Mary Consoles Eve

Mary, mother of Jesus, chosen by God to bring his plan of salvation to his people. A young woman aware of the implications of God’s message to her.

You will bear a son and his name shall be Immanuel, God with us.

She looks back on the good works of God and sings:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
 for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
     for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is his name.
 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.
 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
 He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
 He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful
 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”

Luke 1:46-55

Last year, Sojourn went through a series in December on the Mothers of Jesus. Check out this gorgeous video featuring the women God used to bring about his redemptive plan to rescue his people and restore them to himself. Earlier this year, I delivered a talk on Tamar and Judah: #metoo and Redemption.

Each woman carried her own shame. Each woman, flawed, and yet redeemed by God.

Some have imagined what Mary would say to the mother of us all, Eve. Would she lift her head from being bent in shame? Would she dry her tears? Would she take Eve’s hand and place it on her belly to feel the Saviour of us all, the promised one from Genesis 3, alive and well inside of her?

And I will put enmity
    between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
    and you will strike his heel.”

Genesis 3:15

VIrgin Mary Consoles Eve by Sister Grace Remington, ink and colour pencil

In the image, Virgin Mary Consoles Eve, Eve’s leg is entangled in the trap of sin and Satan. But it is not Mary’s foot that God promises will crush Satan’s head.

Mary might console the mother of Jesus but she, herself, is not the answer to hers or our shame. She, like the other mothers of Jesus, is a conduit for God’s plan of redemption for them … for us.

She is a precious vessel being used by God. And so are we. Vessels that proclaim Jesus,

“He comes to make his blessings flow
As far and wide as the curse is found
He comes to make His blessings flow”

Mary Consoles Eve, Waiting Songs by Rain for Roots

5 Advent Traditions with My Family

Advent is such a magical time for us at home. It’s not about the red and green decorations (we haven’t got any) and it’s not about decorating the house and tree (we live in a small townhouse so … no room or storage). No, Advent is about actively anticipating our rescuer, Jesus.

Here are some of the activities we do every day together that fit with our normal routine each day but adds an exciting element of anticipation.

Everything needed fits inside a shoe box that lives at the top of my daughters’ cupboard during the year.

Morning Music

In the morning, we pump some silly tunes to get us out of the bed and dressed. We get our bodies moving to “Happy Birthday, Jesus” from the Slugs and Bugs Christmas album.

"A Slugs & Bugs Christmas" sets the stage for a family celebration of this most wonderful holiday complete with laughter, dancing, reflection, and celebration.”

I first learned about Slugs & Bugs from Sam Smith, author of The Green Ember. His wife used to follow my old blog back in the day. It’s been lovely following his journey as a fantasy Christian children’s author.

Advent Calendar

Several years ago I printed off the advent cards that correspond to each chapter of the Jesus Storybook Bible chapters and peg them to a string along our lounge room wall. Each morning, one of my girls gets to turn the card over to reveal the picture from the story. Print out your own copy and laminate them and you can use them year after year, like us.

A few years ago, my parents, who are missionaries in Germany, also joined in the advent fun and sent the girls advent calendars. Previous years there were Lego advent calendars and another there were brown bags for each girl to open every morning with a small toy or treat inside. This year we have a wooden house with drawers for each day. Inside there’s a segment of a Lego set they will need to put together over the month (a lesson in delayed gratification).

Advent Readings

The Jesus Storybook Bible is our go-to advent reading over the years. I’ve downloaded the videos and we watch each animated reading of each 24 chapters leading up to Jesus’s birth in the morning after breakfast (and all of our jobs have been completed).

Manger Scene

This set has been with us for almost a decade. I really wanted a manger scene we could have set up that the girls could play with to their heart’s content. Now that my daughters are 7 and 9 they’re a bit too big for it … but they’d be genuinely sad if it didn’t find its way out of the advent box this year. It’s set up front and centre in front of our TV.

Evening Music

As things wind down in the evening, My husband either reads the same chapter from Jesus Storybook Bible or we listen to the audio if he’s out. We then pray together and then hop into bed and listen to more soothing Advent music.

Rain for Roots’ Waiting Songs

eine blume’s o come

How do you celebrate Advent?

The Pros of Investing in Me, a Woman in Gospel Work

My prayer supporters have collaborated with me to prepare this list of reasons why it is a good kingdom investment to financially support me, a woman, in gospel work at a university.

What would you add to the list?

• Theologically-trained women, competent in teaching and leadership, are rare and ought to be encouraged to use their “talents” for the kingdom and are not to be buried away.

• There are more opportunities to invest in women using their gifts in paid gospel work in parachurch organisations like campus ministry.

• Local churches who can’t afford to employ a woman on staff may through partnership use me as a resource to build up their women in God’s word and training.

• More than half of university students are women.

• More than half of students involved in university ministry are usually women.

• A woman on senior staff can mentor young women leaders 1-1, modeling to them how they can do it with new believers and younger Christians.

• It is good for a campus ministry to have women at a senior level casting a female perspective on decisions and future direction that will effect female students.

• A woman may form strategic partnerships with women in local, gospel-focused churches that delight in God’s Word to share the load of mentoring young women students. She may also offer training in reading the Bible, praying and mentoring 1-1 for those wishing to become skilled in this area, enabling them to use those skills with women in their church, new Christians or our university students.

• It’s good for university students to see women in vital roles of gospel ministry and will help them value the women who selflessly serve in their local church.

• It is helpful for young women, young men, older women, older men … well, everyone really … to see the potential for women in using their gifts for the sake of the gospel in a variety of ways. It’s good for all to see a woman doing gospel ministry beyond church crèche, Sunday School and women’s Bible study. (representation in paid and volunteer work)

• Apart from my gender, investing in university ministry in general is important for the local and global church. Graduates who have grown spiritually, theologically, intellectually and emotionally through campus ministry have also been strategically trained in leadership. They go on to serve God’s people wherever God places them. They show up early to set up and stay late to pack up. They are quick to volunteer to lead a Bible study or teach Sunday School. They are accustomed to participating well in meetings deciding the direction of the church’s ministry. They are skilled in proclaiming Jesus to their friends, work-mates and neighbours. They serve their friends and family and church community with love and humility. They love the culture they are in but realise they are sojourners here. The local and global church is better for it. As Fellowship Groups Overseer, I will play a key part of their training.

Sorry, in an attempt to write a balanced list I tried to think of some Cons. I came up empty.

Interested in supporting me?

Become a prayer partner here.

Become a financial partner here.

Building Partnerships vs. Fundraising

“Have you started yet?”

“How’s the fundraising going?”

I get these two questions a lot at the moment.

Yes! Deep breath.

Here’s another great opportunity to share with someone how my voluntary work leading up to 1 January is so much more.

Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (AFES) sees our role prior to employment (and continuing beyond throughout our term of service) as support-raising, partnership development or partnership ministry.

Fundraising communicates that my task is to ask people for money. It views you as “walking wallets”. My job would be to ask and receive. And maybe send a Thank You card.

AFES instead seeks to build relationships based on a common mission to proclaim Jesus to university students and present them mature in Christ.

Support-raising

Support-raising opens up the relationship beyond financial support to welcoming churches and individuals to join the ministry in prayer, encouragement, and being involved with University Fellowship of Christians itself, as well.

How have I gone about support-raising?

I’ve been in touch with many friends and church contacts inviting them to join me on this ministry journey. Every Sunday I’ve visited a different church to share with them the mission of University Fellowship of Christians and the important role I will (Lord-willing) play next year. Each visit, God has brought new people who are excited about my mission and delight in the opportunity to partner with me.

Partnership Development

Partnership development takes that relationship deeper by bringing Christians into the actual ministry and also giving back to them by benefiting from our work.

How have I gone about developing partnerships?

My Facebook group Christine and the Support Team is a way to give-back to my prayer partners. I share regular updates and links and resources Christians can use NOW in their own community, families, workplace, and church ministry helping them think deeply about their own growth and confidence in Christ and preparing to live for God through all seasons of their lives.

I also invite the church leaders who have welcomed me to share my mission with their church family to consider me a resource their church can use to build up and encourage the women in their community.

Partnership Ministry

Partnership Ministry goes a step deeper and disciples our partners like Paul on his journey through Asia Minor planting churches writing home and building up his supporters in their own faith and growth. Our partners are just as much a part of our ministry as our students are.

How have I gone about partnership ministry?

AFES staff are equipped to offer training in evangelism, mentoring new believers and building up young Christians to grow in maturity and leadership. While Christine and the Support Team achieves this on one level, I look forward to working with partnering churches to build them up through coaching, teaching and workshops, and supporting the discipleship of their women and young people.

My Current Role and Your Role

My role at the moment:

• Planning and strategy

• Initiating partnerships for the sake of the campus ministry

• Nurturing those relationship by communicating regularly and inviting people to be involved

• Keeping healthy and faithful perspective in my head and heart—pray and keep God in the picture

• Put in place support and accountability structures that I need

• Think theologically about partnerships and trust God in his work

Your role: (If you desire to, of course. It’s not compulsory for all Christians or even my closest friends to do any of the below.)

• Pray, encourage me, give, get involved as you are able

• Contribute to discerning whether I am suitable for this ministry

If you think I am suitable for this ministry and don’t want to miss out on my Spring newsletter to financial partners (posting at the end of this week), you can pledge your monthly support here.

You’ll receive a printed newsletter with exclusive content for financial partners to show how your financial investment is achieving everlasting kingdom outcomes.

An 11 Year Old Girl's $5

One of my financial partners is an 11 year old girl who is giving $5 of her pocket money every month, excited to partner with the lady who did the Kids Talk at her church a few weeks ago.

Another is a young mum whose husband does not yet follow Jesus. She is excited by seeing how God is going to work through me on campus to proclaim Jesus and grow confident student leaders and young women prepared to follow Jesus through all seasons of their lives. Her $10 a month brought tears to my eyes and so much joy to my heart.

I am 1/4 of the way towards reaching our financial goal, through visiting churches and sharing with friends and family and complete strangers (but bound together in Christ). I have shared our mission over and over.

This is exciting but also nerve-wracking as 1 January 2019 looms on the horizon only a month and a half away. Will I raise enough financial support to begin my work? Will I have to work reduced hours?

Someone asked what I would do if I didn’t meet the target.

I paused. Shocked. I hadn’t even considered that as a possibility.

If God has brought everything together for me to begin this role, he would also see that the financial side of things come together.

Please pray with me for those who will join us here to support our work in prayer and encouragement and financially.

YOU can become a prayer support partner by subscribing. You’ll be invited in to my Christine and the Support Team Facebook group and get behind-the-scenes insight on a woman working in University ministry. I share resources that you, yourself can use in your own Christian journey and gospel opportunities.

If you would like to be part of God’s answer to prayer and join me as a financial partner, you can give a monthly amount here. Your gift will bring both me and our Lord Jesus so much joy.

When the Answer Is "Yes"

In our culture, it is gut-wrenching to put one’s self out there and make the “ask” for financial partnership to support our gospel work, no matter how big or small.

The Gospel Giving Movement podcast has a great episode helping those who give to gospel work know how to respond to these nail-biting requests. If your prayerful and considered answer is “no”, put the poor gospel worker out of their misery and let them know as soon as possible without it dangling in the air. And find a way to communicate that “No” by shifting it into a “No, but …”

Statistically, if I invite 200 people to become financial partners in my ministry, less than 50 will say “yes”. That’s 150 people saying No, Nein, Niet, Nup, Nah and Nope.

So … just for a moment … put yourself in my shoes and imagine the ELATION I feel when that 1 in 4 says

“Yup, sure. I’d love to partner with you. I can’t give much now but I’d love to contribute what I can.”

Whether the monthly pledge is $10 or $150, it takes so much self-control to not run into the girls’ bedroom and wake them up and swing them around squealing in thankfulness.

So I harness that excitement and (when possible) within moments of receiving the notification from head-office that a pledge has been lodged, I whip out my phone and turn on the camera and send off a personal video thanking my new partner in the gospel.

I extend my enthusiastic thankfulness to them and God for their commitment to … OUR … work on the campus of the University of Tasmania. I share a personal insight or behind the scenes glimps of where things are at and what I am currently doing to prepare for the work next year (beyond raising support).

I promise to include them in this work as much as possible within the Facebook group for my supporters and through regular blog posts and monthly newsletters, so they know their investment in gospel work is being used well.

Would you like a personalised Thank You video?

Would YOU like to say “Yes”?

Give Now (please? … *nail-biting*)

"No" Can Become a "No, But ..."

Sometimes "no" is the answer to a request to partner with me financially.

During this season of raising support before I begin work 1 January 2019, I am tasked to share my mission with others and to raise my own salary by creating financial partnerships.

This means asking individuals, visiting churches to share in their weekly church meeting or asking local churches to budget some funds for my support.

Sometimes, the answer is "no" or "not now". Personal or church budgets may be experiencing a season of financial strain.

Churches and individuals can still formally partner with me through tangible and real ways with no financial commitment.

Here are some of the best "no, but ..." answers I’ve heard since starting my support raising:

• “No, but we'd love to invite you to our next small group to share. I'm sure others would love to hear and might be able to support you in ways our family is unable to right now.”

• “No, but we'd love to offer you a "Missions Spot" at one of our upcoming weekly church meetings. Feel free to stick around afterwards and talk to our folks about what you'll be doing next year.”

• “No, but we're going to commit to praying for you as a church once a month. Please send us updates on how God is at work and how we can best support you in prayer.”

• “No, financially we’re not in a position to do so, but I do have a lot of time. If you ever need someone to volunteer or read the Bible with a student one to one, put me at the top of your list.”

• “No, but do ask again in a few months. Our situation may have changed then. We’d really like to give. In the meantime, I have a friend who works at the local Christian radio station that I can put you in touch with. Maybe they can help you get word out about what you’re doing next year.”

• “No, we’re already committed to supporting another missionary financially. However, we would love to introduce you to some University students who go to our church but aren’t connected to your ministry yet.”

• “No, we’re not able to commit to that level of financial support. But we can do this figure instead.”

Honestly, hearing "no" hurts. And I'm sure saying "no" hurts, too.

But when that "no" is followed by a “but”, my heart soars.

These are people who genuinely believe in God’s mission on campus and love me and want to see God use me to bring about his kingdom.

It's all in God's hands.

If you would like to say "no" BUT would like to join others who are partnering with me in prayer, join Christine and the Support Team or subscribe to my email list.

You'll get behind the scenes access to my work and helpful tips and resources that may benefit your own Christian journey and ministry.

Mikey Lynch, Campus Director of University Fellowship of Christians just released the latest podcast of Gospel Giving Movement on how to respond well when someone requests that you partner with them for the gospel. (I like to think this podcast stemmed from our conversation earlier this week when I was feeling especially devastated by a “no” I’d received.) Listen here.

Next time I’ll share what I do when someone says, “Yes!”

Evil Is a Problem

On Wednesday, Christopher Wright spoke at St. Davids Cathedral on “The God I Don’t Understand”. (It’s worth a listen.)

Humans across all religions and disciplines desperately want to solve the problem of evil but in the end we can all only simply conclude that “evil is a problem”.

The Bible doesn’t detail for us evil’s actual origins, only it’s entering into the human experience in the Garden of Eden.

Wright’s lecture raised more questions than providing answers.

Are natural disasters evil? Or just the world doing what it does? “A tectonic plate is going to do what a tectonic plate does.”

Are accidents, disabilities or natural disasters always God’s punishment for people’s sins? Jesus was asked this very question by his friends about a blind man and others asked him what sins the people had committed when they were killed when a tower crumbled on top of them.

But more questions than answers was the point. God has not deemed it necessary for us to fully comprehend evil. What we DO know is that God is good throughout it all and that he is sovereign.

Wright himself responded to a friend who wanted answers:

“Far from having them all sorted out,” I answered, “it seems to me that the older I get the less I think I really understand God. Which is not to say that I don’t love and trust him. On the contrary, as life goes on, my love and trust grow deeper, but my struggle with what God does or allows grows deeper too.”

His book The God I Don’t Understand is readable and therapeutic for all who tear their hair out and scream “It’s not fair!”

Yes, evil is a problem. But Jesus was always the solution.

Excerpt From: Christopher J. H. Wright. “The God I Don't Understand.” iBooks. https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-god-i-dont-understand/id398993088?mt=11

Thinking Theologically About Politics

As part of a training session for ministry apprentices I facilitated this year, I asked the following questions:

• How could a genuine Bible-believing follower of Jesus vote for them?!

• When I become a Christian, do I have to vote a certain way?

• How would Jesus vote?

We’ve probably all asked one of those questions or all of those questions at some point in our lives. Jesus, himself was cornered by political activists and asked to choose a side.

Mark 12:13-17

Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a] to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”

And they were amazed at him.

Jesus had been teaching on the Kingdom of God followed by cleaning out the temple of all the money changers and people selling animals. The religious leaders were left shaken. Who is this man and how do we deal with him?

To determine how to best attack him they had to know if he was truly a spiritual person or not and if he was a political revolutionary. On those two fronts they then proceeded to undermine him. Two factions from opposite sides of the political spectrum, both threatened by Jesus.

AND HE SAW RIGHT THROUGH IT.

Who’s image is on the coin? Caesar's

WHAT bears the image of God? PEOPLE

Soo … give yourself to God.

mic drop

Tim Keller preached a sermon on this very passage. I highly recommend it. You can listen to it here. Or read his New York Times article here.

Tamar and Judah: #metoo and Redemption

Genesis 38 is one of the most dramatic and AVOIDED passages of all of Scripture. As we read the account of Tamar and Judah’s family we squirm in discomfort, confronted by the backward, primitive practices of ancient times.

It’s the story of a young woman who is given in marriage to a wicked man, who dies, she marries his brother, he’s wicked, he dies, her father-in-law banishes her and she tricks him into impregnating her by pretending to be a prostitute.

Is she a harlot?

Is she a crazy woman obsessed with bearing a child?

Or is she the victim of intense injustice who took matters into her own hands?

As a modern 21st Century woman, you might be repulsed by Tamar's story.

And yet, Scripture is subsequently kind to her. In the book of Ruth, the women of Bethlehem use her name as a blessing to their friend Naomi as she holds her new grandson. She is listed among the special women God chose to bring his Son into the world.

Before we get on our 21st Century high horse and look down our noses at the primitive practices of this ancient culture, let’s check our culture snobbery at the door! We love watching “reality television” and watching the mess of people’s lives unfold before us. Who here hasn’t indulged in a cheeky 15 minutes of “Married at First Sight” while flipping through the channels during an ad break so that you can get back to watching the screaming match on My Kitchen Rules. Our guilty pleasures consist of the latest royal family scandal and whether or not Jen and Brad are back together again and is that a baby bump in that paparazzi photo?

Yes, women now have the right to vote and work and live independently, but in the world of #metoo we still have a LOOOOOOONG way to go. You might find that Tamar’s experience sits a lot closer to home than you thought.

Journey with me into this primitive culture to study the SIN, CONDEMNATION, and REDEMPTION God extends to us.

Listen to the entire talk I gave at Women’s Winter Festival 2018 here. (The sound quality is not great but very worth persevering till the end.)

You Will Finish the Race!

This past Sunday I taught Sunday School. The lesson was about Hannah, the mother of the prophet, Samuel. I wanted the children to grasp how someone might want something so much that they are overcome with emotion. It being the Olympics, I started by asking: “Has anyone noticed anyone crying after one of the competitions?” They were all very perceptive and gave GREAT answers. One boy said, “Some were crying because they had trained for four years for this big race and after all that they didn’t win a medal.” Eliza said, “Some were crying because they were so so happy and excited to have done well and make their family and country proud of them.” Another mentioned that some cried because they got hurt and couldn’t finish the competition.

The Olympics I remember watching as a child was the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. If Facebook had been around then, everyone would have been sharing the video of Derek Redman’s race.

He’d got the fastest time in his Quarter Finals and was all set to win the Semi Finals. However, with 250 metres to go, Derek tore his hamstring. He crumpled to the ground in pain. But he got up on his feet.

He stumbled and hobbled for a few metres, his face was awash with pain and emotion. After all that training and dedication … he might not even finish …

But then all of a sudden on camera comes another man. A spectator from the stands rushed past security and ran alongside Derek Redmond and placed Derek’s arm over his own shoulders and half carried Derek the last 250 metres. As stretcher bearers and race officials rushed up to the two men, Derek’s DAD, Jim Redmond, gave them a look that all understood to say, “MY SON WILL FINISH THE RACE!”

We are each running a race in this life. Some of you here are God’s children, gloriously saved from a life of being against God having turned, repented and embraced as his daughters all made possible because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. You are now running the race that God has set before you. Unlike Derek Redmond’s sprint race, this is an endurance race. The writer of Hebrews urges us to look to Jesus, who has already WON the race. Who has endured ALL to rescue us and claim us as children, daughters of God. And by HIS power, YOU WILL FINISH THE RACE!

Tonight I want to encourage you by reminding you that

Jesus endured extreme suffering and persevered to claim victory. God guides us and coaches us through hardship so that we can endure in our faith. Our final victory is a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

This is the introduction to my talk on Hebrews 12 given at Women’s Winter Festival in 2016. You can listen to the whole talk here.

How Can You Change?

HOW CAN YOU CHANGE

Galatians 5:13-25

love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control

Who doesn’t long to be known for these attributes?

Carmen is a young woman who longs for love. She longs to be valued, cherished, and respected. All wonderful and right ways to feel. She watches every romantic comedy that comes out in the cinema and has the entire book Pride and Prejudice memorised. Carmen dabbles in relationships but no one lives up to her imagination. Once she moves on from one man she picks up another as her identity has become wrapped up with romantic relationships but no one fulfills her. Over time her demeanour changes. She is jaded and has given up on the male sex. Her friends have labeled her a “man-hater”. She has built a wall around her heart not allowing any to love her so she won’t get hurt or disappointed. Now she becomes the one to hurt so that no one can hurt her first.

Sarah just smacked her three year old. In the face. It was completely reactionary. He was pestering the baby while she was trying to feed him to sleep. Her hand flung out to move him away but it became more than that. He stared at her in shock and then screamed in pain. Her entire body surged with rage. She locked herself in the bathroom so that she could do no more damage. In her head she screamed at herself: “I am a horrible person and don’t deserve to be a mother. I will never forgive myself.” The little boy was fine after a bit of crying but Sarah is a mess. She has really screwed up this time. Maybe her family would be better off without her. Why must her anger control her?!

Lara runs a community garden with some others in her neighbourhood. Someone else on the committee doesn’t like the way she leads and has spread a rumour about her suggesting she has not managed the community garden funds appropriately. Many believe the rumour and the movement is split into factions. Lara stands up for herself and in the process tears down those who have spread the rumour and believed it. She has the right to be respected after all she has done. How dare they! She would rather see the community garden disbanded than see jealous, petty individuals take over. She plots her revenge. How can she change before irreversible damage is done?

Are you a Carmen? Do you long for love but are sick of being disappointed? Have you gone so far as to build a fortress around yourself? Behind those walls do you protect yourself but also lash out?

Are you a Sarah? Have you lashed out at loved ones in anger only to retreat and despise yourself?

Are you a Lara? Have you been hurt or misunderstood? Are you quick to retaliate leaving broken relationships in your wake?

All of these stories could be real stories.

Each one of these women are broken. They long for change. Like you, they long to be changed at the very core of their being: to know love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Instead our default position is to respond to life’s challenges in selfish ways that harm not only ourselves, but also others.

This is a universal problem everyone can agree upon. Our very nature is being overtaken by desires that cause pain to ourselves and hurt to others.

Christians recognise that this nature is called “sin nature” the Bible calls it the “passions and desires of the flesh” in the book of Galatians, chapter 5.

Sin nature is essentially a person constantly fighting against God and the way He intended mankind to live.

Living in a right and good way is a constant struggle for everyone. It is a constant battle against those sinful desires and passions. It’s as if we are on a human-sized hamster wheel either plodding along slowly or running ourselves into exhaustion getting nowhere. Many of us throw our hands up in defeat, tired of the guilt associated with not being “good enough”.

In this book of the Bible, Paul writes a letter to an early church group warning them to NOT attempt to achieve their own righteousness in their own power or strength. They couldn’t change on their own.

In fact, Galatians 5:19-21 argue that devoting yourself to your own betterment so often leads to actions that are universally damaging to yourself and others. Our attempts at righteous living lead to failure resulting in despair and finding fulfillment elsewhere.

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Our efforts to be “good enough” in our own strength achieve the opposite of righteousness. And they certainly won’t make you right with God.

The Bible says that you cannot achieve right living by your own efforts. You may be able to make some progress... and people do. But the Bible’s message is radical change, change of the heart, a change of motivations, a change of our very natures ... this type of change is beyond our human abilities.

Non-Christian, the Bible says very clearly that our actions, whether good or bad, will never bring us into a right relationship with God.

Christians, you know this to be true. So why are you living like it’s not? Are you killing yourself on the hamster wheel trying to be good enough? Why do you harbour guilt in your heart that you aren’t good enough to change yourself for the better? How can you change?

If I can’t change, do I just give up? Throw my hands up in defeat? Embrace what Paul calls “desires and passions of the flesh” if that’s all that my life has to offer?!

No. The Bible says we cannot change ourselves. But there is someone who can. An agent of change.


THE AGENT OF CHANGE

Verses 24-25:

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, became man and lived a completely righteous life before God and before man. Religious leaders, those jealous, offended, and threatened ... by Jesus’ hard teachings of faith and works conspired and had the Roman ruler of Palestine execute Jesus by hanging him on a cross to die an excruciating death. Before he died he said, “It is finished.”

This selfless act of Jesus is what brings us into a right relationship with God.

God sees his perfect life and his death as the perfect substitute for our failings.

After his death, Jesus was buried and his tomb sealed. On the third day, the Holy Spirit raised him up. In his flesh and blood, he revealed himself to his friends and followers, more than 500. For weeks he met with them and ate with them and taught them, until he ascended to be with God, his Father. Now he rules at his Father’s side, one day to return to make ALL things right.

Coming into a right relationship with God through Jesus is the beginning of radical change... change from the inside.

Before Jesus left, he promised us a Helper. The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead would be with those who “belong to Christ Jesus” ... those who put their whole faith in Jesus, depending on his life, death, and resurrection to be an appropriate substitute for our miserable attempts to achieve God’s stamp of approval. Jesus of Nazareth’s death on the cross has effectively crucified our old nature with its passions and desires.

But it is not enough for those desires to be killed off. We need life.

Verse 25

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, gives us spiritual LIFE. And in this new life the Spirit sets us free from our bondage to sinful thought patterns, unrighteous desires, self-serving actions.

We are FREE. Free to love and be loved by God.

That Spirit, who gives spiritual life to those who belong to Jesus Christ, did not stop at giving us life. He did not dust his hands off, walk away saying, “Well, my job is done. Good luck trying to figure out how to live like someone who belongs to Christ Jesus.” He is at work in us every single day, shaping and moulding our very essence and nature to become more and more like our Saviour Jesus Christ. He is moving us step by step, closer and closer to being like Jesus from the inside out.

The Spirit is our 24/7 coach, mentor, advocate ... HELPER. It’d be like the Federal Government assigning a 24/7 maid to every single citizen household in Australia.

This is not behaviour modification. Moral discipline doesn’t equal change. Outwardly we may appear the picture of perfection, but inwardly we may be jealous, self-seeking, and resentful.

I’m talking about real change. To the very core of our being. Your very nature.

Christian - You cannot achieve this change on your own.

Non-Christian - You cannot achieve this change on your own.

Christians and Non-Christians are no different from one another. Christians are NOT better people than non-Christians. The only difference is that Christians, and this has NOTHING to do with them, Christians have a HELPER. An Agent of Change.

HOW DOES THE SPIRIT CHANGE US?!

His job is to be with us, to be our advocate, to change us to be like Jesus. When he is at work in a person who “belongs to Christ Jesus”, HE is the one producing fruit.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.

There is no Christian Character 101 course you have to complete, write an essay, or do an apprenticeship to pass. That would be like going to Salamanca Market, purchasing a basket full of fruit, and then painstakingly tying a piece of string around them to hang on your tree. In time that fruit will rot and your efforts will be counterproductive.

The credit all belongs to the Holy Spirit at work in you. It is the Spirit who like a master gardener waters, nurtures, brings about lasting longterm fruit.

How does the Spirit change us?

Well firstly, if you have the Spirit, he will be changing you.

Do you belong to Christ Jesus. Is the Spirit alive in you?

The assumption is that if you have the Spirit, your life will change.

Christians. Do you notice any changes in your life? Do others notice changes in your life?

Can you look back and see that you now respond differently to your husband when he spends an evening out with his mates leaving you at home to handle the night time routine on your own with the kids?

Do you notice your friends getting married and having babies, and find that you are now able to rejoice WITH them while you still mourn your own absence of family relationships in your own life? Five years ago you would have been angry with God and the world but now you can have joy.

Do you find now that you’ve lost your people-pleasing ways, and are able to commit and forbear and see a project through to completion because you know that your are right with God and you do not crave the praise and acceptance of others.

After 10 years of living next to the same crotchety neighbour, do you now actually have compassion for him and bring him meals when you know his children will be away on holiday, unable to care for him?

Do you now bite your tongue when someone accuses you of something you haven’t done because you know you are right before God?

Is the Holy Spirit changing you?

If you cannot discern any recognisable changes in your life, is it possible you need to hear the Gospel again

• the good news of Jesus’ perfect life,

• sacrificial death,

• and life-giving resurrection

to bring you into a right relationship with God?

Do you need to hear all of that again and BELIEVE?

The Galatians needed to be reminded.

They were listening to others who were telling them,

“Sure you need to believe the Gospel. But on top of that here’s a list of stuff you need to tick off to make sure you’re cool with God.”

To point to Jesus’ sacrificial death and say, That’s not enough! Is offensive to the mind-blowing, never-ending love of God.

So what’s on your list? What was at the top of the Galatians’ list? Circumcision but for women that’s not us... What are you adding to the Gospel, driving yourself mad because you can’t measure up?

What are your self-imposed standards?

Maintaining a perfect home?

Well-mannered children?

Having your whole life wrapped up in a little perfect bundle like The Proverbs 31 woman?

For those unfamiliar with her, she is essentially a description of the perfect woman. She manages her household beautifully, clothes her children in the best clothes, wakes up before dawn, she has a business on the side, her husband praises her many attributes in the streets.

Perhaps you are putting a mask on in front of your non-Christian friends? Maintaining a facade of perfection. Why not be honest about your struggles? Your struggles are a part of your own Gospel Narrative ... ways the Holy Spirit is at work in your life. Don’t you think the Gospel is enough? Or do you need to add to it by appearing perfect outwardly?

What are you adding to the Gospel?

Paul was tearing his hair out. In Chapter 4, He compared them to Abraham, the father of Israel, attempting to achieve God’s promise of a son by having relations with a servant rather than trusting God that he would do it through his barren wife (as promised).

If like Abraham, you are weary of waiting for the Spirit to change you, and you have taken matters into your own hands, creating your own righteousness:

Beware!

Paul says that the fruit of pursuing self-righteousness is at war with the righteousness the Spirit brings about. He warns that if you continue to pursue this path of self-righteousness, you have no place in the Kingdom of God. Just like Ishmael had no part in the inheritance promised to Abraham through Sarah’s offspring Isaac.

What are you adding to the Gospel?!

HOW DOES THE SPIRIT CHANGE US?

“Keep in step with the Spirit”

So it’s not up to me if, when, or how I change ... It’s up to the Holy Spirit. Well, if it’s his doing I can just sit back and do whatever I please. “Let go and let God”, right? Eventually he’ll get the cogs rolling. But in the meantime I’ll live it up. Do whatever I want.

God forbid.

Paul tells us in this passage that yes, we are FREE, but we are not free to indulge the flesh. Rather we need to vs. 16 “walk in the Spirit” and vs. 25 “keep in step with the Spirit”.

How can we keep in step with the Spirit? well I have 3 things and they all start with R.

We can “keep in step” by doing the following:

REMEMBER

1. Remember the Gospel.

Remember that Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (verse 23).

One of my favourite female theologians, Wendy Alsup, wrote the following:

“I have faith that God has adequately supplied me through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection; that He has sufficiently equipped us by lavishing on us a spiritual bank account with great equity to face these struggles head on; that the same power that rose Christ from the dead is now the power supernaturally at work in us.”

That same Spirit is at work in you if you belong to Christ Jesus. Jesus’ sacrifice crucified the sinful desires of our old nature. We are not bound to them. You are not a slave to your old nature. You are free to love and be loved.

You will feel the tension in life of old desires and the new, God-centred, others-loving, desires that the Spirit is growing in you.

Be encouraged that you feel the tension of the two. God is at work!

REMEMBER the Gospel.

2. Rest

Flip over with me to Galatians 3:3

Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?

The Galatian Christians have gone backwards. While they would affirm that their “good works” could never be good enough to initially bring them into a right relationship with God, they somehow now believe that “good works of their own merit” need to keep them there.

One commentator of this passages notes that,

Christian character is not produced by mere moral discipline rather it comes from the indwelling of the Spirit.

Some Christian women place standards on themselves in order to feel accepted.

They must read the Bible for an hour first thing in the morning and pray for at least 1/2 an hour.

If they have kids, they are determined to have family time on the sofa before bed each night peacefully reading the Bible together and praying.

They must read Christian marriage books with their husband before they go to sleep at night.

They have such noble plans and ideal expectations, but then life happens ...

when the first baby comes along and that hour of Bible reading first thing in the morning becomes 5 minutes a week, she senses she is out of God’s pleasure.

When the kids won’t sit still and hate prayer time, she mourns that she’s not good enough.

When the husband is disinterested in reading marriage books together and falls asleep when it’s her turn to read, she throw her hands up in despair.

Has she failed God? Have you failed God?

Get off the hamster wheel, and rest in this truth. If you belong to Christ Jesus, it is the Holy Spirit who changes you, your children, and your husband. Rituals and moral discipline are only valuable if they are motivated out of pure love for God and others. NOT if you think these things will keep you in God’s good books because you think that’s what you think good Christians ought to do.

Does that mean we shouldn’t read the Bible or pray or do good things?

Not at all. These things are not done out of obligation. Rather do these things out of thankfulness, love, and devotion.

REST knowing the Spirit is the one working.

Find relief, comfort, and peace in this truth.

3. REACT to the tension

Note the tension in Galatians 5.

First in verse 13:

But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

And again in verses 16-18:

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

DO NOT use your freedom to indulge the flesh.

DO serve one another humbly in love.

DO NOT gratify the desires of the flesh.

DO walk by the Spirit.

DO NOT do whatever you want.

DO be led by the Spirit.

Your old nature longs to do one thing, but the Spirit moves you in a different direction.

When situations in life come up and you feel the tension, REACT to the tension in step with the Spirit.

Note that the Fruit of the Spirit listed here primarily consists of attitudes and actions that enhance personal relationships.

love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

So how is the Spirit working to enhance and change your personal relationships?!

You need to keep in step with the Spirit...

Carmen’s longing for love turned from idolising men, to sexual immorality, to hatred. Carmen must turn to Christ Jesus.

REMEMBER the Gospel.

REST knowing God is at work to mend and grow true love and peace and self-control.

She must REACT to those tensions in her life to keep in step with the Spirit.

In that moment of tension when the stress of life becomes too great, you know that your old sinful nature longs for self-gratification no matter how fleeting or how high the cost (whether it’s food or unhealthy relationships), but you sense the Spirit moving you towards self-control. Choose self- control.

Your old nature barricades your ability to love behind a high wall so you won’t get hurt, the Spirit moves you to take down one stone at a time allowing you to love others and love God.

Your old nature hides away in bitterness, but the Spirit moves you to rejoice at another’s good news and you are at peace within knowing you are fully loved by God and that is to be celebrated.

Sarah’s fit of rage and subsequent despair took control of her life, paralysing her in fear, imprisoning her in the bathroom. She could not forgive herself. She saw no hope for change. Her family was better off without her.

Sarah must REMEMBER the Gospel. Jesus was perfect when she was not. Jesus’ death crucified her passions and desires of the flesh to flee instead of persevere. Jesus’ resurrection gave her new life and a HELPER. She is never alone.

Sarah must REST in the forgiveness eagerly given to her by God and be confident that God is truly at work in her through the Holy Spirit growing ALL the fruit, not just gentleness and self-control.

Sarah must REACT to the tension and choose to KEEP IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT. She may need to briefly remove herself from the situation. Lean on the Spirit to HELP her respond to her children with gentleness. And she must forbear and persist in loving and caring for her children seeking help from others as she needs it.

Your old nature throws your hands up in defeat, but the Spirit moves you to forbear and persist in your love for others knowing that love may never be returned.

Lara is hurt and determined to do the same to others, so that they may know how much they hurt her and more!

She needs to REMEMBER the Gospel. Christ Jesus, although perfect was executed due to the claims of jealous religious leaders. He allowed himself to be crucified despite having armies of Angels at his command. He was raised to life so that we could have life and live differently now by the power of the Spirit.

She needs to REST in knowing that God is ultimately in control of her own growth and of the entire predicament.

She needs to REACT to the tension of wanting to inflict pain to keeping in step with the Spirit and responding with truth and goodness.

Your old nature insists on standing up for your rights to be respected and liked, the Spirit moves you to kindness and seeking the good of others, putting your rights aside so a greater good might flourish.

THIS is radical.

THIS is supernatural.

THIS is the work of the Spirit.

Again Wendy Alsup writes,

“I am stressed with the little ways my life does not yet reflect His reign. In my own heart, the answer is to lean into Him, confident that He has sufficiently supplied me through His Spirit to do good and not evil in big or small stressful situations.”

You will mess up. But REMEMBER the Gospel. You are forgiven. And you are NOT ALONE. You have a Helper.

You will screw up. But return to God and REST knowing God freely forgives you and is at work in you and changing you through His Spirit.

You will fall flat on your face. But get back up, REACT to the small and big tensions in your life and KEEP IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT.

So how can you change?

Get off the hamster wheel of self-righteousness and get in step with the Spirit of God.

Free of guilt.

Free of condemnation.

Free to love and be loved.

Free to serve others humbly.

Free to flourish and be changed.

This is a transcript from a Women’s Winter Festival talk I gave in 2014. No recording is available.

Confidence in Christ

One of the ladies in our church invites others to her home a few nights a year. There’s always delicious desserts, tea and jigsaw PUZZLES. If you’re like toddlers, you’ll pick up two random pieces and attempt to smash them together. When you enter Kindergarten, your teacher demonstrates the technique of the finding the four corner pieces first followed by filling in the border. At these dessert and puzzle nights, the entire dining room table is littered with over a 1000 tiny pieces that are all meant to fit together. As the evening commences, the corners are found and the border is quickly constructed. Over time though, as women are chatting, sipping tea and filling in the sky section, the doubt begins to creep in.

People frantically spend their lives searching for meaning. Ancient and modern writers call it a God-shaped hole that we all strive frantically to fill.

But what about those who have found meaning. We’ve found our ultimate meaning in a relationship with God, made possible by his Son, Jesus. Even then most of us haven’t stopped looking.

• What if we’re missing a piece?

• What if I haven’t done enough to please God?

• I know Jesus died for me, but what if there’s more to it?

• What if you aren’t good enough?

• What if you're missing something?

Paul soothes the anxiety for Christians in the book Philippians.

Paul, a late convert to Christianity, was responsible for bringing the good news about Jesus to the unbelieving people of Philippi. To continue with the puzzle analogy, he sets out the corner and border pieces of the puzzle of faith for them. He leaves them to complete the puzzle on their own, confident that in his absence their faith and relationship with God would continue to grow and mature.

Years later, he’s in prison and he writes to them. Remembering them and their partnership in the Gospel with joy. He reassures them that he is confident that their faith is true having benefitted from their generosity and hearing of their perseverance.

Some of the Philippians weren’t so sure. After Paul left, others came and sought to divide the church. They tried to convince the church in Philippi that there were pieces missing from their puzzle. They taught:

If you are a true child of God you ought to worship a certain way, dress a certain way, eat certain food, mutilate your body, today you might hear some say that you have to read THIS version of the Bible, vote THIS way, educate your children in THIS manner, etc.

Paul calls this focusing on the flesh instead of the Gospel.

Perhaps the Philippians began to doubt their own salvation. “Am I truly saved? Maybe I haven’t done enough? Maybe SHE hasn’t done enough.”

Listen to the whole talk on Philippians 1 here.

Living Grace: the Gospel for Christians

In June 2018, I spoke at the Women's Winter Festival here in Hobart. A recording of my talk can be found here.

Bible reading: Ephesians 2

“If there’s anything in life that we should be passionate about, it’s the gospel. And I don’t mean passionate only about sharing it with others. I mean passionate about thinking about it, dwelling on it, rejoicing in it, allowing it to color the way we look at the world. Only one thing can be of first importance to each of us. And only the gospel ought to be.” ~ C.J. Mahaney, The Cross Centered Life

What is this Gospel or Good News?

”Every one of us are more sinful and flawed than we ever dared believe, but MORE LOVED AND WELCOMED than we ever dared hope.” Tim Keller

The Gospel is for Believers

Do you think the Gospel is for you?

The Gospel is for everyone, every day, ESPECIALLY those who identify themselves with Christ and call themselves Christians!

If you get ANYTHING out of this talk tonight, I want you to walk away with the tools to battle doubt, despair, and discouragement in your Christian life by being able to Preach the Gospel to yourself, daily. By arming yourself with the five facets of the Gospel message you can apply each of them to your life everyday.

Listen to the complete talk here.

A Gospel Primer for Christians by Milton Vincent is available here.