If... Then

Tomorrow is our first Sunday back from furlough. It is my privilege to present the Word of God. In the Australia Southern Territory we have been asked to give our people the opportunity of giving to a Drought Appeal that the Territory has launched. As we've been away the corps isn't aware and won't come prepared. So I'll present the need and we'll receive the gifts next Sunday instead.

I have for some time been contemplating the promise of God to Solomon and the people of Israel recorded in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Here it is "if my people, who are called by my name; will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will heal their land." New International Version

The preceding verse begins "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain..." shows why I have been thinking of this promise in relation to the drought. Is it applicable to today's drought? Is it drawing a long bow to liken the people of Australia to the people of Israel in the time of Solomon?

I have been shown some prophetic words in recent days which relate to the Christian Church in Australia and another which relates to The Salvation Army in the western world. Follow the link to Andrew Bale's blog and read the prophecy for yourself. I am not totally endorsing what Andrew says he was given by God, but it does tie in with the words related to the Church in Australia.

It seems that God is wanting to give me a message about my relationship with Him as well as the relationship the church I lead has with Him.

Chapter 6 of 2 Chronicles contains King Solomon's prayer. It too has this if we do this then God will do this feel about it.

It seems to me that God is calling His people to a return to intimacy with Him. He wants to have His people seeking his face in prayer and in all humility build a strong relationship with Him.

It also seems that He wants His people to return in repentance to obey Him.

I have no doubts that He wants to heal our land and restore His Church and build that part of the Universal Church that worships at Doncaster Salvation Army. But it seems that He may be wanting us to return Him to the throne of our lives.

Any thoughts?

Back to work!

So, furlough has ended and its back to work. Back to the many emails to be answered and the many envelopes to be opened, dealt with and filed. Why does it seem so much like running a business?

Proclaiming salvation, teaching holiness and soulwinning often seem so far removed from what I actually spend so much time doing that I wonder if I'm doing something wrong. Over the last week or so God's been reminding me of some of the people who I've seen come to Jesus and be saved. In our first appointment there was the simple man who accepted Jesus as Saviour just like a little child. A few appointments later, there was the lady who responded at the end of a Christianity Explained course. There was JS who got saved in the morning meeting when I'd decided she was going to get saved that night. Funny that after hearing the gospel proclaimed for almost a year, and completing Christianity Explained, she only understood after she had given her heart to Jesus. Then there was BS who got saved in our farewell meeting after years of listening to the gospel, and the people in my Alpha group at Ringwood and... so many others.

What was I doing then that I'm not doing now? Have people changed, or is it God?

It is so sad when people who have been connected to a corps for years leave still unsaved. I don't believe God has changed, so I'd better keeep on going. I return to work facing the challenges, and there are many, convinced that we as a corps and I as the leader must proclaim salvation and win people for Jesus.

Rain, glorious rain!

Much of Australia has been experiencing a very bad drought. In Melbourne we have not been immune from this. Very little rain for months, high temperatures and raging bushfires in country areas have made life very difficult for many Victorians.
This morning I woke to hear a noise I had almost forgotten, rain on the roof. Praise God for His mercy and answered prayer! Any rain is a welcome sight. Even though the drought appears far from over, the rain we have had has been very welcome.
The rain made me think of how much God's people need the drought breaking rain in our own lives. I need it! My church needs it! The church at large needs revival rain to be poured out upon us.

Send it, Lord Jesus!

Marriage

Today (Jan 15) we celebrated our 26th Wedding Anniversary. Some of the details of the ceremony and the day have become a little hazy. Others are very clear.
We made our vows before God, our family and friends in the hall that I had grown up in, on the platform that 2 years earlier I had been farewelled from to enter the Training College. These were serious vows. We were committed to each other for life and to share in winning the world for Jesus.
Lots of things have changed in those 26 years. That Salvation Army Hall is no longer owned by The Salvation Army. My home corps no longer exists.

But some things remain constant, God's grace, our love for each other and our commitment to winning the world for Jesus are three important constants.

I just don't understand how Christians can say that they no longer love each other. Don't promises mean anythig anymore.

VCAC

It was my pleasure and privilege to attend the annual Victorian Creative Arts Camp last night. Each of our children were participating, for the first time. Ben, our eldest , has been a regular every year. This year he was the assistant Brass Band leader. Peter has attended a few times and took a week off work so he could go. He is a drummer and played in the Contemporary band. Catherine participated in Drama and Video. It was her first time. They all had a good time.

What a joy it is to have each of our children serving God!

Preaching and living

Here's some powerful words from today's reading.
15 "Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don't be impressed with charisma; look for character. 16 Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned."
Matt 7:15-16 (MSG)

I've discovered over my years as an officer and a preacher that who I am is much more important than what I say. The most important person for me to work at changing is me.

I try not to judge people by first impressions as it's only when you know a person that you are able to understand who they really are.

If I'm reflecting Jesus in my living then my words will be much more effective. If I'm not reflecting Jesus, it really doesn't matter what I say, because people will know it's all a sham anyway.

As a young officer I made a major blunder during a meeting when I allowed my temper to show. It took a lot of living to win back those I lost that night. Indeed it took a fatal illness and a lot of pastoral care to change the opinions of some. Others were more forgiving and wrote the episode off as growing pains.

I need people to look for character not charisma. Just as well God does.

Bible in a year

I have decided to encourage people to build their relationship with Jesus intentionally this year. Part of the way I am going to build my own relationship with Him is to systematically read through the Bible in this year. There are many ways of doing this. I'm using a CD that enables me to read a few chapters of the Old Testament and a chapter of the New Testament most days. I'm aiming to make this the first thing I do when I come to the office each day. 8 days so far and I've managed to make the reading each day.

Its been great to read through the stories of creation through to Abraham and see them come to life again. This morning I was reading the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew from The Message. Its certainly different but it does help to make it fresh and give new insights.

This blog will in some ways act as a journal as I reflect on verses that speak to me.

Holy people

I have a passion for preaching about holiness. Today my wife preached and one of our great soldiers complimented her on her gift of being able to make complicated concepts sound simple. She is a great teacher!

I've become quite emotional as I think about the saints at this corps. They show great faith in us as their leaders. They have followed our lead strongly. That's a scary thought, for me at least. When I think of their devotion to the cause of Christ the tears begin to well up in my eyes.

I would much rather follow some of them. They are great examples of holy living. One of our soldiers, a retired officer is so active within the corps. She was out at most of the caroling and kettling engagements. Today she celebrates her 60th anniversary of being commissioned as a Salvation Army Officer. She loves people. No wonder 2 of her children have followed their parents into officership.

I've begun to think that instead of preaching about holiness I should just ask her (and others) to stand and say "Here is a holy person. Copy them! Learn from them and allow The Holy Spirit to make you like them, because as you do you'll become more like Jesus."

It is a privilege beyond comparison to be the Corps Officer of such people.

New Beginnings

After weeks of thinking about adding to the blogging world I've decided to join in. In many ways I hope this site does just 2 things.I hope it helps people to find Jesus as their Saviour and it helps mt to clarify my own thoughts.

Peter Anderson
Proclaimer of Salvation