word to lift you up again: Romans 14:7,8 We don’t live or die just for ourselves. If we live, we are living for the Lord. And if we die, we are dying for the Lord. So living or dying, we belong to the Lord. The Apostle Paul who wrote that went through life and death struggles. So far as we know, he was ultimately martyred for proclaiming the risen Christ. But pretty early on, he decided to take a stand. Whether I live or die, I belong to the Lord. And my prayer for you today is that the Word of God would breathe an unshakeable courage into your heart. Whether you live or die, take a stand. You belong to the Lord. That’s His Word. Fresh … for you … today.

Eternity seems like such a long way away, doesn’t it? Why is that? Well, probably because we’re so immersed in the day-to-day that the whole “eternity” thing is difficult to contemplate. But the truth is that your day-to-day – whatever it happens to look like – is intrinsically linked to how you’ll spend your eternity, because there’s a battle going on for your soul. Satan, for one, is ever trying to draw you away from Jesus. He remains as keen as ever to have you spend your eternity with him. Then, of course, there are our own desires that will, if we’ll allow them to, burgeon into fully blown sin which leads us down the same path, without Satan ever having to lift a finger. And if all that weren’t enough, the world’s shouting at us – ever louder it seems – to forsake our ridiculous reliance on this outdated, irrelevant Jesus. So, we have rather a lot to contend with in our walk with Jesus. But the prize … the prize is definitely worth the struggle: Revelation 3:21,22 To the one who conquers I will give a place with me on my throne, just as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. (NRSV) Who will sit on that throne for all eternity with Jesus? The one who conquers. The one who continues through all the struggles of life. The one who overcomes all the roadblocks set before them by the world and the enemy. The one who perseveres to the end … just as Jesus did. Don’t give up. The prize is definitely worth it. That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.