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Month: October 2018

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The Fire Series: The Ark of The Covenant Part 1

Hi everyone,

Today, I just thought I’d share a bit of a study I did. I broke it down into two parts. So here’s part 1:

There was a guy called Moses who God liked to speak to face to face. It was to Moses that God first revealed His special name; Yahweh. Moses would go up Mount Sinai and Yahweh would descend in a cloud and speak to him like a man would speak to a friend. It was on this mountain, in the presence, that Yahweh gave Moses the blueprints to the temple that would allow God to dwell among His people; Israel.

At the centre of this temple, in the innermost sanctum called the Holy of Holies , rested the ark of the covenant where God’s presence would dwell. The ark of the covenant was square box made of acacia wood, overlaid with gold inside and out. The arc would eventually contain three things:

  1. The stone tablets inscribed with the 10 commandments
  2. A golden pot containing manna
  3. And Aaron’s staff

The stone tablets represented the covenant that God made with Israel. Moses stayed 40 days and 40 nights on Mount Sinai as God gave him the commandments and he inscribed them on the tablets. When Moses came down from that mountain his face shone with the glory of God! Everyone knew that he had been in the very Presence of God.

The manna represented the miraculous way in which God provided for the Israelites as He led them out of Egypt. For 40 years in the desert they never went hungry. Every morning (except for the Sabbath) the manna came and those who collected little had just enough and those who collected much had none left over. It was through signs and wonders such as these that God showed the Israelites that He was with them and He would take care of them.

The staff of Aaron represented authentic leadership appointed by God. Aaron’s staff was the one that turned into a snake in Pharaoh’s court swallowed the snakes conjured by the Egyptian magicians. It was Aaron’s staff that God used to turn the water of Egypt into blood. And it was Aaron’s staff that summoned the plagues of the frogs and gnats. The staff was a symbol of God’s authority. The holder of the staff was authorized to represent God in the earth.

Each of these items represented very significant aspect of Israel’s relationship with God. His covenant, laws and statutes. His provision, signs and wonders. His rule, power and authority. Obedience, faith, submission. God put into the ark items that would remind Israel of what was required to walk with a Holy God.

But as I studied these items I began to see them from another perspective:

  1. The stone tablets in the ark were not the first ones. They were the second. Moses had broken the first pair of tablets when he had come down the mountain the first time and met Aaron and the Israelites worshipping a golden calf.
  2. The manna was in fact God’s response to the complaints and grumbling of the Israelites. “Oh, that we would have died by the hand of God in Egypt where we meat and bread to the full,” they said. They had just seen God part the Red Sea and kill all the Egyptians!!
  3. The staff was put in the ark after God had to crush a massive rebellion against Aaron. 250 leaders challenged Aaron which was really a challenge against God’s authority Himself and that pissed off God. He opened the earth and swallowed up the rebels led by the sons of Korah and when the people still grumbled against Aaron and Moses, He began to kill them off with a plague. The same leaders had to intercede (as they had many times before) for the lives of the people to be spared. God then called all the leaders to bring their staffs into the tent of the testimony and the next day only Aaron’s staff had sprouted buds and blossoms and ripe almonds thereby confirming Aaron as God’s chosen man. The bible says that God instructed Moses to put the staff in the ark as a sign to the rebels and to stop the grumbling against Him so that no one else would die.

So, you see, each item also represents the absolute inability of the Israelites to walk with God. They were disobedient, faithless and rebellious.

We know that the physical Old Testament temple was but a shadow of the New Testament spiritual reality fulfilled by Christ! We know that we are the temple of God! Therefore, in the ark of our hearts we must have the laws, the manna and the rod. We must have a heart to keep the covenant and obey the statutes of God, faith to believe that He will provide and take care of us and submission to His sovereign rule and his earthly appointed authorities.

We also know that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God…. But where we fall short brothers and sisters, the grace of God traverses the gap… because covering us as the mercy-seat of God covered the ark is the broken body and spilt blood of the spotless Lamb of God! The blood of Christ covers  every shortcoming and every lack allowing the Presence of God to dwell in us as He did between the cherubim of the ark!

Now that is cause for great joy!

Copyright 2018, Matik Nicholls. All rights reserved.

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Deeper Is Better Than Broader

 

When it comes to relationships, deeper is better than broader. A meaningful relationship with one person is better than one hundred Facebook friends. Why is that Matik? Well I’m glad you asked! It’s because the real value of a relationship is only experienced when people can be real, and people can only be real when enough trust has been established to allow the vulnerability that being one’s true self entails.

Somewhere I read that disclosure is the currency of intimacy and it has stuck with me because it’s absolutely true. Relationships deepen as we share a little about our true thoughts and true feelings and if we are not rejected or mocked or judged but rather accepted then we share a little more. Then the other person may feel safe to share as well and soon enough a real friendship is established. The ultimate example of this should be a married couple of course. If you cannot be absolutely yourself with your spouse and feel absolutely safe, then something is amiss.

But why do I say that these intimate relationships are better than all the other platonic ones that we have? For two reasons:

1.  In any relationship in which you are not authentic, where you are keeping it professional, or where you are only showing your best side, you are missing opportunities for growth. You are missing opportunities for suggestions and feedback that could make your life dramatically more enriched. For example, when I go on business trips I like to share the challenges that my organization is currently facing with my business contacts because this has always been an amazing generator of partnerships and opportunities for my company. You never know what solutions and mutually beneficial relationships are out there unless you share. This principle has also been true in my personal friendships. People carry around a wealth of wisdom that they have gained through their experiences that you may never benefit from unless you have a real conversation with them. On the most intimate level, everyone needs love and to be known and accepted. Sharing your innermost self is a risk but the rewards are huge. Your soul blossoms in love. Usually but not always we get this kind of unconditional love from our parents, but they need not be the only ones. They should not be the only ones.

2.   Of course, this works both ways. The people in your life also need you. The real you needs to show up because your family and friends need to see your awesomeness. You have something that no one else can give. You are a walking growth opportunity for those around you. This is not giving advice (nobody really takes advice from someone they do not feel connected with anyway). This is more than that; it’s sharing your soul. Your naked soul is beautiful and speaks without you saying a word.

Let me tell you a story. Last Sunday morning I woke up and I did not feel like going to church. I felt like I should just spend some time taking it slow. You know, a lazy family kinda morning. “But I can’t, I have a friend that I promised to take to church and I have to lead worship” I thought. I had good reasons and skipping church can’t be a good thing, right? Then my friend messaged to say that she was not going to church. Hmmm, one excuse down but I still had to lead worship. So, I went to pick up my two youngest children who had spent the night at my parents house. They were in the same mood and I knew I would be late if the tug-of-war to get them out the house ensued. They were about to sit with my parents at the breakfast table where a pile of hot pancakes was waiting. You get the scene. I still ignored my instincts and went to church without them. Guess what? There was some mix-up and we were locked out of the church building that we use.  Eventually, I went back by my parents, but I knew that I had missed it. I had missed a moment to laugh and talk and deepen relationship with my children and parents.

I love my brothers and sisters at my church, but relationships aren’t built in a church service. If we are not intentional about it, we can be the most regular church-service-goers; smiling, shaking hands and giving hugs and it can all be meaningless because it’s all superficial. Choosing one brother or sister to call regularly or hang out with can be that monumental step from going to church toward being the church.

Now don’t get me wrong this is risky, messy business. Our true selves aren’t pretty sometimes and building meaningful relationships takes work. There will be hurts, misunderstandings, rejections…these are the risks but the rewards far far outweigh them! This message is doubly applicable to men whom I have found to be the most superficial creatures. You can have a friendship with a guy for decades and talk about nothing more impactful to his core being than football. We really need to step up men.

Go deep my friends and you will be rewarded with authentic joy!

Copyright 2018, Matik Nicholls. All rights reserved.

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The Fire Series: All In

The Christian rapper, Flame, has a song called All In that I love to blast when I’m in my ‘gangsta Jesus’ mood. The concept of being ‘all-in’ is a term borrowed from the card game of poker. It means that a player has bet it all by putting all of his or her chips into the pot and has no plays left. The song always challenges me to put it all on the line for Jesus.

There are so many ways in which I still hold back from a full throttle, all or nothing, radical pursuit of Christ and yet I am decidedly dissatisfied with the state of my spiritual life. In this contradiction of what I’m willing to give versus what I want to get, the truth is laid bare; the only one holding me back is… me.

What am I willing to give to God? A few minutes of my time in the morning. A little percentage of my salary each month. Off and on obedience when it’s convenient to my agenda. A lukewarm commitment to loving people unconditionally. These little scraps of my life are not what God is yearning for. He wants me to be all-in. He wants me to entrust my life completely into His service and care in the ultimate union of God and man. This is what He wants for all of us.

He said, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind”. God wants everything. His fullness is reserved for those who will devote themselves to Him completely. There are no half-measures with God.

Perhaps, the thing that is hindering me most from more of God’s presence in my life right now; the thing that He most wants me to let go of in this season; is my dignity. My dignity is the chip that I still have tightly clutched in my fist. The dictionary defines dignity as the state or quality of being worthy of honour or respect. I don’t tell strangers about Jesus or pray for healing for them because I don’t want to look foolish. I want to maintain my dignity. That’s the truth.

But I  pray like the early church fathers did for greater faith and greater boldness! I pray that I would step out of my comfort zone and risk it all that the name of Christ may be lifted up!

Are you all-in? What’s holding you back from a ‘no holds barred’ pursuit of Christ? Let it go! Give it all! Let us stir each other up to do great exploits for God! I would love if you would share a testimony of how God turned up when you took a risk? It would really encourage me and others to step out in faith as well.

Joyfully,

Copyright 2018, Matik Nicholls. All rights reserved.

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The Self-Preservation Problem

 

Self-preservation is a natural instinct. While, in the majority of today’s societies protecting oneself from physical harm is not a daily concern, our natural instincts have adapted and remain relevant to the corporate arena where we fight to preserve our jobs and our income.

Unfortunately, we have become very short-sighted where this is concerned. Daily, I see people at all levels of the corporate world, from workers to managers to shareholders, make decisions that may reap short term gains, but in the long run are self-destructive. Let me illustrate:

Some workers find a variety of ways to do work in overtime that could be done during normal working hours. This may result in thousands of extra dollars in their pocket every month but what is the effect on the profitability of the company that provides their livelihood? When they and thousands of their co-workers are without jobs, what next?

Unions encourage these same employees to agitate for more pay and turn a blind eye to corruption and unproductive practices as they focus on collecting their dues. I wonder if they consider that workers that are unemployed can no longer pay union dues. The chickens always return home to roost.

Management is by no means innocent of this destructive virus of looking after #1 at the expense of others. How many managers and supervisors are unwilling to stand up to shareholders and take a stand for what is right or what is in the best interest of the company because they are afraid of losing their jobs? Everybody tows the line to look like a star for a day and hopefully move up the corporate ladder. ‘Our people are our most important assets’, ‘we value our people’ and similar slogans have become sad buzz words in some companies where workers are forced into working long hours with ever-increasing job descriptions and no training under threat of losing their jobs.

Then there are the shareholders who want all their dividends NOW. There is no reinvestment in the sustainability of the business for the next 10 or 20 years. Shareholders with this type of short-term mindset are the most destructive force in the business as this culture permeates down through the whole organization. Often this is accompanied by an autocratic leadership style where the directors see their role as performance (slave)drivers who keep the managers on their toes. Neither poor performance nor differing views are tolerated and there isn’t an ear for feedback from the ground. Directors are not partners with the executive to craft a sustainable business but rather task masters to ensure maximum (short-term) returns to the shareholders’ pockets.

Maybe I have painted an overly pessimistic picture but the stories I read in the newspapers seem to bear evidence that I’m not far off from reality. We have to begin to look beyond ourselves. A new business model needs to arise. All the stakeholders need to become partners in sustainable value creation. Shareholders, managers, employees, unions… forging a sustainable future together. Our survival depends on it.

Joyfully,

Copyright 2018, Matik Nicholls. All rights reserved.