Built on Rock

This week we're reflecting on Genesis chapters 40-41, where God enables Joseph to interpret various kinds of dreams… and consider something of his character, over a 13 year period, as we encounter him hitting his lowest low before being raised up as one of the heads of the Egyptian empire.

This week we reflect on Genesis 39.  Joseph is pursued by Potiphar's wife, and suffers as a result of doing what was right.  We consider the plans God has for Joseph, even when it seems sin is going to derail those plans. And even though Joseph is faithful and does what is right, he still endures hardship and injustice - where is God? Why isn't he rewarded, or blessed?

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Hunger and thirst = desperate Righteousness - right relationships, that which is good and right, a desire to love God and others. Craving fairness and justice. Equity among all people. Those who desire, or crave, righteousness will get what they want/desire - their thirst will be quenched, their stomach's filled!  God is righteous. He'll do what's right. In the Kingdom, there is justice.   The English word “righteousness” refers to the quality of being righteous or in the right and is cognate to “just,” “justness,” and “justice.” In biblical usage, “righteousness” possesses ethical, forensic, salvific, and socioreligious connotations, depending on the context. Generally speaking, in relation to God, “righteousness” can refer to a divine attribute or to a divine activity, while in relation to human subjects, “righteousness” primarily denotes a legal and social status or a moral state.  

Blessed are the meek,for they will inherit the earth. When the Bible speaks of “meekness,” it refers to someone who lives a life of submission to God and his wisdom. Someone who can put aside self to follow God's direction rather than trusting solely in themselves and their own wisdom.  Numbers 12:3 says that Moses was the meekest man on earth. He is the only person that the Old Testament describes this way. We tend to think of meekness as mousy and quiet, lacking in opinions and backbone. Since Moses is described as meek, though, the Bible must have a different understanding. Our world is full of turmoil, and we add our own inner turmoil to it. But meekness brings quiet, a “composure of the soul” that stills our turmoil. It brings clarity and purpose because it is “a victory over ourselves.” That is why meekness brings true courage, that is, the will and ability to act selflessly in sacrificial ways. It is a practiced, emotional self-denial that frees us up for kingdom service. All Christians develop meekness to some extent, since it is part of sanctification. This is why Psalm 37:11 says, “The meek shall inherit the land.” Followers of Jesus will grow in meekness that is a “peace of conscience which Christ has left for a legacy to His disciples.” Moses is the Old Testament's meek man. But in the Gospels, we see Christ living out meekness perfectly, emptying Himself as He carried out His Father's will. Meekness turned the tables in the temple, had compassion on the crowds, called the Pharisees a brood of vipers, and prayed, “Not my will, but yours, be done.” It is meekness that characterises the Lion of the tribe of Judah who is the Lamb that was slain. It is meekness that carried out the plan for our salvation. Increasing meekness in us is merely a reflection of our King. Meekness = humility. Inherit the earth... Leviticus 20:24 Numbers 32:19 1 Kings 8:35-36 1 Chronicles 16:14-18 Psalm 25:13, 37:9, 11, 21-22, 29, 37:34

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Those who grieve the effects of sin in our world, lives and relationships - just as Jesus did at the tomb of his friend Lazarus - will find comfort in Jesus' Kingdom. Those who weep, and mourn are fit for God's Kingdom. 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. God's kingdom isn't what you'd expect, and in the same way, Jesus is showing that those who are blessed in God's sight aren't those who we'd expect. Blessed - The Greek word used here, makarios (meaning “happy” or “fortunate), often indicates someone who is favoured by God.  

The beatitudes are some of the most powerful. unbelievable, and controversial words in the Bible, if you actually consider what Jesus is saying!! And can actually threaten a lot of what we (as Christians) presume, and take for granted, to be true about God.  So next few Sundays, that's what we're going to be looking at….

In John 20, so many details reaffirm the amazing themes we explored in our Living with God series. We think about a few of them here...

We revisit the Good Friday episode from 2020. The point remains... 'more often than not, we don't have to be taught - just remember to remember how we got to this spot'. In a world with so many distractions, and a constant desire for something 'new and improved', we need to remember to remember. At Easter, we take time to remember Jesus' crucial words, and the point of his sacrifice.  

This is part 4… the final part in our mini series on Heaven called living with God. We want to finish by stating, or re-stating the overall big idea!   Which is this…  the Bible is telling us one complete story! It starts with the purpose why God created us in the beginning. And how all things are working, through history, in our present day, and even in the future to come, to a point when that purpose is fully restored!   It starts and ends with God preparing a home for His people. With a garden and a tree of eternal life! With God and his people united, in the same space! God wants to live with you!

In Jesus we see God comes and dwells among us.  His kingdom invades the earth, and Heaven and earth overlap once more. Jesus is able to unite us with a holy God and grant access to Him.    (And because I use the word a lot in this episode... Domain = an area of territory owned, or controlled, by a particular ruler or government)

Here's the Big Idea for Part 2: God comes and dwells in the presence of his people. There is a glimpse of God's space and human space overlapping again. But God's holiness, and our sin, mean that the two can't mix as they were designed to. Something needs to happen to resolve this tension. Or someone, in the form of one of the priests, needs to resolve the issue for sinful humans, so we can exist in the presence of God's holiness, and the two can overlap once more.

I'm sure when you hear the word Heaven, loads of ideas and images spring to mind. But rather than just dive straight into exploring those ideas and images, first we need to do some groundwork...

Encouragement that we should seek to grow in Lockdown, not just survive it. I encountered quite a few issues when delivering this on Zoom, so wanted to give a quick review of the lesson, around the theme of 'God is in Control'.

Asking the big question... not is God with us on OUR side, to do for us what we want him to do...  but are WE on GOD'S SIDE, trusting Him and following Him?

Amy reminds us: God rescues God takes us home We need to remember

We consider Rahab's big view of God, the kindness of God shown to her by the spies, and how it should shape the way we think...

For Pioneers Plus/Extra (no idea what we're called) we considered Psalm 1. This is a quick recap for those who missed it, and a reminder for those of us who were there. 

Real life Christian Testimonies... This week, we hear from Billy.

Remembering to remember...

Real life Christian Testimonies... This week, we hear from Becca.

Ste and Katie reflect on yesterday's passage to see how it applies to us...

This morning, we consider where we place our trust in times of trouble.  

Real life Christian Testimonies... This week, we hear from Joe.

A weekly devotional...

A weekly devotional...

The first proper episode, as we review the weekend away...