Bible reading: Genesis 2vs22-25; 3vs20; 4vs19-24; 6vs1-8; 7vs21-23. My life (put) alongside God's word, volume 1. Just after the vote for succession was taken, in August 2011 President Omar al-Bashir urged Sudanese men to take more than one wife in order to increase Sudan’s population and aid the country’s development.[1] In some societies Sudanese men perceive, “More wives and more children for greater production and an increase in (cattle) wealth and prestige”, “showing the blessing of God and ancestors”.[2] To date I have been unable to find any specific statements on this issue of polygamy from the government of South Sudan. How can Christian leaders clearly teach what God wants and the Bible reveals openly, which is against these sincerely held cultural and economic world-views? People involved in polygamy before their Christian conversion must be ministered to with sensitive Christian love and care. “Only God can work out a solution”[3], as every case will be different. It will take prayer and patience, but there is no reason why baptism need be withheld if and when genuine repentance is obviously seen (Acts 10:47-48). If the marital state is thought best to be retained for the sake of the wives and children, this can be seen as “a temporary basis”. Recognised patterns for family Christian living are waited for, as “changes made generationally”[4]. This gradually transforms a culture, one family at a time, with the pastoral application of God’s truth. Leadership in the local or national church is a different matter and should not be permitted (1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:5-9). God’s ideal is clear, the church leader must be “the husband of but one wife”, 1 Timothy 3:2-7. The application of this must be done to cause as little hurt and disruption as possible, while clearly pointing the steps being taken towards God’s ideal, to be achieved over due time. Verses 4 and 7, “he must manage his own family well”, “he must have a good reputation with outsiders” both seriously apply as challenges for the polygamist trying to practise his new found Christian discipleship. The differences between the Old and New Testaments are testimony to how, “Over the years, God slowly changed His people in the direction of monogamy” [5] away from the sinful polygamy into which they had fallen. They had forgotten God’s Creation ideal. In the beginning God provided for Adam in His perfect world. There was only one Eve! Genesis 2:22-25, 3:20. Polygamy was, and is, not the will of God. The first to break this standard was Lamech, Genesis 4:19-24, which led inevitably to 6:1-2 “When men began to increase in number, … the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose”, (Italics mine). The loving heart of God was broken, Genesis 6:5-6. It mattered so much to Him, God destroyed almost everybody on earth, 6:7-8, 7:21-23. Although there are examples of polygamy in the Bible, they are definitely not put there as good examples for us to follow. The reason they are there is to show us how “to understand God’s actions in the midst of tragic human history”.[6][7] Think of the problems caused by Abraham’s two “wives” and their children, even today, (see Genesis chapters 15-17, and 21). What is commonplace in some traditional African societies is offensive to Almighty God. Our Lord Jesus referred “family” matters directly back to Genesis, Matthew 19:3-9.[8] Reading the works of several students of African societies I conclude that the reasons people give for keeping polygamy are ultimately for personal pride, or they show a lack of personal trust in God. Reasons of pride include symbols for power, influence, wealth, being given honour in society and keeping the family name alive. Reasons of a lack of trust in God include avoiding sexual immorality, having enough family workers for field and home – help in sickness etc., receiving a good bride price for daughters, and having enough children to keep yourself secure in old age. (Life expectancy in Sudan is currently 52yrs.)[9] Both personal pride and a lack of trust in God are sins against God! God’s wisdom calls out, “I hate pride and arrogance”, Proverbs 8:13. The same Bible book says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight”, Proverbs 3:5-6. Of course, people who become polygamous after converting to Christianity are simply rebelling against God. By doing so they invite His judgement on to themselves. That is never a sensible thing to do. Discussion questions: 1. Discuss any Bible accounts of polygamy. (See footnote 7 below) Are there any that say it is a good example for us to follow? 2. Why are compassion and sensitivity needed in bringing our churches into line with God’s will for marriage? See Colossians 3:12-17. 3. What happened between Creation, Genesis chapters 1-2, and the earliest of people, Genesis 4-15? Why did this make such a difference? 4. How did it affect marriage? What does Ephesians 5:22-33 say which takes the ideal marriage back to Creation? [1] Sudan pushes polygamy (BBC News on line) 15/08/11. [2] Peter Reat Gatkuoth Perception of polygamous marriage in Sudan (Sudan Tribune) 16/09/07. [3] Wilbur O’Donovan Biblical Christianity in African Perspective (Paternoster Press: Carlisle) 1992, p.171, 288-292. [4] David Hesselgrave Communicating Christ Cross Culturally (Zondervan: Grand Rapids) 1991, p. 121-2, 128-9. [5] Bedru Hussain Polygamy – an Ethical case study (rector of Meserete Kristos College: Addis Abiba) on line, 2002. [6] Lionel Windsor Polygamy in the Bible: a Sordid Tale (The Briefing: Matthiasmedia.com/briefing: Epsom UK) September/October 2012 [7] Bible polygamists include: Lamech Genesis 4:19, Abraham 16:3, Esau 26:34, 28:9, Jacob 29:20-30, 30:3-4, 9, Gideon Judges 8:30, Elkanah 1 Samuel 1:2, David 1 Samuel 18:17, 2 Samuel 3:2-5, Solomon 1 Kings 3:1, 11:3, Rehoboam 2 Chronicles 11:18-21, Abijah 13:21, Joash 24:3. [8] See also Matthew 5:31-32, Mark 10:2-12, Luke 16:16-18. [9] Fast Facts Sudan.net, 2010 estimate.

Christian theology in a Sudanese context. The essential nature and character of God. The Love of God God is love. This “love” is not self-centred, passionate or erotic love (Greek – eros), taking satisfaction only for itself. Neither is it brotherly love, tender affection being shared between equals (Greek – phileo), with each person unselfishly giving and receiving. God’s “love” (Greek –agape) is love that does not depend on the merits of the one being loved. It is the motive behind the willing choice to serve, putting others before one’s own self. God’s love is God’s heart exposed to the world.At great cost to Himself, He launched a mighty war on sin. God’s eternal and consistent love is always giving of itself. It is a “covenant of love” (Deuteronomy 7:7-13). The eternal loving relationship between God the Father and God the Son (Matthew 3:17; John 14:31) extends to include us in His family (John 15:9). God’s love is shown in His special relationship to humankind (1 John 4:7-12). In His love God saves us (John 3:16). In His love God provides for our needs (Psalm 107:8,15,21,31,43). In His love God keeps us (Romans 8:38-39). And in His love God disciplines us (Proverbs 3:11,12). It is a mistake to take the words “God is love” as the definitive statement – the only authoritative definition – of the character of God. The Bible also says clearly that “God is Spirit” John 4:24; “God is light” 1 John 1:5; and “God is a consuming fire” Hebrews 12:29. Holiness and love lend unity to all the attributes of God. It is worth meditating on this: R.T.Kendall, in his Westminster School of Theology, London, taught that “the glory of God is the sum total of His character and attributes.” Do not lose the glory of all of God by concentrating on only one aspect of God. Being in love with the Lord Jesus will help you reflect His likeness (1 John 4:19). We do not really appreciate God’s love until we have seen how unlovable we actually are. The love of God is displayed in full by the cross of Christ. “… To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father – to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen” (Revelation 1:5,6). Although in many places the Qur’an mentions that God loves certain kinds of people, such as those who do right, it also states that God does not love people who break the law, people who are wicked or ungrateful, those who reject faith, and those who do wrong, (Qur’an 2:190; 2:276; 3:31-32; 3:57). The Bible clearly teaches that God loves all people, even while they are not the kind of people He wants them to be (Romans 5:8; John 3:16-18). A God Who is love, cannot stop loving! We may hurt Him, and we may abuse His love; but He will always love us. Thinking it through. (a). We understand God’s love by His care of us and His provision for us. What does this tell us about ‘loving one another’? (b). Why do you think Jesus said: “He who has been forgiven little, loves little”? (Luke 7:47). (c). ‘God can never stop loving’. Why not?

Acts13vs1-3; 18vs1-4, 18. Church Growing Pains. Jesus sent His own disciples out "two by two", Luke 10vs1. The Great Commission of Matthew 28vs19, 20 was given to "the eleven disciples", vs16. There are some New Testament records of Christian work being done by individuals on their own, but most evangelism and church planting is done by teams. (Philip in Acts 8vs5 and vs26, and Paul in Acts 17vs16, 17 are two examples of individuals at work). In this chapter we will examine how God provided particular colleagues for the apostle Paul, and we will try to gain an insight into why He selected the people He did. We will then briefly look at some of the other New Testament church teams. There has only ever been one Paul. He lived and died between the years of Jesus Christ and AD67. In that brief life span he had taken Christianity into Europe and established many Christian churches. He left the priceless legacy of his writings which God has preserved for all time in the Bible - the results of his thinking through the Old Testament Scriptures and applying them to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the world in which he lived. He had kept his faith through persecution, imprisonment, punishment and, eventually, martyrdom by emperor Nero. But, although there was only one Paul, many have aspired to be like him. Paul preached Jesus Christ. "If any man is in Christ he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come." 2 Corinthians 5vs17. The aim of his ministry was to "proclaim (Jesus Christ), admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ." Colossians 1vs28. He did not draw people to himself just to follow himself! If they followed him he would lead them to Jesus Christ. The principle he gave to Timothy is a good one, 2 Timothy 2vs2 "the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others." I believe the principle of creation - that trees and flowers reproduce with seeds of their own kind, will also apply to the new creation: the church and God's kingdom. We should make it our aim to reproduce other people who will follow Jesus Christ as we do. There are forty of Paul's colleagues who are named in the New Testament and then there are some six groups of people whose names we do not know. It has been a fascinating study to see why God joined Paul to people like Barnabas - the encourager, to whom Paul owed so much, Acts 11vs25-26; to John Mark - the enthusiastic youth who quit when the going got tough but who later became a very profitable help to Paul, 2 Timothy 4vs11; to Silas - the ever ready secretary, Acts 15vs40; and to many others. As we study let us allow God to put the names of men and women on our hearts that we can team up with for a stronger ministry. 1. God provided Paul with colleagues for at least four reasons: firstly partnership in Christian service. God made sure that Paul was not on his own doing the work he was called to do. In Acts 13vs2 he called "Barnabas and Paul", vs4 "the two of them (were) sent on their way by the Holy Spirit." vs5 "John (Mark) was with them as their helper." Paul was a preacher and a reasoner, not afraid to break new ground. Barnabas a preacher and teacher, one noted most for his encouraging of others, he would urge people forward, he would counsel, he would advise. John Mark was literally their under rower! He would pull hard on the oars while they shouted directions. He could not see where they were going, but he put all his might into making sure they got there, trusting implicitly in his commander's instruction! That is partnership in the Gospel. At the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, Paul gave testimony of what God was doing. Paul remember was a learned man, with a university education. He was a brilliant scholar, and a Roman citizen who spoke several languages. Peter also gives testimony. Peter a rough, tough Galilean fisherman. Always willing to fight; never one for fine words. Paul and Peter, another partnership in the Gospel. Paul praised God for the partnership in the Gospel that he had enjoyed with so many people. The Corinthians, Galatians, the Jerusalem church, the believers at Philippi. To them he wrote: "In all my prayers for all of you I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now." Philippians 1vs4, 5. To a congregation with whom he disagreed on so many issues he wrote "You are the body of Christ, and each of you is a part of it." 1 Corinthians 12vs27. "There are different kinds of (gifts, service) workings, but the same God works all of them in all men." 12vs6. Verse 18 "God has arranged the parts of the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be." This is partnership in the Gospel. We must realise that God has placed us in a common fellowship with others, so we can contribute to their needs and they can contribute to ours. We will share profits and losses, ups and downs, with our Christian partners! No Christian is valueless to God - He sent Jesus to die on the cross for our collective salvation. And no Christian is valueless to the Church - the Holy Spirit will lead and guide us into a life of purpose and profit in partnership with other Christians. 2. God provided colleagues for Paul as a provision for each others needs. In so many practical ways God used other Christian men and women to bless Paul - and, I am sure, used him to bless them. Barnabas gave him the introductions to the apostles in Jerusalem, Acts 9vs26-30. He also gave Paul an outlet for his teaching gift, to train him in ministry, Acts 11vs25, 26. Silas gave Paul secretarial help, writing the follow up material for churches that we know as 1 and 2 Thessalonians. When imprisoned with Paul, they encouraged each other by singing together, Acts 16vs25. Silas was able to stay in Berea and continue evangelistic work even though Paul was driven out of the city, 17vs14. Luke gave his medical talents to Paul, perhaps using his medicine to stay with Paul when no-one else could have permission, Philemon vs24, 2 Timothy 4vs11. Lydia opened her home in Philippi for Paul to use as his own, Acts 16vs15. She also had a church meeting in her home, vs40. Jason in Thessalonica opened his home for Paul, suffered greatly as a consequence, including a beating and having to post bail, 17vs6, 9. Aquila and Priscilla shared their tent-making work with Paul in Corinth, 18vs3. They gave him long term hospitality, 18vs18. They travelled with Paul. They had a church meeting in their new home in Ephesus, 1 Corinthians 16vs19 and also in their home in Rome, Romans 16vs3-5. In Ephesus they probably kept a helpful eye on Timothy - Paul's trainee minister. They certainly used time and energy helping Apollos in his teaching ministry, 18vs26. Paul says "They risked their lives for me, not only I, but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them." Romans 16vs4. It sometimes costs to meet the needs of others. God doesn't always call us to do easy things. Many help others in a way that does not hurt themselves but a real helper may pay dearly for the joy of being useful. Tychicus was another encourager and a servant. He ran messages for Paul, acting as Paul's personal representative, 2 Timothy 4vs12, Ephesians 6vs21, 22. Tertius was an 'amanuensis' who wrote the letter to Romans at Paul's dictation, Romans 16vs22. He was a literary assistant. Rufus' mother in Rome had been like a mother to Paul too, Romans 16vs13. God chooses to meet our needs through one another. He gives us each other's shoulders to cry on. He gives us courage to rebuke each other. He puts us in the right places at the right times with the right equipment to meet the needs of fellow Christians. Even in prison, Paul was enriched to praise God through the visit of Epaphroditus bearing love-gifts from Philippian Christians, 4vs18. We must be available for God to use us. We must steward what God has given us. Then others can praise God for what He is doing through us 3. God provided colleagues for Paul to help preserve spiritual fruit. Paul's God-given task was "to carry (the name of Jesus) before the Gentiles, their kings, and the people of Israel" 9vs15. Paul was always looking for a harvest. For an effective harvest several things must happen: think of a potato field; the ground must be prepared, the seed planted, the weeds kept down, the ground earthed up, the diseases controlled, the crop must be gathered not too early or too late, and then good storage must keep it in prime condition for the market. Paul was the first to acknowledge that "I planted the seed (of the Gospel in Corinth), Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow." 1 Corinthians 3vs6, 7. God did the work. It was God's church. What happened in and amongst people was "a demonstration of the (Holy) Spirit's power", 1 Corinthians 2vs4. But God uses people, and Paul recognised this. In the church at Antioch, Acts 13, "there were prophets and teachers: Simeon called Niger", possibly the African who had carried Jesus' cross, Matthew 27vs32; "Lucius of Cyrene", one of the first missionaries to come to Antioch, scattered from Jerusalem by the persecution, Acts 11vs19, 20; "Manaen" whose name means 'Comforter', foster brother to Herod the tetrarch. Paul and Barnabas worked with them, and were sent out from them. Returning from their first missionary journey "they stayed a long time with the disciples" 14vs28. No record of them preaching and teaching, because they were worn out! They needed ministering to! After their trip to Jerusalem they returned again to base in Antioch, 15vs35 "where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord." Antioch has a shared ministry. They listened and learned as well as taught and trained. Were there those who said "I wish Barnabas led this"? They had to wait! All in good time. I have often heard Christian pastors and lay leaders say, "I can't do everything". No-one is supposed to do everything! Do only what God calls you to do and encourage others into the gaps. In Acts 14vs23 "Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them (the disciples) in every place (Lystra, Iconium and the other Antioch) and with prayer and fasting committed them to the Lord in whom they had put their trust." The Greek text seems to say that both the new elders and Paul and Barnabas were taking steps of faith. The appointments were made actively trusting in God. For Paul and Barnabas this was to preserve the spiritual fruit of their evangelistic enterprises. The new elders were trusting God to use even their inexperience in his service. In Acts 20vs32 Paul is speaking to the Ephesian church elders. He is on his way to Jerusalem and then Rome, never expecting to see them again. They were very close to his heart. Vs29, 30 "I know that after I leave savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them." Paul wanted to preserve God's work in these dear people if he possibly could, but he knew he would not be there himself. What did he do? Two things - both of which are important. Firstly he recognised leadership in others. Secondly he recognised God's work was ultimately God's responsibility, vs32 "Now I commit you to GOD and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified." He taught the elders and he trusted God to build them up. Preserving God's work without taking too much responsibility on himself. He wrote to them, he prayed for them, Ephesians 1vs16, and he trusted God to build His church. Paul could not be in Crete himself, so what did he do? Titus 1vs5, "the reason I left you in Crete (Titus) was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you." Now Paul wrote to spur him on in that work, but the responsibility belonged to Titus under God. It is essential in any local church or Christian mission, that the burden does not rest upon any one person's shoulders. In the church different people will do different jobs. Somebody has likened the five giftings in Ephesians 4 to the fingers on a hand. (i) The apostles are like a thumb, important in everything the hand does to keep a grip on things. (ii) The prophets are like the index finger pointing the way. (iii) The evangelists are the leading finger always out ahead of the rest. (iv) The pastors are the ring finger of church ceremony. (v) The teachers: Well, they may be only small, like the little finger, but they are useful for digging in the ear and things like that!! Having mentioned all of them Paul says, "From Jesus Christ ... the whole body ... grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Ephesians 4vs16. The way Jesus works to build up the body of Christ is for each person to do what he or she is told by God to do!! In Paul's life and ministry there was real partnership in Christian service; there was the right provision for each other's needs, and there was due regard for the preservation of spiritual fruit. 4. God provided colleagues for Paul to give pastoral care to the church of Jesus Christ. In Philippians 2vs19-22, Paul gives a stirring testimony about Timothy, probably his favourite helper. Their work made them very close indeed. "I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no-one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare for everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel." He was a fellow worker with Paul, 1 Thessalonians 3vs2, 3, a faithful messenger for Paul, 1 Thessalonians 3vs6; he was leader of the church at Ephesus, though a young man, and Paul developed his pastoral heart Remember that not everyone Paul worked with was a success. Perhaps some of us are more like these characters than like Timothy? Demas was a fellow worker with Paul, Philemon vs24, in prison with him in Rome (voluntarily) Colossians 4vs14, but in 2 Timothy 4vs10 Paul says: "Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica." The love of the world stops many from being workers for the Lord Christ. Some opposed Paul's work, like Alexander an industrialist - a man with a lot of clout because he had money, 2 Timothy 4vs14, 15. It is easy to let money rule the mission or church. Always remember that God can provide through poor people as well as through rich people. Two years into a step of faith for our work some supporters of mine were led into a church that did not believe in financially helping other missions. What would happen to us? A major source of supply was gone. We can give testimony to God providing in a variety of other ways. Without us saying anything He moved others to help us. Another example of teamwork! Still others opted out of Paul's work like Trophemus left sick at Miletus, 2 Timothy 4vs20. He was not physically able to carry on. But through it all Paul pressed on. God was working in him. God was working through him. Why should he stop? God's team helped him continue his ministry. Of course there are other examples of team ministry outside of Paul's service. Peter and John were the first after the combined Apostolic group activity on the Day of Pentecost. Right through Acts 3 and 4 they are together in prayer, in miraculous healing, in preaching, in trouble with the authorities, in prison and in prayer again (with the whole church) to keep boldly witnessing. In Acts 6 it was a group of deacons who were given the administrative role of the daily distribution of food among the needy. "Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them", Acts 6vs3. Where the handling of money is concerned not only must the right things be done, they must also be seen to be done. God has provided us in Ambassadors For Christ Britain with two retired local government officials (one the ex-treasurer) and a retired tax man to help look after our AFC accounts. These men are God's provision for us. Along with my wife Brenda, they look after the receipts and expenditure, the covenant and gift aid claims, the Charity Commission reports, the income tax declarations and any questions from churches and the general public. They are accountable, like me, to our Board of Trustees. They see all this voluntary work as part of their Christian service, using their skills and experience to help God's work. I simply receive the support they receive for me every month and I sit with them for occasional policy decisions and reviews. Teamwork. Another example of partnership in the Gospel. Barnabas and Saul were entrusted to take monies collected in Antioch towards famine relief in Judea. Later Paul was to stress his accountability. "We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men", 2 Corinthians 8vs20, 21. Another team, with a different purpose, were the "Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus", Acts 11vs20. They fled a common persecution but as they went together they spoke to all sorts of people and witnessed to Jesus Christ. There is a value in serving together. Many is the time in door to door visitation or in open air witness that I would have given up and gone home if it was not for the team of people I was with. We kept each other at the task. Some days I probably would not have even got to the place of mission if the others on the team were not expecting to see me there. My appointment with the team helped me overcome doubts about the weather, the wisdom, the ways and one hundred and one other darts the enemy would fire into my mind. In Acts 15vs36-41 we have a difference of opinion between team members Paul and Barnabas. It results in a division that God uses to multiply the number of mission teams by 100%. We will see a little more about this in our next chapter. Aquila and Priscilla were a husband and wife team who did a great deal for the Gentile churches according to Paul in Romans 16vs3, 4. It is interesting to notice that in the references made to them four times Priscilla is mentioned first and twice Aquila. They are always mentioned together. There was no competition between them. What they both did they both saw as "our ministry". They were refugees themselves and yet used their situation to serve God. They made time to meet Paul and shared their jobs and their home with him, Acts 18vs1-3. They released Paul for preaching and teaching when it was right for him to do it, Acts 18vs5. They used their home for a person to person Bible School when Apollos needed more adequate teaching in the things of God, Acts 18vs26. They also used their home for church gatherings while in Rome, see Romans 16vs5, 1 Corinthians 16vs19. We should notice that God does not want our business to stop us being involved in His work, He rather wants us to use it as a service vehicle for His work. God is wanting to use every Christian individual, and every Christian couple. The kind of person you are, the possessions you have, the people you come across are no accident. We should always follow God's promptings into a life of useful service. We have not mentioned by name Erastus who in Acts 19vs22 was one who helped Timothy in Macedonia preparing the way for Paul's visits. There is also Gaius, Acts 19vs29; Aristarchus who ended up a fellow prisoner with Paul, Colossians 4vs10; Tychicus, Trophemus and Sopater and the rest of the party in Acts 20vs4-6. The last chapter of Romans and various references in Corinthians, Ephesians, Colossians, Timothy and Titus list more helpers' names. We may never know how much every one of these actually meant to Paul. But let us make sure we are helpful, encouraging, supporters of others in God's work and that we could really be called together, "fellow workers", Romans 16vs3, 2 Corinthians 6vs1, 1 Corinthians 3vs9, Philemon vs1. Discussion questions How is it practically possible to be helpful and encouraging to one another? Are there people within your fellowship who are not in the mainstream of everything that happens? How can they best be encouraged?

the message of the prophet Jonah. God Rules, O.K.? Please read the following verses from the book of Jonah. They show us the activity of God in these events: Jonah 1:1,2,4,9,14, 2:1,6,10,3:1,3,4,7,8,9, 4:1,6,11. See Jonah 3:1-2 also. Jonah is the only narrative (story action) of these minor prophets. It has caused controversy because of the main characters – the prophet, the fish and the crew. There is every reason to believe the guilty prophet Jonah was a real person – he is mentioned as such by 2 Kings 14:25 a prophet in the reign of King Jeroboam II; and he is spoken of by Jesus as a sign to the Jewish religious leaders, Matthew 12:39-45 and Luke 11: 24-32 (especially vs 30). The great fish, 1:17, could be a known creature, or one made by our creator God for this purpose. The gallant crew 1:13, who tried to save Jonah from the sea, may have prepared Nineveh for Jonah’s message by spreading the story of his drowning. But the ‘star’ of the story is none of these. It is the Lord God Himself. We’ll read the 25 verses which speak directly of God: they highlight the activity of the Lord in the life of people. Ten examples if we can! 1. God loves people in spite of their wickedness, 1:1, 2. The population of Nineveh may have been careless of their own sins, but their sins were known to God. The people couldn’t care less – God couldn’t care more. He warned them of judgement coming. He didn’t have to, but He did. Illustration: When writing a document, drawing a picture, making a dress, repairing something in the home – how often have you said ‘I can’t be bothered with this – let’s throw it out and start again’? Thank God He has never done that with humanity! 2. God plans to use His spokesman, His prophet, to bring repentance. “(So) the word of the Lord came to Jonah.” “Go and preach against Nineveh.” God is so great. The super-abundant wickedness of humankind leads to the Word of God being given and the love of God being expressed. Jonah is told by God to call the people to reject the status quo. “There is time for you to change course. The course you’ve chosen now is headed for judgement.” But Jonah disobeys! We’re told later on, why he does so, 4:1, 2. Jonah did not have God’s love for the people of Nineveh – another nationality and different ethnic group. He, a Jew, hated the Assyrian Ninevites. He wanted God to rain down fire and brimstone from heaven – they’d suffer in getting what they deserved! There is no place for racism, tribalism undue national pride among God’s people. They can take you away from God’s will. 3. God follows His disobedient prophet. 1:4. Just as God loved the wicked Ninevites and tried to win them over, so He loved His rebellious spokesman (prophet). Jonah substitutes his own will for God’s will, but God doesn’t raise up a substitute for Jonah – an alternative preacher. He could have done. The fish could have preached! He keeps close to Jonah, hedging him around, speaking to him and giving him many chances to obey. Application: What about you? Are you ‘away from the Lord”? 1:3. Away in heart, if not in distance? You know there is something you should do, you know God’s will for you, but you are avoiding it? Running away did not change anything for Jonah – except his location! Jonah found a convenient port, and a convenient sailing – “whenever we decide to do wrong, the devil helps us.” We think we’re able to disobey God with impunity (without consequence). He said he was “a Hebrew worshiper of the Lord God of heaven, who made sea and land”, 1:9 but his life denied it! What about you? Illustration: Suppose you were to run 100m against the Jamaican world champion: 10,000m against three Kenyans – who would win? You’ve even less chance of running (getting) away from God! 4. God makes Jonah face the consequences of his choice The storm hurled by God into the sea about Jonah’s ship terrified even seasoned sailors. It intensified. Jonah realised his personal guilt seriously affected others. Vs12 “It is my fault … this great storm has come upon you.” Even nature is affected by mankind’s sin! I don’t think Jonah is being selfless when he volunteers to be thrown overboard. Some feel he did this to save the crew. I believe he still hates Ninevites and wants them to be judged. He has worked out that “death will stop him having to preach there” – so he opts for death rather than obedience! Do you invent schemes against God? 5. God used great disobedience, to win some 1:14-16. The seamen discovered by experience how awesome the true God is and how worthless all their other gods were. “Direct divine intervention is one of the great characteristics of Jonah.” God provided His “Word” 1:1; “a great wind” 1:4; 1:17 now “a great calm” for the crew and “a great fish” for Jonah! The activity of God in peoples’ lives: 1. He loves in spite of wickedness. 2. He plans to use His people to bring others to repentance. 3. He follows even His disobedient spokesman. 4. He makes Jonah face the consequences of his wrong choice. 5. He used great disobedience to win some people to faith. 6. God teaches Jonah his sovereignty chapter 2. Jonah’s conversation with God from the fish’s belly must be written from personal testimony. Vs3 he says to the Lord “You hurled me into the deep … to the very heart of the seas.” We know the ship’s crew actually picked him up and threw him. We know it was Jonah’s own disobedience which caused it to be necessary. But behind and through it all Sovereign God was working. His sovereign greatness encloses all mankind’s free choices. Jonah realises this. Now Jonah’s mind is correctly centred on God he affirms “You hurled me into the sea.” Application: Do you believe God works in everything in your life right now? The setbacks, the delays, the frustrations etc. God is in them all. 7. God teaches Jonah His mercy chapter 3. Vs1 “a second time” “the Lord’s word came.” God gave (vs2) the message Nineveh needed to hear and called His man to do it. Even the warning of judgement Jonah had to preach was evidence of God’s mercy to the Ninevites. God wasn’t about to abandon them, just as He hadn’t abandoned Jonah. 3:5 city-wide revival! Not a Jew in sight except for Jonah, but the population, as one person, show evidence of repentance and recognition of God’s voice. 8. God shows Jonah his own wrong attitudes chapter 4. Vs 1 his ‘success’ upset him! Perhaps he thought it made himself look foolish – he’s preached judgement and now it wasn’t going to happen? Perhaps his racism was mad that the Ninevites had escaped! Jonah’s view of God, eloquently put in 4:2 is only in word, theoretical, head knowledge, not deed. He believed in a “gracious, loving, self-controlled and persevering God” but he couldn’t accept the consequences of that – forgiveness for the repentant Ninevites. Application: In your life do you have to always be right? What if you’re made to look wrong? Suppose the people you don’t like are really blessed by God! For example if there was national revival from God among northern Moslems. I am afraid some who work among Southerners are not even concerned for the salvation of Northerners. Suppose God worked revival among a different tribe, another church denomination, or another Mission’s work? 9. God engages Jonah in a battle of wills 4:4ff. Jonah makes a shelter and settles to watch Nineveh fall away from God’s grace, revert to old ways, and receive God’s retribution. God deepens the shade and grants cooler temperatures with a quick-growing vine. But then “God provides (a hungry) worm” who destroys the vine exposing the weakness of Jonah’s shelter in the hot wind and scorching sun. Illustration: vs9, God questions Jonah’s anger at the loss of the vine and shelter. “You’re being selfish”, God says. “You only want what you want.” “You do not really want what I want.” Illustration: Supposing here in Sudan, God wants for 25 years, an Islamic theocracy, with no permitted Christian church worship – the expulsion Southward of all Christians; the expulsion internationally of all international Christians; the closure of Theological education; making it illegal to possess and read a Bible. How would you respond? Something very close to that happened in China 1949 and the result 50 years on was a strong Chinese underground church – far more vibrant than any of the institutionalised churches have ever been. Supposing God wants that here? Would you sulk like Jonah because your dreams and visions have tumbled down? 10. God reserves the right to know best. 4:11. God knew his love for 120,000 unbelieving Ninevites and He was going to warn them – and save those who repented. They all did. Jonah didn’t like it. But he wasn’t God!! Only God could be God. The activity of God in people’s lives: 6. He teaches Jonah His sovereignty. 7. He teaches Jonah His mercy. 8. He shows/uncovers Jonah’s wrong attitudes. 9. He engages Jonah in a battle of wills. 10. He reserves the right to be right – always! When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, (There is No other way). Where are you on your walk with God? Running away or right in step with your God? God Rules, O.K.? Khartoum International Church August 25th 2002.

Thoughts from my journey with JESUS. Genocide is “the murder of large numbers of people belonging to a particular race”.[1] ”A group of people who are similar because they have the same skin colour or other physical features, or because they speak the same language or have the same history or customs”.[2] Sadly there are current reports of targeted killings in both the Republics of Sudan and South Sudan. For example: “ETHNIC CONFLICT & WAR. Within South Sudan, inter-communal violence continues to be widespread due to a range of issues including highly-ethnicised politics, the ready availability of weapons, the proliferation of armed groups, corruption, and competition for limited economic opportunities. ON THE BRINK OF GENOCIDE. Since the renewed violence in July 2016, there has been an alarming increase in hate speech and inciteful rhetoric, which seems to pit the majority Dinka ethnic group against non-Dinka tribes. When combined with the proliferation of ethnic militia and increased ease of troop movements during the dry season, international policymakers fear there could be more deadly clashes in the coming months. In November 2016, the UN Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, warned of the risk of “all out ethnic war” with the potential to escalate into genocide”.[3] So, How should Christians react to genocide? 1. Christianly control your own reactions I suggest we must first realise we cannot control genocide – but we can (and must) positively control our reactions to it, making sure we are Christian in all we think and everything we do. Following recent terror attacks in my country, England, lots of people have demonstrated on the streets carrying banners reading: “Not in my name”. Muslims have joined in with everybody else. They want to distance themselves from the terror that has happened. They are saying: “Others may have done these awful things in the name of my religion, but they are not representing me”. Peaceful demonstration by large groups of people together is one way of telling the perpetrators of genocide, Government or any other groups, that they do not represent all the people they imagine they do. Think on: “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus”, Acts 4:13. “But Peter and John replied, ‘Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to Him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard’”, Acts 4:19-20. Ask God to help you be brave and beautiful in taking your stand. Prepare properly. Take time. You only start once, so start well. 2. Examine your own hearts. What we think governs how we behave. As Christians we try to show our love for God by the way we live. This must include actively loving everybody God has created in His own image. This is easy with ‘good’ people, but can be very, very hard with those seen as ‘bad’. When you stand alone before God and He asks you, “Did you ever seriously pray for your persecutors?” what will your honest answer be? Avoiding someone is not the same as loving them, is it? Your meeting ‘other’ people one on one, sharing together about painful issues both listening (learning) and talking, may be the start of a massive people movement promoting unity in diversity in your state and country. We ‘little people’ may be able, one step at a time, to achieve what those ‘big people’ are not able to. Especially so if God is pleased with what we are doing. Think on: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts – murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them”, Matthew 15:19-20. “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments”, Matthew 22:37-40. “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them”, Genesis 1:26-27. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy’. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous”, Matthew 5:43-45. 3. Looking at our Lord Jesus’ example and teaching. Many have felt Jesus taught strong pacifism when here on earth. He certainly did not defend Himself when it was God’s time for the crucifixion. God the Son took the false accusations, the rejection, the brutality and the personal execution. He trusted God the Father was working through it all the salvation of everyone who would repent of personal sin and commit to Jesus as the only sufficient Saviour from its penalty. Even the leaders of genocide are eligible for salvation on Jesus’ terms! Yes they are!! Think on: “But to you who are listening I say: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who ill-treat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you”, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven”, Luke 6:27-31 and 37. “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance:Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst. But for this very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His immense patience as an example for those who would believe in Him and receive eternal life”, 1 Timothy 1:15-16. I don’t recall anyone ever saying that living as a Christian would be easy. The genuine Christians must stand out from other half-hearted church-goers. 4. At the end of every conflict there is a time for: dialogue the careful, prayerful understanding of opposing points of view a time for Holy Spirit-led forgiveness, leading to reconciliation, while still respecting and caring for the raw grief of those who have paid a high price a consensually developed and agreed, political and economic programme which will: carefully spread responsibilities for resources and work plus fairly share the rewards from it over a scheduled time. Think on: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation: the old has gone, the new is here”, 2 Corinthians 5:17-20.[4] “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive you your sins”, Matthew 6:12-15. “ ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My word that goes out from My mouth:it will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thorn-bush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure for ever’”, Isaiah 55:8-13. Jesus said, “Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God”, 2 Corinthians 9:10-11. Again Jesus said, “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the market-place doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right”. So they went”. “He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ ‘Because no one has hired us’, they answered. He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard’”. “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first’”. “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour’, they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day’”. “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’” “So the last will be first, and the first will be last”, Matthew 20:1-16. The significance of Lord Jesus’ cross must be evident in our salvation and in our service. The cross is both a provision made by Him for us, and a price asked by Him from us. Will you join me regularly in this prayer? “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world”, Galatians 6:14. Originally written as BiMonthly Encouragement, 1st July 2017. Discussion guide 1. What is the significance and importance of ‘controlling our own reactions’ to horrifying events? See Acts 4:13. 2. Is it possible to genuinely love God wholeheartedly while not loving every neighbour? Why? Why not? Consider all the Bible passages in point 2 above. 3. How may real Christian love show itself within and around today’s conflicts? Think about Jesus’ “dos and do nots” in Luke 6:27-31 and 37. 4. Make suggestions for what God’s “higher thoughts” may be, particularly about our actions in and reactions to genocide, Isaiah 55:8. 5. How does Calvary’s cross shed light on this issue? [1] Macmillan School Dictionary (Oxford OX4 3PP) 2004 [2] Ibid. [3] US Holocaust Memorial Museum website [4] Alternative translation used here, footnoted in the NIV Anglicised 2011.

Issues facing Christians in the Sudan today. Integrity section. Whenever we look for principles by which we can decide how we should live in our modern world, we do well to look first at the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christians are disciples of Jesus Christ. God’s grace has helped us choose to live His way in our lives. Sometimes Jesus’ way is surprisingly different from what we may expect! We can easily miss it. It can be a big challenge for us to follow. During His trial and crucifixion Jesus said at least two important things about His own relationship to the land in which He lived. Jesus answered Pilate, the Roman governor: “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is from another place”, John 18:36. When Pilate told Jesus, “Don’t You realise I have power either to free You or to crucify You?”, Jesus answered: “You would have no power over Me if it were not given to you from above”, John 19:10-11. Jesus—God the Son—lived as a Jewish citizen in the nation of Israel. The country of Israel was itself occupied, controlled by the pagan Roman Empire. King Herod felt his position threatened and tried to kill the baby Jesus, Matthew 2:16. The longer Jesus lived the more He was accused of having the wish to rule over the Jews as their new earthly king, John 19:19-22. Yet in spite of this misunderstanding, and His mistreatment, Jesus kept respecting human government. Jesus’ kingship was helping people choose right from wrong. Unlike other kings Jesus rules over people, not places. Pilate had to make a judgement on Jesus because God had put Him into that position at that time. He stood accountable to God for His decision—as we all do for our choices. Jesus remained respectful of the authorities. When asked if it was right to pay tax to the Roman occupiers and their Emperor (whom some even worshipped as a god), Jesus said: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s”, Luke 20:25. Jesus believed Christians had responsibilities to both God and to the state. Coins and banknotes have human pictures on them. They should be used for paying due taxes. Every person is made in God’s image, Genesis 1:26-27. Every action of ours must help to bring all people to know God. Jesus’ words as He stood before Pilate, John 18:36 and John 19:10-11, teach us five important truths about human governments and authorities: Government power is given to people as God chooses. Limits to government power are also set by God, just as He wills. God keeps ultimate sovereign power. Confidence in the overall sovereignty of God enables the Christian to trustingly submit to all human forms of government—even to hostile ones. He or she knows that God is in ultimate control. Only a misunderstanding of the nature of Jesus’ kingdom leads Christians to fight government. Peter showed this same misunderstanding by pulling out his sword when the Jews came to arrest Jesus in Gethsemane, John 18:10-11. Rulers are accountable to God for their use of power. Christians show they are Christians by having Jesus’ own attitude to life: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him …”, Philippians 2:4-9. Behind what appeared to be a setback, Sovereign God was outworking His purpose. The New Testament clearly shows how the first Christians, like their Lord Jesus, respected government authorities even while they were being persecuted by them! We’ll examine six Bible passages. 1. In Romans 13:1-7 the “governing authorities”, Greek exousia, are the state and its official representatives. God chose to set up these authorities for His creation purposes (see “established”, and “instituted” in verses 1 and 2). Three purposes for the state are clear in Romans 13: 1. To benefit the people, verse 4; see Romans 12:9 2. To enforce laws, verse 4; see Romans 12:19 3. To please God, as the Master whom they serve - knowingly or not. They are God’s servants, and are therefore accountable to Him, verses 6-7. God’s ideal is that the state uses its God-given right to serve, by ruling for the good of all, and not for evil, verses 4,6. “Everyone”, verse 1, (“loved by God and called to be saints”, see Romans 1:7, therefore this means, “Every Christian), is to “submit to” and not to “rebel against” these authorities, Romans 13 verses 1-2. To “submit”, Greek hupotasso, means to put yourself under the control of the God-given authority. To acknowledge it has rights given to it by God. Not to “rebel against”, Greek anthistemi and antitasso, means not to resist, not to oppose, not to organise yourself against the state. Only legal opposition is allowed. Both the positive and the negative aspects of being governed are used here to leave no doubt as to the meaning. “Honour”, Greek time, means the giving of proper respect and value to people and to their God-given authority, Romans 13 verse 7. Civil disobedience becomes a Christian duty only when obedience to the state requires clear disobedience to God. For example, see how the apostles defied a court order restricting their preaching of Jesus Christ. Compare: 1. what God wanted, Acts 5:19, 20 2. what the authorities wanted, Acts 5: 28 and 4:18 3. what the church did, Acts 5:29 and 4:19-20 . Christians must be careful. Of course there are many things they would like to do as Christians, for example: using Sunday to meet for worship publicly advertising Christian outreach events building a church meeting room in a specific location But if God has not specifically commanded these things in Scripture, then not to do them does not disobey God. In these cases civil disobedience would be wrong. Legitimate legal protest, with persuasive debate is the best way forward, while humbly submitting to the authorities. They have every right from God to punish disobedience. 2 . 1 Timothy 2:1-4 and 3. Titus 3:1-8 show how Christians can give honour and respect: An important priority in public worship, and in daily life, is to: 1. keep aware of the government’s position before God 2. pray for them regularly as they govern, including praying for their salvation 3. obey them peacefully and thoughtfully 4. do good, positive and helpful things 5. keep a humble, and positively Christian, attitude. God’s plan includes salvation for everyone if possible, 1 Timothy 2. Note the “all” in verses 2, 4 and 6. Even the “outsiders” (Gentiles) are to be reached, verse 7. In a similar way Jeremiah urged Israel to pray for their Babylonian conquerors, and he warned them against their own self-centred false prophets, Jeremiah 29:7-9. 4. 1 Peter 4:7–19 encourage praise to God especially when Christians suffer for simply being Christians! “However, if you suffer as a Christian do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name”, verse 16. The passage warns that it is always wrong to do wrong, whether you suffer for it or not. However, it is sometimes right to suffer, even for doing what is right! Christians do not live only for this life. Our real home is in heaven, and that is totally secure, 1 Peter 4:7, 13 and 19. Keeping heaven in mind helps Christians view things correctly here on earth! Christians know that God will always have the last word. 5. 1 Peter 2:13-17 is introduced by the earlier verses 11-12. This is an encouragement for Christians to live using totally different values from the non-Christians around us. As Christians we must not let our own sinful desires drag us into worldly ways of responding to opposition. All Sudanese are very familiar with the hurt and destruction caused by wars. Verse 11 warns that many other things which happen in life can seriously damage the Christian soul—just like war damages people and property. We must win this war for our souls! We must show that Christians are different people. Christians are to be holy in responding to everything that life throws at us. People should see we follow our Lord Jesus Christ. People should see God is on our side without us telling them! We must live by God’s methods—even when they are not what the world would expect from us. The word “every” authority, verse 13, makes this include: parents and children teachers and students church officers and members business leaders and the workforce as well as government and people. God the Creator has put all of these authority lines in society for the good of all humanity. According to 1 Peter 2 “doing good”, verse 15, and “living such good lives among the non-Christians”, verse 12, are God’s way for us to be witnesses for Him. How we live counts more than what we say. Our goal is to win people to faith in Jesus Christ. We make our choices by asking ourselves: “which course of action is most likely to lead these non-Christians to conversion?” 1 Peter 2:18-21 says our Lord Jesus Christ calls on us to suffer in achieving God’s purposes. Remember, Jesus Himself suffered all through His rejection and crucifixion. Verse 23 becomes key—incredibly difficult to follow, but essential for living this way, which is the Christian way: “When they hurled their insults at Him (Jesus), He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him (God) Who judges justly”. The “endurance” of verse 19 is made possible when Christians live continually conscious that God is sovereign . 6. In Matthew 5:13-16 our Lord Jesus wants us to be “salt” and “light” in our communities. The influence of salt comes as it sacrifices itself into the meal. As it gives itself away it affects the taste of everything it touches. Light enables people to see. As Christians live good Christian lives within society, everyone can see that the Christian gospel makes a genuine difference to every day life. This becomes evangelistic. Non-Christians are faced with a choice. When they like what they see and hear, they may well want to join us! The six Bible passages we have looked at teach us that Christians please God by obeying government authorities, except when specifically commanded to sin. Finally we must notice that throughout the Bible there is also a balancing argument to the one I have presented. It shows us we must use our Holy Spirit given wisdom every time we make a decision about our circumstances. The Bible does give us several examples of God being pleased with His people when they disobeyed a human government on a particular issue: 1. the Israelite midwives refused to kill baby Israelite boys at birth Exodus 1:15-21. 2. Moses’ parents did the same for their own son Exodus 2:1-10 and Hebrews 11:23. 3. Rahab hid Israelite spies from the authorities Joshua 2:1-24 and Hebrews 11:31. 4. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to worship the king’s golden image Daniel 3:1-30. 5. Daniel kept on praying to God when commanded not to do so Daniel 6:1-28. 6. Peter and John continued to preach Jesus, when ordered not to Acts 4:1-31 and 5:17-42. There are also examples of God’s people who worked with “non-Christian” authorities enabling God to use them in fulfilling His own purposes: 1. Daniel with Babylon’s chief official, Daniel 1:1-21. 2. Jeremiah with King Cyrus, Ezra 1:1. 3. Ezra with King Artaxerxes, Ezra 7:11-28. 4. Nehemiah with King Artaxerxes, Nehemiah 2:1-9. 5. Paul used his Roman citizenship, Acts 16:35-40; Acts 22:22-29 and Acts 25:10-12. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him”, James 1:5. Discussion guide Using this chapter and Scriptures quoted: 1. Explain situations where you have found it difficult or impossible to honour the government. 2. Consider the words of Jesus on trial before Pilate. John 18:28-19:16. What difference does considering these make to situations described in 1. above? 3. “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities”, Romans 13:1. From the surrounding verses, what makes this easier to do? What makes it more difficult? 4. It is sometimes right to suffer, even for doing what is right. Give some examples from life and from Scripture. Try to include examples from several areas, implied in 1 Peter 2:13 (and listed above). 5. Share reasons why it is necessary to use spiritual wisdom in deciding action for every situation. James 1:5.

Leadership, Integrity and Nation building. - by Kur Deng Anguei Kur I believe that the people of this world need biblical and servant leadership from people who can best serve their communities or nations and build strong societies. We see today many people put themselves into positions of leadership, then lead their communities astray. They are not interested in building confidence or solid developments among their communities. Some leaders misuse their leadership powers, in both secular and religious institutions, to conduct their own business for personal profit. In turn this causes the fall and destruction of many organisations in South Sudan, Sudan, indeed around the world. The reason for this chapter is to seek to answer some questions raised by present day leaders and to clarify the misuse of leadership powers in both public and Christian institutions. I was interested to write on the following ten sub-topics of biblical leadership in nation-building and understand their functions, because it is related to my field of specialisation in master degree programmes. Leadership is a broad field of studies in the religious, political and business sectors of life. Leaders need effectiveness and flexibility to achieve set institutional or organisational goals and objectives. I hope this chapter will help Christian believers like you, who want to gain knowledge on Christian and government leadership, to be confidently obedient to church and government leadership. We must always remember that God is the only ultimate source of their leadership powers. They (and we) must be willing to serve others first before themselves, in all situations, whether in South Sudan, Sudan or elsewhere in the world. 1. The real meanings of biblical leadership, integrity and nation–building The terms ‘biblical leadership’, ‘integrity’ and ‘nation-building’ are not new to you and me. They are familiar words that have meaning in our daily activities. They are widely used everywhere in Christian and – at least the last two – in other institutions. I will seek to give their correct meanings according to the way they are used in different situations. Biblical leadership ‘Biblical’ and ‘leadership’ are two different words. We must separate them from each other and define each separately from the other to find its correct meaning. What is ‘biblical’? It describes something that comes from the word of God, the Bible. The word ‘biblical’ is the adjective of the word Bible, which itself was derived from the Greek word Tabiblia or the middle Latin word Biblia. Biblia means ‘the books’ (Biblion meaning ‘book’)[1] The meaning of biblical is something that derived its “essence or nature from the Bible” and continues the teachings of the Bible.[2] Biblical implies that the substance and the shape of the Christian’s faith and life are foundationally taught in the Bible and nowhere else. It is a responsible commitment of all believers in Jesus Christ to obey and respect the Holy Bible. Christian faith is always shaped by the Bible because that comes from God. Therefore, having biblical faith means that you trust the scriptures and live in keeping with everything which is found in the Holy Bible. We must always accept what is biblical and observe when it is added before nouns, such as biblical teachings, biblical theology, biblical management, as well as here – biblical leadership. What is ‘leadership’? Is leadership biblical or secular? The word ‘leadership’ is used in both secular and biblical worlds but is being understood differently. Some Christian leaders say that leadership is a biblical word and is used only by Christian leaders, while others from the secular world see that it is a secular word and is being used by all public leaders. Leadership is defined as “a process whereby one individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal”.[3] It is a leader’s effectiveness to reach the goals of the organisation. Leadership is also defined as “an ability of an individual to ‘lead’ or guide other individuals, teams or entire organisations to achieve goals and objectives”.[4] Leaders work together with their followers in daily interactions to achieve the organisation’s objectives. I believe that in the Christian worldview leadership is both biblical and secular. It is a way to influence people, either in biblical or secular situations, whatever their circumstances in the world. What is ‘biblical leadership’? The Christian youth leader, Todd Engstrom, has defined biblical leadership as “meeting someone where they are and taking them where Jesus wants them to go”.[5] But for me, “biblical leadership is a way for influencing people, through God’s processes, to achieve certain goals or objectives, at a given time”. This process is led through the interactions of God with any human being, interactions rooted and taught in the Bible, so that the evidences to support any direction, encouragement or challenge are always found in the Bible. Biblical leadership means that the origin and principles of the leadership are found in the Bible. Leadership is rooted and taught in the Bible, which tells us that God is the ultimate source of leadership. The leadership that we are talking about comes from God and such leaders are ‘God oriented’. Biblical leadership and secular leadership have been defined in various ways and according to various situations in the universe. Biblical leadership started immediately after the Creation and it continues through the history of humanity. God raised godly leaders to send messages to sinful human beings, trying to make them turn to God, but sometimes people did not like to respond positively to our living God. Therefore, Biblical leadership is God’s involvement in the leadership of human beings, where they interact with each other from the time of Creation at the beginning of our history, through the time of the patriarchs, the prophets, our Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles, as well as into the present time, where some of the leaders who are led by the Holy Spirit point towards the future. Leadership exists in two forms, formal or informal, and may be categorised as below: a. Biblical leadership, sometimes called servant leadership. This type of leadership means to serve all others first, rather than to serve oneself. b. Worldly leadership, also known as self-service leadership, which means to serve oneself first, rather than serving others. The formal leader is an individual who has been given a title and a leadership position with defined responsibilities. The informal leader is someone who possesses and uses leadership abilities, but who has no title in line with a leadership position. These types of leadership differ in usefulness depending on abilities, circumstances or situation. Appointed leaders need wisdom to lead people to recognise in their own lives that the living God is the ultimate source of power for their leadership position in the organisation they serve. They must be very beneficial to their people, flexible, making all people equal. They must love others more than themselves, empowering others, practising what they say in their own lives. All leaders need to practise this important word “integrity” for their organisation to be effective and successfully accomplish goals and objectives. What is ‘integrity’? Integrity is defined by an “individual who can be counted on to do consistently what is right and what is expected of them”. They are characterised by what is fair, just and acceptable in their society. “Integrity is the essence of everything successful in leadership”.[6] The word integrity is also defined as “a person’s level of honesty, moral commitments and willingness to do what is right”.[7] It is where an individual behaves in an honest, fair and ethical manner. The word integrity originated from a Latin word, Integer, meaning “wholeness or completeness”.[8] This word is expressing the inner being of the person, such as honesty and consistency of character. Integrity is very important in all areas of the lives of leaders in organisations, for their development locally and around the world. Integrity and honesty of character can be pictured as being the same as 100% honesty in stewardship. Successful leadership, when accompanied by integrity in stewardship, means that there will be no misappropriation of any resources – people, stock, money or property. What is ‘nation-building’? Is ‘nation-building’ the same as ‘society-building’ or ‘state-building’? The term nation-building is a “literal sense of building a unified national society”.[9] It is achieved after the comprehensive failure of a state and the political leadership of the nation. The word nation-building can be studied together with state-failure to get at its right meaning. Nation-building is the same as society-building, but it has different meanings from state-building. 1. Nation The word ‘nation’ is a western term that has historical experiences with understanding to build up state and society.[10] It originates from the noun ‘nationality’. It is defined as “children being born to her soil”.[11] The nation is a mother land and her specific work is to join those born in the land, giving them the freedom to become one people or one community. Nationality means belonging to a certain ethnic community. The word Ethno means ‘community’ in the Greek language. The people of one nation share public powers, economic relationships, culture and languages, in given geographical locations. Someone has said, “the nation lives together when citizens share values, customs, goals, and communicate with one another’s”. Nations originated at the time Europeans such as Germany, France, Spain and England were at war. In modern times the nation is known as, “an individual country considered together with its social and political structures”.[12] 2. Building One English dictionary has defined the word ‘building’ as “a structure with a roof like a house or a church”. Building is also “the activities of making houses and other structures”.[13] These two different words, with their different meanings, combine to mean constructing and developing the nation, a nation that will be good to live in. Nation-building is a transforming process, developing a peaceful and prosperous nation. It can be achieved after “state-failure” or being a “failed state”. 3. State-failure or a failed state What is state failure? State-failure is defined as the “failure of public institutions to deliver positive political goods to citizens in a scale to keep the legitimacy and existence of a state”.[14] It is a process which involves the “weakening of a state’s capacity to provide legitimate government”,[15] so that it cannot control its territorial boundaries and loses authority over parts of its territories. The scriptures say, “A nation will fail if it has no guidance. Many advisers mean security”, Proverbs 11:14.[16] The meaning is clear – the nation fails if there is no wise leadership. Our Lord Jesus describes the failed nation or state: “Any country that divides itself into groups which fight each other will not last very long. And any town or family that divides itself into groups which fight each other will fall apart”, Matthew 12:25.[17] Failed states are the ones which gain independence and immediately start the civil war with her own citizens that ends up destroying the nation. Characteristics of the government of a failed state are identified with weak leadership or strong but corrupt leadership, that fails to provide positive political and societal goods like security, educational services, health services, economic development, tribal and cultural expressions, a legal way to secure order, a judicial system and good infrastructure. They quickly lose communication with their people. Soon the government of the nation or state becomes illegitimate. A failed state is by nature a political failure of the leadership to provide sustainable developments for their citizens. It can no longer become a centre for advance in nation and society building. Every failed state has a lack of good planning. No-one plans to fail! When there is no clear understanding of the local communities and their differing situations and there is no process of growing development in state building, then instead there grows looting, widespread poverty, criminality, violence and other lawlessness. There are various causes of state failure, including the failures made by former colonial powers, economic underdevelopment, lack of democracy (that is, common people having their own say on their own affairs), mismanagement of resources and projects, continuing poverty, dependence on foreign aid, tribal and civil wars, even national self-defence. The situation of a failed state creates an atmosphere of fear in disputes which can fuel civil war among the local citizens. Recent examples of failed states are the collapsed Yugoslavia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Liberia, Somalia, etc. Building up of the society, community, state and nation can only begin when civil war ends. 4. What is nation-building? ‘Nation-building’ is defined as ‘the process of collective identity formation (the shared sense of belonging to a group) to legitimise public powers within a given geographical territory, to refine existing traditions, institutions and customs, with national characteristics that support the nation’s unique sovereignty, social modernity, state structures, stratification systems and social mobility’ (my compilation). It is a process of developing a shared sense of identity or community among the various groups making up a particular state. It concerns the character relationship between citizens and their states. We do well to remember what God said in the Bible: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people”, Proverbs 14:34. Nation-building requires leadership to work in integrity, using wise leadership to develop the nation. The recent positive history of nation-building originated after the second world war. The reconstruction of Germany and Japan as successful nations took many years. It did not happen overnight. In Western Europe, perhaps starting (certainly growing) during the 18th-19th centuries, there was fierce competition between European nations in their colonialism. The results are the nationalism of the modern world. Any nation state which is composed of many nationalities will take a long time to build into one nation. There will be obstacles from history and from the present, plus the hoped-for future. Nation-building reconstructs the nation’s identity, to define a new system of government, culture with common language(s) of the nation. After nation building comes state-building. 5. What is state-building? ‘State-building’ is defined as the “process of establishment or reestablishment and strengthening of public structures in a given territory, capable of delivering public goods”.[18] It is a “task of building functioning states capable of fulfilling the essential attributes of modern statehood”.[19] It focuses mainly on the practical task of building and strengthening state institutions, such as capacity-building programmes. State-building reinforces the existing state institutions, to develop them so that the state will have strong institutions enabling continuing developments. It may also introduce additional specific developments to those that existed before, both for state human resources and state infrastructure. State-failure, nation-building and state-building go together at various levels during different times in history. South Sudan presently has a great challenge of state-failure and is working hard to bring our citizens to a peaceful state, to gain developmental services in the newly independent nation. South Sudan got her independence in 2011. Tragically the political leaders entered internal conflicts after two years of independence in 2013. This new country has been described as a failed state because our political leaders have been unable (or unwilling) to provide services to their citizens and, instead, have fought over their own political seats and offices. God establishes government leadership of the nations Who is God? What is the government? I ask myself why these two words ‘God’ and ‘government’ both begin with letter ‘G’? These two words look like they describe the powerful, like ‘God’ in all heaven and all earth, or ‘government’ as the powerful administrator of certain geographical locations and areas on earth. We want to know their definitions and how they were recognised to begin with the same letter capital (G) in English. The word ‘God’, “is a spirit that some people believe controls nature or represents a particular quality”.[20] God, in biblical definition, is the ultimate authority who exists and controls nature, who created human beings and everything else in or for our world. God is all-power-full (omnipotent), all-knowing (omniscient), present-everywhere-at-the-same-time (omnipresent), and He is the Creator of all mankind Genesis 1:26-27. He is the ruler of heaven and earth.[21] The ‘government’ is defined as “group of people who control a country or area”.[22] Therefore, God is our ultimate power who controls both heaven’s and earth’s daily activities; while government is the one which regulates and controls the daily activities of the people and most things on earth, under God’s direction, influence or leadership. Government is God’s agent on earth and acts on God’s behalf. All people are accountable to Him, including the leaders of the church and nation. Who is the source of government leadership and church leadership as we learn it in the Holy Bible, both Old and New Testaments? Sources of government leadership God’s people were led, before the government was well-known, by the heads of the families or patriarchs to whom God sent His messages for the people on the ground. In the time of the Exodus, tribal elders acted as civil leaders and served on behalf of the whole nation, Exodus 3:16,4:29,12:21. Step by step the leaders appointed by God, people like Moses, Joshua, the Judges and the Kings, established government until the government of the nation was fully organised in the time of the Kings, 1 Samuel 13:14. When patriarchs like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were led by God as leaders of the people of Israel, Israel was a “theocratic community”. The people of God were travelling like nomads, searching for the new land that God had promised to give them, which was the land of Canaan. The words used to describe the functions of government in the Bible include: authority, master, rulers, dominion, or government itself. The word government was announced by God right from His creation of the universe and human beings in Genesis 1:26-31. When God created “man and woman” He blessed them and said, “have dominion” or “rule” over fish and all other creatures, and the whole earth will be yours. The history of creation has shown evidence that the leadership of mankind over the universe is known as ‘government’ and received its origin from God when He commanded that mankind should rule or have dominion over all other creatures of the earth. The words ‘dominion’, ‘rule’, ‘govern’, ‘authorise’ or ‘mastering’ are different words in spelling, but they have similar meanings in biblical or theological settings. God is the source of the human government of any country in this world ever since the Creation. He is the ultimate power of the government at present, as well as the future, just as He said. Every ruling authority that exists in the world was established by God, Romans 13:1-2. The leaders of our civil governments are also called in the Bible, “God’s servants”, Romans 13:4, or “God’s ministers”, Romans 13:6, words which are also used of our pastors and bishops.[23] God is the one who established the civil government of every country of the world for the good of all people. Those in authority hold their positions because God appointed them at their right time to lead the nation, John 19:10-11. God is also the one who will remove them from their powers at His right time, Psalm 75:7, Daniel 2:21. God establishes human government leadership of any nation for the purpose of His glory and the good of all of His people on earth. God raises the government to work for the common good of people, to protect them from evildoers and to defend their people from civil wars. I personally agree with pastor Colin Salter, who wrote concerning the Christian practice of government that all existing authorities or government were established by God and therefore “it is right for Christian believers to be involved in politics and in government, both nationally or locally”.[24] Since God is the one who established the government leadership of the nations for the good of common people, Romans 13:4, what can prevent Christians from personal involvement in government leadership? Governments protect or defend their people from war, help economically develop their societies, make internal and external peace for the nation to progress, establish law and order to rule and govern themselves. In this sense, God is a direct leader of both the government and the church and, as citizens, Christians can participate in both church and government leadership. There are two Christian views for their involvement in national or regional government leadership. One is negative and the other is positive. Different Christians hold tenaciously to both views. Negative aspects of government seen by Christians Certain things in any government, collectively or individually, will not be accepted by holy and committed Christian believers who love Jesus Christ with “all heart, soul and mind”, Matthew 22:17. It is hard to join a government when it is against Christian’s ethics and does not match with Christian doctrines or Statements of Faith. This negative side of government fears that politics in general is a “corrupt and dirty business where the love of power, the love of money, bribery, dishonesty, tribalism, selfishness, immorality and other corrupt practices rule the lives of many government officials or leaders”.[25] Does this mean that Christian believers cannot join government leadership, if they are liable to become corrupted, gullible as lovers of power, of money, open to bribery, susceptible to tribalism, selfishness and so on? It will also be very difficult to serve the interests of others, if colleagues are serving themselves. I believe the Christian rules in the Bible are against this view, because Christian leaders would never be involved in government leadership if they are afraid of losing good Christian practices, their testimony and godly characters. Of course, there are biblical examples of leaders who fell into temptation, such as King Solomon, 1 Kings 11:1-6, King Hezekiah, 2 Kings 20:12-21, plus Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus, Luke 22:1-6. All were near to God but were led astray. A warning to us all. Positive aspects of government seen by Christians Christians may be involved in government leadership for the advancement of God’s kingdom and to help Christian believers from one country to around the world. It has happened throughout history that God raised some Christian leaders at national level to take up issues like slavery, the drugs and prostitution trades, workplace trade unions, to help God’s people and extend God’s kingdom for His glory. Christian leaders who seek government leadership need to carefully ask themselves important questions: Why did God call me into this position? Does God want me to bring some positive changes for His glory? Christians are the light of the world, Matthew 5:14-16. God told His elect people “to live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us”, 1 Peter 1:1; 2:11-17. God appointed some Christians in the history of civil governments, with leadership positions, to do God’s will and to save the lives of many people. In the Bible these ‘God-government’ leaders included Joseph, Moses, Esther and Daniel. Joseph, son of Jacob, in Egyptian government leadership Genesis 37:36; 41:41, 44 tell us that Joseph was treated badly and sold to the traders from Midian by his brothers. Captain Potiphar, of Pharaoh’s official guards, bought Joseph into his home in Egypt. The Lord blessed and cared for His servant, 39:2-5, and Joseph was appointed by Pharaoh King of Egypt to oversee the public treasury. From that position, he helped all the people of Egypt, God’s own people of Israel and many other people of the world, 41:41-49. Joseph became well known as the great leader in the government of Egypt. Because of Joseph the people of Israel migrated to Egypt as God used him to accomplish God’s will to save the lives of many thousands of people, including Egyptians and other people of neighbouring nations. Joseph controlled public funds faithfully and honestly as he followed the wise leading of the living God. Moses in Egyptian government leadership In Exodus 3:1-10 Moses was the only boy who survived in Egypt from his generation, following Pharaoh’s decree to kill all the boys of Israel. God cared for Moses as he grew up in Pharaoh’s house as his grandson. God called Moses, 3:1-22, to deliver His people from Egypt to their promised land and Moses became a man of liberty who freed God’s people from Egypt. God raised Moses up for this mission to bring out the people of Israel from Egypt and send them into desert for 40 years until they reached their promise land. Queen Esther in Persian government leadership Esther was an orphan girl who was brought up by Mordecai, Esther 2:7. She was also one of the beautiful girls who were married to the Persian king and so became Queen with some input into the Persian government, 2:17-18. By taking a public stand, Esther saved the people of Israel from planned genocide, 8:1-17. Daniel in Babylon government leadership Daniel served the Lord faithfully, eventually as an official government leader and the Bible describes him as a man of integrity, Daniel 1:1-21. He became prime minister of the government in the whole Persian Empire. He was honest in serving God and the world-renowned empire accepted Daniel’s God with many turning to worship the living God of Israel at that time. The Christian who seeks to be involved in government leadership must trustingly depend on God and live like Daniel, with visible integrity according to God’s will. All Christians are called: to respect and honour government leaders, Romans 13:7 to be submissive and obedient to government, Romans 13:1-5, 1 Peter 2:13-17 to pray for civil leaders of the government, 1 Timothy 2:1-2 to pay taxes to the government, Matthew 22:17-21, Romans 13:6-7. Christian believers must be obedient to civil government, whether it is a good or evil government. David was a good example of obedience to government civil servants during his internal conflict with King Saul. He was so obedient to Saul. There was time when Saul became jealous and planned to kill David. He ordered soldiers in his army to kill David. Twice David found King Saul alone during this time. Twice David did not kill him. He evidently had the ability to kill Saul, but he did not want to kill him. David took oaths before the Lord that he cannot kill one who “is the anointed of the Lord”, 1 Samuel 24:5-7. It happened that King Saul was killed and one of the young boys reported to David that he had killed him, 2 Samuel 1:5-10. David immediately had this young boy killed, 2 Samuel 1:14-16. “That was the reward I gave him for his news”, 2 Samuel 4:9-12. In the Old Testament David said the boy was disobedient to kill the king and received his just reward. Leadership power in nation-building What is power? Who possesses it? Many people are interested to hold leadership positions and be called leaders at national or international levels around the world today. Some people like to stay in power or position by name without continuing to provide developmental services to their communities. Who is the right leader in the right place? Are all leaders on the same level of leadership? Effective and wise leadership is not based on holding positions in institutions or offices in organisations. It is based on how the leader uses their powers during any situations. By thorough planning and fully implementing activities that promote the development of their societies, wise leadership is always ultimately successful. The role and use of power in effective leadership is considered vital in management and organisation. Power often remains the same in all circumstances whether in politics, business or religious leadership. Being the positional holder of power does not increase the leader’s abilities, nor does position alone provide the development services for the leader or the people. Good relationships between people and their leaders increase the influential ability of any leader. The word ‘power’ is defined as “the ability to marshal human, informational or material resources to get something done”.[26] It is the opportunity to build, to create, to change history in a different direction and everyone can possess it. Power is also defined as “the function of relationships and it is owned by all people in an organisation step by step at a certain time. Power is not owned by the leaders of the institution themselves; it is distributed to the hierarchical system and is exercised in all aspects of leadership, such as upwards, downwards and horizontally throughout the organisation. The power of man is his present means to obtain some apparent future”.[27] Power and leadership are two related concepts. Sometimes you can find leadership in place of power, but power usually plays a role in leadership practices. Power itself is not good or bad, but it is measured qualitatively when it is used and put into practice in any situation. It has been stated that “There is no person who can exercise power without being in leadership; or no person can be a leader without being in leadership power”. The leadership is exercised through power and the leaders of institutions are always developing their power-bases to influence others, where the leaders and the followers all have an equal role for the success of their work. Organisation is a mutual influence of leaders and followers who mean to share their activities for the development of their society. Some scholars have identified various forms of powers that exist in the world:[28] 1. Positional power is power given to a person by the people of the nation, community or church, via an election or appointment. The nation, community and church choose their leaders and give power to the one they select by election as their leader. This kind of power can then be exercised in the nation, community or church, by the elected one, to promote the betterment of their society. 2. Personal power is when the person has traits of personality which enable them to lead other people. This type of person can exercise personal power to serve their society. The leadership of this person attracts other people and they put him/her into a leadership position and follow them as a leader in their institutions. 3. Expertise power is gained and used by the person who has more knowledge and skills than other people in the community or nation. People can follow them because he/she has many experiences in this field, much more than other people. These may include medical doctors, computer technicians, athletes, engineers, university professors, etc. 4. Relationship power comes when a person gains good public relationships with other people in their organisation, people who then credit him/her with this kind of leader power. 5. Coercive power happens when a person or group gets into position through force, whether people like or not. Others must accept them to lead the organisation or nation. 6. Resources power is possessed by the person who has great wealth or money. People have this kind of power simply because they have gained many more resources than other people in the nation or community, not because they have any especially worthy skills. 7. Reward power comes because people are recognised as having done well. This leader may have received materials, money or simply praises such as being told, ‘well done, keep it up’, etc. 8. Physical power is possessed by people with muscle strength such as is used in football, basketball, wrestling and other strength sports. The strongest leads the team. Power or leadership do not stay forever. Either can be temporarily possessed, by one person today and another tomorrow. God is the only one who keeps His omnipotence. What is Servant leadership? The concept of servant leadership has become effective and attractive in the leadership of many Christian organisations and perhaps elsewhere too. To understand the definition and functioning of servant leadership, we will see how these words are variously defined. Servant leadership is defined as a, “way of life that influences, models, supports and encourages people to serve others first”.[29] It is a way to develop and pursue every person’s excellence in every day areas of life. Servant leadership seeks to involve others in decision making, gives a strong base in ethical behaviour and pursues the personal growth of workers to improve the caring and quality of organisational life. “Servant leadership provides better leadership in the organisation”.[30] To serve people this way is to lead in such a way as Jesus Christ described, true Christian leadership being different from the standard, average leadership of this world. The leadership of the world demands that people serve their leader, while the servant leadership of Jesus Christ requires that the leader himself is the one to serve people as if he were their slave. “You know that those who are considered as rulers of the heathen have power over them, and the leaders have complete authority. This however, is not the way it is among you. If one of you wants to be great, you must be the servant of the rest and if one of you wants to be first, you must be the slave of all, for even the Son of Man did not come to be served; He came to serve and to give His life to redeem many people”, Mark 10:42-45.[31]To emphasise this point I add another translation which reads, “Jesus said: ‘You know that among the nations of the world the great ones lord it over the little people and act like tyrants. But that is not the way it will be among you. Whoever would be great among you must serve and minister. Whoever wants to be great among you must be slave of all. Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to be a servant—to offer His life as a ransom for others’”.[32] Following Jesus Christ’s example of servant leadership is by far the best way to provide services to the people of our societies. While servant leadership is a timeless concept, the term “servant leadership” originates from Robert K. Greenleaf, who thought and wrote a great deal about the nature of servant leadership and character.[33] “The servant-leader is servant first, … it begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead”. [34] Servant leadership is a way of being in relationship with others, and the two roles, as servants and leaders, mean that any person can be productive in this world. The concept of a servant being in leadership comes from the one person who was a ‘servant by nature’, our Lord Jesus Christ. Can the natural servant become a leader? Or can a leader become a servant? Can the followers become the natural servants? Or become leaders? Who is a servant leader? We have just seen that the servant leader is a “servant first”. This is different from the one who is a leader first, but who serves. The ‘leader first’ and the ‘servant first’ are two different parallel ideas and they vary in practice according to human nature. The ‘servant first’ means all other people, with their highest priorities and needs, are being served. The ‘leader first’ will see what plans can be actively made to do things, with less regard for serving the needs of his/her people. The national servant who is the ‘servant first’ is the one who seeks, perseveres and serves the highest priority needs of all others. The person who is ‘leader first’ may set many things in motion to be seen to be active, but only later to serve others. Everything that happens in this world, whether good or bad, happens by the thoughts, attitudes and actions of individual beings. We Christian believers are all called to be servant leaders. To motivate those who God will bring into God’s kingdom we are called to carefully lead others: “Whoever has authority should work hard”, Romans 12:8.[35] Christian leadership is different from the leadership of this world because it first seeks the interests of others, while leadership in the world often seeks self-interest or the interests of friends. Jesus’ leadership style has totally revolutionised the world’s leadership. In these Bible verses He has inverted – turned up the right way what was the wrong way up – the leader/servant relationship. In God’s kingdom leaders serve best by leading, and lead best by serving, God’s people. Godly leadership develops and transforms all followers. The need is to transform visions into realities. The essence of servant leadership is found in the Bible, Philippians 2:3-5. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mind-set as Christ Jesus”. Servant leadership seeks first the interests of others and it focuses on growth, success and welfare for all the followers. The servant leader’s vision is also focused on the followers and not on his/her own self. Many leaders of the world like to be seen as servant leaders, but only a small number of them really are such. Most of the world’s leadership styles in present days may be identified among: 1. Kingship leadership 2. Selfish leadership 3. Ruler leadership 4. Self-serving or self-interest leadership But a Christian’s leadership in Jesus Christ is based on servant-leadership. The example of servant leadership found in Jesus Christ was evidenced when He chose twelve disciples to lead. He served them first Himself. Those disciples selected (with the whole church) elders and deacons to care for everyone, including the distribution of food among the hungry, Acts 6:1-7. Servant leadership is also the same as good stewardship. Leadership is something with purpose and direction. Servant leadership is a solution to the challenges that face people of South Sudan and elsewhere today. We recognise we are accountable to God for what we do. Larry C. Spears, after he studied Greenleaf’s original writings, has identified at least ten characteristics central to the development of servant leaders: 1. Listening Listening is one of the characteristics of servant leaders, since they involve much communication through to decision-making skills. Servant leaders have a deep commitment to listening intently to others before coming to a final decision, where other leaders and followers are also involved in making the choices. 2. Empathy Empathy is the ability to understand how someone else feels. Servant leaders need to understand all their managers, followers, customers and the situations of their organisation to lead it well. This enables them to work together in unity with other people and promote the organisation’s culture. 3. Healing Making someone feel better is one of the powerful attributes for healing one’s self and one’s relationship with others. Servant leaders share views with their managers and followers and seek cooperation to resolve any problems they come across. 4. Awareness Awareness is an awakening of the people. The servant leader encourages him/herself and all followers. By encouraging full understanding, everyone appreciates all the issues, involving ethics, power, values, risks and viewing perspectives in all situations. 5. Persuasion Servant leaders are reliant on persuasion rather than positional authority in making decisions within an organisation. To be effective in building agreement within a group arguments must be persuasive. 6. Conceptualisation This means the servant leader must think beyond day to day realities. It is a key role of boards of trustees or directors to account for day to day operations in an organisation, while keeping in mind the bigger and longer term picture, goals and strategies. 7. Foresight Foresight is the characteristic of servant leaders which enables them to understand the lessons and implications for the future arising from the result of today’s decisions. 8. Stewardship Greenleaf’s view stated that “CEO, staff and trustees played significant roles in holding their institutions in trust for the greater good of the society”.[36] Servant leadership, like stewardship, is a commitment for serving the needs of others, in both the present and for the future. 9. Commitment for the growth of people The servant leader is committed to the needs and personal growth of every individual in his/her organisation. He/she sets funds aside in budgets for personal and professional development, encouraging all the workers to work hard and earn good reward. 10. Building community Lost in unwritten human history are the consequences of shifting from local communities to large institutions when developing human lives. Servant leaders recommend that “true communities are created among those who work in business and other institutions”.[37][38] Leadership styles in nation-building The question of leadership styles is very clear and will help us define the issue in an easy way. Leadership in nation-building is a complete variety. Different leaders lead their nations, institutions or organisations in different ways. Leadership styles are differences in behaviours by which a “leader conducts his/her activities”.[39] It is a leader’s style of promoting directions, implementing plans and motivating people to promote organisational goals and objectives. The various leadership styles are always applied to different situations and circumstances. Recognised leadership styles which exist in different forms include: 1. Autocratic and authoritarian leadership styles This type of leadership style is exercised by the only leader of the organisation, being the one who gives his/her decisions to the followers of the organisation. The followers must accept, obey and follow the orders, without question. The leader does not involve the followers in any decision making. This sounds to me like dictatorship! 2. Participative (democratic) leadership styles This leader always involves followers in the decision-making process. The leader seeks advice from followers and they make collective decisions. Sometimes the people may decide on his/her behalf and he/she will accept it. Of course, a participative leader may guide the followers to reach decisions. 3. Free-rein leadership style Decision-making is passed on to the followers. All are given the right and power to make decisions, to establish goals and to work out any problems. 4. Task oriented leadership styles Sometimes called “protection leadership”, this kind of leadership style has its main concern that tasks are done in such a way that the desired levels of production are achieved. This type of leader’s highest priority is the process of doing the work for production. He/she does not care much about the feelings of the workers in the organisation. He/she is a high task/low relationship leader. 5. Relationship oriented leadership styles The relationship leader is concerned to maintain good feelings and warm relationships with and between the workers. This kind of leader is more concerned about the relationship between him/herself and workers than with the production task in hand. It may not achieve the high level of production desired, but the relationship of workers is progressive and may be developed usefully for the future. 6. Positive leadership styles The leader who has positive leadership style uses rewards to motivate the workers in the organisation and directs them to the work that needs to be done. The rewards may be in different forms such as monetary benefits, words of praise, encouragement, etc. 7. Negative leadership styles Leaders who have negative leadership styles have discouraging ways of doing things. They call themselves leaders and may even occupy the leadership position in, say, our present nation or community. But by always using power and force to solve the problems they encounter to achieve their interests or needs, they build walls between themselves and their people. They use punishments to force their workers to do what they want them to do. Negative leaders use their power to create fear in the workers and make them understand that he/she is boss, having complete power over them. They use threats and strong words, that can make the workers afraid, or they deduct the salaries of workers by force as punishment. Leadership styles used in varying situations In fact, leadership styles change in their appropriateness to different situations. Different situations may demand alternative leadership styles. For example, autocratic leadership may be good in an emergency humanitarian crisis or in threatening military situations. Based on orders or commands, this type of leadership style may help to bring everybody back to a normal situation. It may be used anytime the leader is specifically delegated by the workers. It may also be used in any situation where the leaders (preferably plural) have the only expertise for that position. Their power should be limited in time and clearly understood by all asked to follow them in the situation. Participative leadership may become useful in a situation where the position of power (with whom the responsibility finally lies) is not clear to all. Who has the right to reward or to punish? It can be used for any situation. It is often used in voluntary organisations such as a church or a community service organisation, where all members have similar expertise (or none) to the leaders. Sharing promotes understanding of each other and discussions may produce new ideas and opportunities for working together in the organisation. Jesus Christ is the foundation of Christian leadership Is Jesus Christ really the foundation of Christian leadership? Jesus Christ is the best and most excellent leader of the Christian world, I might even say of the whole world! He is the foundation of Christian biblical leadership including ‘servant leadership’. He is an excellent servant leader, better than any ever found in this world. There are many great biblical leaders who existed in God’s kingdom and in history around the world, but Jesus Christ’s style of leadership is the best. It differs from other leaders, even those of the Bible, because: 1. He has meaningful Christian leadership 100% in line with God’s vision 2. He is the incarnate leader (fully God and fully man), knowing all of both 3. He is the natural servanthood leader. The leadership style of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was and is very successful because of those qualities found in Him, which set Him apart to become the most successful and greatest leader in His world and His mission. We are going to study more about Jesus Christ being the foundation of Christian biblical leadership. Is Christian leadership better compared to political leadership? There is always confusion between Christian and secular concepts of leadership. Many books and articles have been written about both secular and Christian leadership. Many of them have clearly stated the meanings of Christian and secular leadership. We will examine together now Christian leadership as found in Jesus Christ, the leader and the head of Church, Ephesians 5: 23. Jesus Christ’s leadership focused on servant leadership, which He mastered as He grew up and which developed His disciples into Christian church leaders.[40] Christian biblical leadership is much seen in the lives of God’s leaders who served the Lord in their time. They are known as the great leaders of the Bible with Jesus Christ as their foundation of Christian leadership, even though most lived before He came to earth. Great biblical leaders in the Bible These people are the founders of our Christian faith: some are also called patriarchs. 1. Abraham Abraham was well known for his great faith in God and he was called a man of great faith, even ‘God’s friend’, James 2:21-23. God called Abraham, in Genesis 12:1-3, to leave his people and go to the land God had chosen to give to his descendants. When he accepted God’s calling, he was blessed to become the father of all the nations of the world because of his faith. God blessed all the people of the world through Abraham’s faith. God sent the Saviour Jesus through his family, to save the world from sinful rebellion against God. God called Abraham to save His people. 2. Moses Moses was one of God’s great leaders in his day. God called Moses into His service of liberating His people from Egypt into the promised land of Canaan, Exodus 3:1-14. Moses, as God’s spiritual, military and political leader (along with others, Exodus 18:21-26), led the people out from Egypt almost into the promised land before he was succeeded by Joshua, who actually reached the promised land. 3. Joshua God called Joshua to succeed Moses, Joshua 1:1-9. He was a brave and courageous man, who led the people of Israel into the promised land. There were a lot of challenges in his leadership, but God – who sent him to capture the promise land and make Israel settle in it – enabled Joshua to do what he was called to do. 4. King Saul After the time of the Judges of Israel was over, the people of Israel asked God for a king, 1 Samuel 8:1-22. God accepted their request and raised King Saul, who was appointed as the very first King of Israel. Saul sounds a bit like the transitional leadership when a nation is newly independent, like South Sudan. Saul’s leadership, involving some good things and some bad, governed the kingdom until he died and was succeeded by King David, 1 Samuel 13:14; 15:26 and 16:1-13. 5. King David King David was called by God to establish his kingdom under His leadership. David has been described in the Bible as a “man after God’s own heart”, “one better than you (Saul)”, 1 Samuel 13:14; 16:28. Remember, the same God who gives a leadership position, can also take it away, in His own time. It was a while before King David established and represented the government in all the public powers of leadership, 2 Samuel 5:4-5; 7:1-17. Waiting, while still in God’s service, can be part of God’s preparation for leadership. 6. Daniel Daniel’s leadership was well known at the time of exiles in Babylon. God called Daniel to total obedience to the Lord, Daniel 1:1-21. He became stronger in his own faith through the frequent challenges he personally faced, 2:19-23. Eventually the whole nation and nations around were aware of Daniel’s living God, 6:25-28. Daniel’s personal faithfulness brought honour to Almighty God in his lifetime. 7. Nehemiah Nehemiah was called by God to rebuild. Nehemiah’s vision was to take the message of reconstruction to the community of the people of God. His mission was practical, successful and transforming. It was a vision for the renewal of God’s people, Nehemiah 1:3-4; 2:4-6; 2:17-18; 2:20; 4:6; 4:20-21; 6:15-16. Jesus Christ is the foundation of Christian leadership “The leadership of Jesus is seen by Christian theologians as the incarnation of the reign of God. In Jesus’ inaugural sermon He reminds His community of the kind of leadership God called Him to embrace. ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, for He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor, to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those that are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord’, Luke 4:18-19.[41] Jesus teaches us many things about authentic spiritual leadership. Kingdom priorities must come first in the life of a leader. Servant leadership brings hope of transformation to life. Suffering has merit when done to fulfil God’s purpose. Leaders must teach and theologise with integrity, by being true to the context of the community they serve. Religious leadership must affirm the humanity of all people under the grace of God”.[42] Jesus Christ was always suited to every leadership situation He faced. His leadership authority was and is fully God’s authority and fully man’s authority, Colossians 2:9-10. He alone was fit to serve all the various groups of people in their differing needs. Jesus Christ’s justice was and is love in action. He was and is committed to the weak and marginalised people. Jesus Christ taught His disciples that His vision was for ‘God’s reign in the affairs of humankind’. His leadership was liberating redemptive, prophetic transformation through sacrifice. His leadership led Him to His crucifixion to win God’s salvation for the world. Only our Lord Jesus can lead like this. Let us pray we may somehow get close to His standards, by His grace, for the sake of our people. Jesus Christ taught His disciples, including us, that the first priorities of God’s kingdom must be seen in the leader’s life – servant leadership that brings “hope of transformation in life”. God’s leaders need to understand that the humanity of all people is owed to God’s grace. Leaders are to serve in God’s love and justice to achieve the transformation of all injustices and the many oppressions of this life, Ephesians 2:8-10. Jesus Christ is the foundation of Christian biblical leadership, because He put into action all the biblical vision of God’s reign. He reached lives, transformed cultures, alleviated the social, political and harsh economic realities of people. He did not give people everything they asked for, but He pointed them in the right direction for obtaining it. He was often controversial and seldom easy. Freedom is service in God’s love. Justice must be the goal of Christian biblical leadership in my country and everywhere around the world. The foundations of Jesus Christ’s biblical leadership are known and seen in the following: 1. Jesus Christ knows who He is Jesus Christ is a perfect leader and no leader like Him ever existed in this world. He knows very well who He is in God’s kingdom. As a leader you need to know who you are and what you are doing. Jesus expressed Himself in many Bible verses such as John 14:6, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’”. This is a big challenge to every leader. Know yourself as a leader, both who you are and what you are doing. 2. Jesus Christ has clear vision in God’s kingdom As a leader Jesus Christ knew His vision and mission in this world. He knew what God called Him to do. “As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world”, John 9:4-5. Jesus had clear purpose in His life on earth. This kind of leadership must be applied to Christian leaders serving wherever they are in God’s Kingdom. Jesus is ‘a purpose-driven leader’. Remember, God has a purpose to fulfil in your life as a leader. 3. Jesus Christ knows who to please Jesus Christ worked hard to please God His Father in heaven. He pleased God in what He did in God’s kingdom. As Christian leaders, we are to do our work to please God the Father too. We must seek to be like God the Son Jesus, God the Holy Spirit and all godly servants of God, Matthew 3:15-17; John 15:26-27; 16:13-15. We cannot please everyone on earth, but our top priority is always to please God by providing services that He wants to bless others. 4. Jesus Christ works with His disciples as team workers One of the styles of Jesus’ leadership was to form a team to work for God’s ministry and successfully reach all nations of the world with His good news, Matthew 28:18-20. The great leaders of the world are team workers. They are team builders. Jesus would perhaps not have been successful in His ministry if He had worked alone. He chose to form a team of twelve disciples to evangelise the world, Mark 3:14-15. This is a good example of team work to achieve mission and must be followed by all Christian leaders, whatever their calling, for Jesus never did His work alone. Even at the cross a few friends gathered close by. 5. Jesus Christ focused on priorities Jesus Christ always set priorities for what was important in God’s kingdom. He did this because He knew He had a limited time for work on earth before returning to heaven. “My food,’ said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work. I have brought You glory on earth by finishing the work You gave me to do”, John 4:34; 17:4. 6. Jesus Christ set time for personal meditation with God the Father Jesus Christ made time to exercise Himself with God. He listened, confided and talked to God in His prayers, Mark 1:35. In His busyness He invited His disciples to come aside. Christian leaders need to do something similar with a place and a time to meditate, to listen to God as we study the Bible, because God speaks to us even now through the Bible. Remember, the best prayer time is a two-way conversation. “After Jesus had dismissed them, He went up by Himself on a mountainside to pray”, Matthew 14:23. See also Luke 5:15-16. 7. Jesus Christ is always present with His disciples Jesus was and is always readily available to His disciples to care for their needs and, through them, the needs of others. Whilst we can never be omnipresent, Christian leaders are to try to be physically present with the members of their families, their churches, their business and their nation, wherever they are called by our Lord to be serving. “As they (the disciples after the crucifixion) talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them”, Luke 24:15. 8. Jesus Christ made time for rest Jesus Christ as a leader worked very hard. But He also set apart time for rest and relaxation. “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, ‘Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest’”, Mark 6:31. This too is an example good Christian leaders need to practise. We do not need to feel guilty at taking off our ‘Sabbath days’, Exodus 20:8-11; Mark 2:23-28. We need to take rest just as much as Jesus Himself used to do, probably more. Vision of biblical leaders Vision is a major topic in biblical leadership, because no biblical leadership exists without vision. God has stated it very clearly in the Bible: “Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he”, Proverbs 29:18.[43] “A nation without God’s guidance is a nation without order. Happy are those who keep God’s law”.[44] “Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law”.[45] These three translations of the same verse show that clear vision makes people happy and leads them to observe the law to achieve leadership and spiritual development for the betterment of all God’s people. Vision is defined by Ken Blanchard and Jesse Stoner as “knowing who you are, where you are going and what will guide your journey”.[46] Vision comes from God and it is the “power of creating a picture of the future of the people. It is a bridge which connects this present life with the future life”.[47] Effective leadership is promoted by “vision and vision is concerning the activities to achieve for the future”.[48] Commitment to a real vision “builds trust, collaboration, interdependence, motivation and mutual responsibility for success”. [49] Vision helps people make smart choices and helps them to reach their desires and fulfil needs. A true vision must be made into a written vision statement, which creates for the organisation a clear way to achieve its stated goals. Vision greatly assists people in aiming at the right target. The vision that inspires people, which provides directions and realities, has at least three elements: 1. A main purpose 2. A picture of the future 3. Clear values that guide people’s behaviour and daily decisions. Vision creates a strong culture of the organisation, where all people are aligned and have shared goals. Shared vision helps make an organisation successful and makes leaders focus on serving and being responsible to the needs of people. Such leaders understand that the role of leadership is to help people achieve their joint vision and remove any barriers which prevent success. Vision is created and leaders need to involve other people to produce a shared and group-owned vision. Vision and leadership are different words that have mutual responsibility for the success of the group. The source of biblical vision is God not self, Ezekiel 3:12-15, Mark 8:34-35. Its nature is future–oriented. God’s vision always empowers and encourages His leaders to serve their people first. Visionary leadership transforms individuals, churches and even nations, challenging the whole society to achieve higher levels of developments to benefit all. People experience changes when applying vision in their lives and they are transformed into more advanced social, human and spiritual development. Biblical leadership transforms individuals, churches and nations To see how this transformation happens it is necessary to understand the meaning of ‘individual’, ‘church’ and ‘nation’. God brings about transformation in individuals, families, churches, communities and nations, when local Christian leaders understand and respond in the affirmative to His full intentions. Biblical transformation is defined as the “process of restoration to God’s intention of all that was broken when humanity rebelled against God at the fall”.[50] Biblical leadership transformation occurs when the individual, church and nation understand what Jesus Christ expects His people to proclaim, which is the good news of salvation, and when they advocate for His rule in their communities while they demonstrate His love in action to all others. Biblical transformation happens when individual Christians, then churches and then nations are in obedience to Jesus’ great commission and witness real transformation themselves into new creations in Jesus Christ. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here”, 2 Corinthians 5:17. Under God’s leadership and with God doing the transformation, desires for healing and the restoration of individuals, families, communities, states, nations and all things can be met. Many Christians pray to the Lord, when inviting Him into their lives, saying, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”, Matthew 6:10. God’s desire for us is that we live according to the scriptures physically, spiritually, socially, ethically and intellectually. God want us to obey Him in every area of life and He will heal our brokenness, both individual and collectively, as we grow in obedience to God’s will. This will positively influence our families, churches or communities and where communities influence cultures, nations are transformed. It starts with individuals and spreads widely through the country like fire through dry wood ready to be consumed. The biblical understanding of transformation is what happens when we recognise that Christ’s bloodshed was for the restoration of ourselves and all other people, everything that was broken by the fall of mankind into sin, Colossians 1:9-23. Individual ‘Individual’ in this biblical terminology is the person who has committed his/her life to Jesus Christ and lives the Christian’s life in God’s sight, always doing His will however costly. Church Jesus Christ said, “You are Peter (the Greek name means ‘rock’) and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it”, Matthew 16:18. The study of church in theological terminology is called “Ecclesiology”. The word church in the New Testament originates from the Greek word Ekklesia that means “an assembly, or congregation”. It definitely does not mean a building! Rather it means people, those in the New Testament who are Christian believers everywhere in the world. The true Church today is the body of Christ – Christian believers – worldwide. Christ is the Head, Colossians 1:17-18; born again people are the body, Ephesians 4:20-24; when we are persecuted, Jesus Himself is persecuted, Acts 9:4; we Christians are “a holy nation”, “the people of God”, 1 Peter 2:8-9. Therefore, local churches right across the world are communities of God’s people, small expressions of a very big Church. We exist to evangelise the world and to teach the believers to understand God and be obedient to Him, Matthew 28:18-20. The true Church can never fail because it is based upon a rock. Nation We saw earlier the word ‘nation’ is a western term that has a historical understanding to build up state and society. It is defined as children being born to her soil. The nation is a mother land and her specific work is to join those born in the land, giving them the freedom to become one people or one community. Nationality means belonging to a certain ethnic community. The word Ethno means ‘community’ in the Greek language. The people of one nation share public powers, economic relationships, culture and languages, in given geographical locations. Someone has said, ‘the nation lives together when citizens share values, customs, goals, and communicate with everybody else’s too’. It is when individual people are transformed by God that they in turn change churches and in time can revolutionise the nation for the better, in peaceful and prosperous ways, Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-37; 6:1-7. Outsiders watch people who are on the inside. When they like what they see, evangelism spontaneously occurs. No one can ever argue against a visibly changed life. Characteristics of a good leader What are the various characteristics of good leadership? There are qualities in their personalities that the leader possesses which make him/her a good leader. Some leaders possess more than four of these (see below) and others less than three, but the one who possesses many of these leadership qualities will likely be successful in what he/she does. Every leader needs to gain these qualities to be effective and successfully lead the organisation. We may not mention all the characteristics of a good leader, but we will set some examples out here: 1. Hard work Every leader must be a hard-working person in their leadership position. Hard working means that the person is busy, diligent and creative in doing the work. He is the kind of person who presents in daily activities and directs or supervises his/her business affairs wisely and well. 2. Courage Courage is “the ability to do things that are dangerous, frightening or very difficult”.[51] A leader should have the courage to encourage others (to put courage into others) and to resolve problems he/she decides on every day while directing the organisation. The courageous leader works on in any situation, whether dangerous or peaceful. 3. Confidence Leaders who supervise their organisation’s affairs need to have self-confidence, to believe in their own abilities. Confidence is the ability to believe that you are capable to do something. A leader knows he/she can develop the society, but he/she shows humility and not arrogance. 4. Reliability A leader should be able to be trusted and dependable. They must work hard to make progress in follow up and to keep ground gained. 5. Concern for people Leaders who are concerned for people help many others. They know they are responsible for the needs of their workforce and must come to them to show they are important to them. People are the manpower who promote the organisation. 6. Decisiveness The term ‘decisiveness’ means the ability to reach a decision to do things. It often involves being quick, but not foolish, in drawing a conclusion. The leader needs to possess this quality to solve conflicts in his/her organisation, plus at other times. 7. Firmness of vision The leader should keep the vision of good results in performing all the activities that promote the organisation’s development. As some light guides forward through the darkness, so the leader holds the light of the agreed vision firmly in front of everyone. 8. Perseverance The leader should be a person who starts and completes every task so that they end with good results. Perseverance is “a determined attitude that makes you continue trying to achieve something that is difficult”.[52] When you persevere, you do not give up. 9. Active participation The leader needs to possess the ability to be the one who joins in appropriately any work he/she plans. This may involve working out the implementation of a project, monitoring it and evaluating it regularly with the team. The leader sets the example to the workers. He/she is a visual aid of a good worker. 10. Commitment and dedication This quality means that the leader will remain responsible in doing the work. Although delegating to others, he/she does not wash his/her hands of all responsibility. Believing it to be good and right, he/she will devote appropriate time and effort to it. 11. Taking initiative The leader will act in an independent (but not isolationist) way for doing the work. The leader is ready to start the work, solve problems arising, act before others and continue to make evaluative follow-up towards the goals. 12. Optimism Optimism is a way that the leader focuses on positive issues in all circumstances. The leader looks for good results in anything and expects that the positives will overcome any negative issues. The leader has a hope or good vision to do things. For the Christian, this depends on him/her trusting and obeying God. 13. Enthusiasm Enthusiasm is the way a person carries out their work with interest, confidence, even excitement. The leader can develop concentration because he/she has good purpose. Christians and public leaders need to develop in their own personal leadership. The qualities of a good leader build up their organisations, so work to become a good leader. Be even better tomorrow than you are today. These thirteen characteristics of good leadership are very essential for every leader whatever their leadership levels. Reading and applying the Bible to life will always benefit them and their people through them. Necessary skills of positive leadership Positive leadership is a result of the practice of most of the above leadership skills in various circumstances. When the leaders use these skills, it will improve their performance in all leadership situations. The skills that the effective leaders possess can also be divided into three parts: 1. Technical skills meaning the ability to use knowledge, methods, techniques, equipment, and so on, for the performance of a certain task needed, from the experience, education and training of a qualified person, and for the development of the society. The success of the institution or organisation needs these skills performed from an individual’s knowledge and experience. 2. Conceptual skills are skills by which the leader must understand the overall management of his/her organisation and how each individual worker fits into the whole operation. This skill also lets each sub-leader and worker perform duties in line with the goals and objectives of the organisation. 3. Human skills meaning the ability to relate to and work well with other people in the organisation. It is knowing the right way of working with other people, perhaps treating one a bit differently from another where needed. The leaders continue working with the workers/followers, providing motivation and encouraging combined effort. Human resources skill is very important because it deals with the relationships of people and the daily rules and regulations of the organisation. Human skills provide their specific institution of how each daily activity is managed and supervised, by the individuals or groups of workers. Both technical and human skills play an important role in the organisation set up, because all leaders need participation and relationship with people in their daily production tasks to make the organisation successful. Conceptual skills play a role in the general set up of the organisation and make each unit or department function to produce well for the complete group. Leaders of organisations/institutions/churches/nations need additional skills to be successful in managing their subordinates/workers: 1. Planning is very important for the leader, because it is a process in which the leader identifies the present resources and sets desired activities to meet the future goals. The planning process includes designing the system to follow, setting goals and objectives for the organisation, identifying the required resources and sourcing of them and then making a timed action plan for the benefit of the organisation. 2. Organising refers to the arrangement of the resources for the implementation of tasks in line with people and their needs. The leader gives people jobs suited to their skills in knowing how best to perform their duties. The authority of the individual must be clear in accordance with the structure of the organisation. 3. Directing means guiding and supervising the activities of all workers to ensure that performances meet the goals and objectives of the organisation. 4. Coordinating means to control the activities of various groups, synchronising all at once to ensure that the work goes on successfully and without stopping. The various sections produce one result and are united together. 5. Controlling is another leadership skill designed to ensure that every task in all offices, units and departments, is performed successfully and progresses. The controlling process includes realistic assessments, monitoring and evaluating them, before making appropriate decisions. This skill is best developed efficiently while carrying out leadership tasks. Controlling need not mean dictating or ‘hands on directing’ everything yourself! 6. Communicating must be effective between leaders and the workers of every organisation. Good communication conveys messages to the workers/offices and receives messages from them. It exists in two ways. Communicating is not only giving a message. It must be intelligibly received. A communicator must know if he/she has been understood or not. This exchange of messages may include talking face to face, speaking on the phone, listening over Skype (or equivalent), writing, emailing and reading. The leader needs to use all aspects of communication skills to try and make the workers understand the rules and regulations of the organisation, to solve emergencies and arising conflicts, which could hold up everybody’s progress. 7. Delegating is needed at the time the leader has an overload of work or is absent from his/her office. It means to transfer some work to appointed specific others. Sumbye Kapena is Senior Lecturer in the School of Business, Copperbelt University, Zambia. He gives us his explanation of the word “delegate” using an alliteration to help us remember how to delegate to other people: D= Deciding what to delegate to individuals E= Electing the person/individual to be your delegate L= Listing all that is to be involved in the tasks of the delegate E= Explaining the task correctly to motivate the one who is delegated G= Giving any training necessary to achieve the tasks A= Allowing freedom for him/her to work T= Telling others in the organisation about his/her delegation E= Evaluating the performance of his/her delegation[53] To delegate is very important, even before the need desperately arises. 8. Motivation means to make someone feel enthusiastic and determined to do something. This helps subordinates by creating a spirit of trust and confidence to achieve together the organisation’s goals and objectives. 9. Time management is very important. Every day that passes is a day we will never get back. The leader must know how to arrange his/her own time and be a good time planner for his team of co-workers. Effective time management means everything must be finished by the agreed time. This can make the organisation more efficient and successful. Hitting time targets reduces a lot of wastage. 10. Decision making is another vital leadership skill. It means the “ability to make choices quickly, confidently and effectively”.[54] Leaders make decisions about the distribution of duties and in the performance of tasks. Decision-making involves the ability to reach out to resolve conflicts within and outside the system. The wise leader reaches out to people to end the problem according to the nature of the conflict. 11. Setting the right example is important and very effective, because it shows others the right way to conduct themselves. The leader imagines he/she is part of the group and then leads others from there to work as required. How to deal with various conflicts There are many ways the leader can solve problems encountered in his/her organisation. Conflicts may appear between two workers or two groups of workers. They may arise between the leader him/herself and a worker, or another leader, or with groups of workers. The leader can choose to use the methods outlined below to find a way of dealing with disagreements: Six ways to solve conflict in an organisation 1. Ignoring it may be appropriate where individuals or groups of people are not desirous to meet face to face with each other. Their hot tempers need to cool down first. When the conflict becomes less sharp, the leader must decide when to bring the parties around the table for decisions to be made to end their conflicts. 2. Dominating the conflict where the leader controls or threatens by using force of communication on the parties to stop their angry disagreements and start working together normally. This method may be good in a situation that uses autocratic leadership styles, but must not become cruel or intolerant of others. Dominating is good in crisis situations like emergencies and in organisations which have clear structures and job descriptions requiring absolute obedience to their leaders, such as in the Army. It may become useful when other conflict resolution methods have not worked and the conflict continues unresolved. 3. Accommodating the parties in conflict, the leaders may bring two or more of them together around the table to discuss matters related to their disagreement. Good leadership will bring solution through dialogue and mediation. The leader may remind all the parties about the positive things they share together and, while not ignoring the negative aspects that bring conflicts, discuss from a position of common ground. This is especially helpful in an organisation which has a high level of shared interests, such as family, wider relatives, villagers, communities, etc. 4. Compromising is almost always necessary. “Compromise is a way of solving a disagreement in which both people (or parties) accept that they cannot have everything they want”.[55] It is the basis of much democracy. The leader brings the quarrelling parties together and takes time to listen carefully to their every argument. Then the leader points to the areas of weakness and strength on all sides, before convincing them that faults are in the nature of human beings. Given time and complete honesty, the leader gently but firmly assists the conflicting parties to bring peace between themselves. 5. Collaborating similarly uses time to listen to every argument of both (or more) parties. The leader or chairperson points out the negatives and the positives from every side and, together with outside observers or mediators, comes up with his/her own solutions to end the problems. This method is often used to end long term conflicts. 6. Administering punishment when necessary. Any sanctions and disciplines must be proportionate and clearly aimed at helping those punished, not hurting them. Discipline is not for revenge but for restoration. It must be fair and seen to be fair. It should be carried out immediately after faults. The offenders and the organisation must both be able to see how to progress forward after the issue is dealt with. Conclusion Jesus Christ, the foundation of Christian leadership, is the “head over every power and authority”, Colossians 2:9-10. Through His leadership God’s vision is accomplished. He raises up effective and productive human leaders in our churches, organisations, communities and for building our nations. Biblical leaders, who seek God’s will on earth, under God transform individuals, churches and nations for the good of society and God’s glory. Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”, Matthew 6:10. Today God still seeks leaders who will bear good fruits for His glory and work for the benefit of all people and the unity of His people, locally as well as all over the world. “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love”, John 15:8-9. God raises the biblical leaders who serve others first and who work for the good of others, to achieve what God has intended to overcome in the history of human beings. Ultimately every human need will never be satisfied until Jesus comes for the second time, to judge everyone and to restore us from the awful tragedies of sin. God seeks Christ-centred leaders, those with whom He can share His own heart and “all authority in heaven and on earth”, Matthew 28:18-20. He commands us to go to all nations, preaching, teaching and baptising people for kingdom of God. Jesus Christ was a natural servant leader and is the answer to all the human needs in this world. All Christians, church leaders, community leaders, civic leaders and national leaders need to take Jesus’ styles of leadership and to live by them, while endeavouring to meet the needs of the people they serve. You need to live like the great leaders from the Bible, to do and establish God’s will for present and future generations. Biblical leaders are empowered by God’s vision. They seek it to be fulfilled at a given time, in certain geographical locations, whenever and wherever they are responsible. It is God’s purpose to achieve His vision through each leader who is totally available to Him for the good of other people. Both the leaders of the church and the nation in South Sudan and Sudan should fulfil this vision today. It is the same God who worked with the great biblical leaders of their times who wants to work through us now. I hope and pray that every leader of church or nation will be creative along with their Creator, to bring about constructive change for the future with their people. God has called us into His holy service and ministry to serve His people for the advancement of His kingdom. Government and church are equally servants of God. Nation-building needs committed, positive, biblical, Christ-like leadership, from God-gifted servants who will persevere to accomplish God’s will and bring the needful changes in Sudan and South Sudan, bringing everyone peace, security, productive satisfying work, medical care, educational opportunities and personal with community development. May God raise, call and equip Christian sons and daughters from the soil of our nations to fill these invaluable roles. May we grow within our means and cooperatively “rule over” the land and the livestock He has given us, Genesis 1:26-27. Fighting against each other has no place. May all of us fight together, shoulder to shoulder alongside one another, to become the nation God wants us to be. Discussion guide Using this chapter and Scriptures quoted 1. Define “biblical” in your own words. A highly critical study of the Bible could be considered “biblical” by some people. How do you suggest the word “biblical” be qualified so that it means something positive about the Bible? 2 Timothy 3:14-17. 2. What are the implications for nation-building from Proverbs 14:34? “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people”. Following what specific principles must we develop “a shared sense of identity or community among the various groups making up a particular” nation? 3. Taking Joseph, Genesis 41:41; Moses, Exodus 3:7-12; Queen Esther, Esther 4:15-17; and Daniel, Daniel 6:1-14; in turn, explain why they could be good and godly leaders who helped their (or their adopted) nations. Do not take too long on each one; alternatively, divide into four groups and look at one character each. 4. Using Kur’s list of ten “characteristics central to the development of servant leaders”, put them in your own order of importance. Give reasons for allocating them where you do. 5. “Jesus Christ was always suited to every leadership situation He faced”. Share as many examples of Jesus’ leadership from the four Gospels and Acts as you can, to support this statement. 6. How do biblical leaders “bear much fruit” in their service to God? “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love”, John 15:8-9. Be as specific as you can. 7. Since God told humanity to cooperatively rule over the land and the livestock, Genesis 1:26-27, how can we peacefully stop individuals, or groups of similar people, trying to do it on their own? Does it have to be peaceful? Why? Why not? Colossians 3:15. [1] Charles H.H.Scobie The Ways of our God: an approach to Biblical Theology (W. Eerdmans: Grand Rapids, Michigan) 2003, p.3-4. [2] Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 2017, www.pearsonELT.com . [3] Peter G. Northouse (editor) Leadership Theory and Practice (5th edition, Sage Publications: Los Angeles, CA) 2010, p.5. [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadership . [5] Todd Engstrom What is biblical leadership? http://toddengstrom.com/ article dated 11th November 2013. [6] Jan Warren Duggar The role of integrity in individual and effective corporate leadership (Journal of Academic and Business Ethics) 2009, p.1-4. www.aabri.com/jabe.html . [7]David White What is integrity? 2014, http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-integrity-definition-examples.html . [8] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrity . [9] Dr. Sinclair Dinnen Nation-building concept paper Australian National University, Canberra, 2006, http://www2.pazifik-infostelle.org/uploads/DossierNationBuilding.pdf p.1-11. [10] Andrea K. Riemer The concepts of state building, nation building and society building 2005, p.377. http://zmne.hu/aarms/docs/Volume4/Issue3/pdf/01riem.pdf . [11] Pierre Manent A World Beyond Politics? A Defence of the Nation-State (New French Thought Series, Princeton University Press, NJ) 2013, revised 2017, p.23-31. [12] Collins online dictionary https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/nation [13] Chambers Students leaving dictionary for intermediate learners of English (Hodder & Stoughton: London). [14] Max Planck Yearbook of United Nations Law State-Building, Nation-Building, and Constitutional Politics in Post-Conflict Situations, essay from the (Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Leiden, Netherlands)2005, p. 580-613. [15] Andrea K. Riemer The concepts of state building, nation building and society building 2005, p.371. http://zmne.hu/aarms/docs/Volume4/Issue3/pdf/01riem.pdf [16] Good News Translation. [17] Andrea K. Riemer Ibid. [18] Max Planck Yearbook of United Nations Law State-Building, Nation-Building, and Constitutional Politics in Post-Conflict Situations, essay from the (Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Leiden, Netherlands)2005, p. 580-581. [19] Dr. Sinclair Dinnen Nation-building concept paper Australian National University, Canberra, 2006. http://www2.pazifik-infostelle.org/uploads/DossierNationBuilding.pdf p.1-5. [20] Chambers-EAEP English Student Learner's Dictionary (London) July 2009. [21] Wilbur O’Donovan, Biblical Christianity in African Perspective (Paternoster Press: Milton Keynes, UK) 1996, p.41-43. [22] Chambers-EAEP English Student Learner's Dictionary (London) July 2009. [23] AV, KJV, NKJV, NASV and more translations. [24] www.colinsalter.net Encouragement to Sudanese/South Sudanese Christian Workers, No. 49 “All authorities … established by God”? September 2017. Also see chapter 19 of this book, p.384. [25] Wilbur 0’Donovan Biblical Christianity in Modern Africa (Send the Light: Carlisle) 2000, p.167-180. [26] Dr. Adem Zogjani The Role of Power in Effective Leadership and Followership: the Albania Case (University of Haxhi Zeka, Peje, Kosovo) https://ideas.repec.org/a/rau/journl/v9y2014i1p89-102.html . [27] Robert H Palestini Educational Administration: Leading with Mind and Heart: (ScarecrowEducation: 2nd edition Oxford, UK) 2005, p.204-210. [28] Sumbye Kapena How to be a wise leader (Paulines Africa: Nairobi) 2013, p.25-34. Dr. Adem Zogjani The Role of Power in Effective Leadership and Followership: the Albania Case (University of Haxhi Zeka, Peje, Kosovo) https://ideas.repec.org/a/rau/journl/v9y2014i1p89-102.html . p.8-9. [29] Cardone Industries Inc. Core Philosophy (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA) 1970, https://www.cardone.com/about-us/core-philosophy . [30] Ken Blanchard Leading at a Higher Level (Pearson Educational Ltd., Harlow, UK) 2010, p.17-30, p.268-270. [31] Good News Translation. [32] The Voice. [33]Robert K Greenleaf The Servant as Leader https://www.greenleaf.org/what-is-servant-leadership/ 1970. [34] http://toservefirst.com/definition-of-servant-leadership.html . [35] Good News Translation. [36] Larry Spears & Michele Lawrence Focus on Leadership: Servant-Leadership for the Twenty-First Century (John Wiley & Sons: Canada Ltd.) 2002, p.7,227. [37] https://www.regent.edu/acad/global/publications/jvl/vol1_iss1/Spears_Final.pdf [38] Robert K. Greenleaf The Power of Servant Leadership (Berrett-Koehler Publishers: San Francisco) 1998, p.53. [39] Sumbye Kapena How to be a wise leader (Paulines Publications Africa: Nairobi) 2000, p.23. [40] Thorsten Grahn Jesus: the role model for Christian leadership (Claybury International) 2011, p.1-3, http://christian-leadership.org/jesus-the-role-model-for-christian-leaders/ . [41] King James Version/Authorised Version. [42] Dr. Forrest. E. Harries, Sr. The Biblical Foundations of Leadership (President, American Baptist College: Nashville, TN) https://divinity.vanderbilt.edu/programs/kmsi/BiblicalFoundationsofLeadership.pdf p.5. [43] King James Version/Authorised Version. [44] Good News Translation. [45] New American Standard Bible. [46] Ken Blanchard Leading at a Higher Level (Pearson Educational Ltd., Harlow, UK) 2010, p.28-30. [47] Kris Vallotton The Power of a Vision https://jesusculture.com/posts/1450-the-power-of-a-vision/ October 2009. [48] Guy S. Saffold Strategic Planning: Leadership Through Vision (Evangel publishing house: Nairobi, Kenya) 2005 p.130-148. [49] Ibid. p.18-19. [50] Robert Moffitt quoted in To Transform a City: Whole Church, Whole Gospel, Whole City by Eric Swanson and Sam William (Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI) 2005. [51] Macmillan School Dictionary (Oxford UK) 2004. [52] Macmillan School Dictionary (Oxford UK) 2004. [53]Sumbye Kapena How to be a wise leader (Paulines Publications Africa: Nairobi) 2000, p.50-51. [54] Macmillan School Dictionary (Oxford UK) 2004. [55] Macmillan School Dictionary (Oxford UK) 2004.

Christian theology in a Sudanese context. The essential nature and character of God. The Justice of God Righteousness and justice are two English words that translate the same word groups from Hebrew (tsedek) and Greek (dikaios). Once a student in my class at Gereif was asked to give his own definition of God’s righteousness. He stood and said: “God’s holy conformity with Himself in the Old Testament, interpreted by His relationship to His creation”. His fellow students were laughing at the way he said it and I think he may have been reading from a study-Bible! They were not his own words at all! But perhaps I am doing him an injustice! Maybe it genuinely was his own definition. Since God’s character is holy, righteousness and justice are evident in His dealings with humanity. Right-eousness means He will always do what is right (Deuteronomy 32:3-4; Psalm 145:17). God Himself decides what is right and what is wrong. His justice means that He will always reward the right and punish the wrong. On a number of roadsides around the three cities of Khartoum, Khartoum North and Omdurman, men set up stalls or shops to sell the clay pots they have made. Some of the pots are used for holding water, others for earth and garden plants, while the more brightly coloured ones are only for decoration. Paul says that we are like the clay while God is like the potter. We cannot say to God, ‘Why do you do this and not that?’ The potter has every right to make what he wants from the clay! (Romans 9:19-21; Isaiah 64:8). However, because we know that God is perfectly just and right, we need never be afraid of Him being bribed or corrupted in some other way, in His dealings with us. God is our judge. He keeps a record of all that we do (2 Corinthians 5:10). God has authority to pass sentence on us. But he does not balance our good deeds against our bad deeds and deal with us according to the credit or debit balance! A Muslim expects ‘Allah Al-Adl’ to be fair in giving out what is due to everyone. One tradition pictures Allah giving ‘shade’ on a day when there is no other shade, but he gives it only to fair-minded imams, to young men who really love Allah, to people whose hearts are attached to their mosques, to men who turn down illicit sex out of fear of Allah, and to men who give secretly to charity. As a Christian I know I cannot possibly deserve anything but punishment at God’s judgement. God’s justice would be compromised if He simply ignored my sin or said it did not matter. So as a Christian I trust myself to a Saviour. The Lord Jesus Christ made atonement for the sins of the world when He died on the cross. Jesus represented me in taking the punishment I deserved. God can justly forgive me, because the penalty has already been paid by my Saviour (Romans 3:23-26). If you were ever taken to one of the Ministry of Justice law courts, to be tried for an alleged crime, you would be entitled to a lawyer who would defend you. In God’s final court, Jesus Christ is the only defence advocate (1 John 2:1-2). A Christian can say with Job that he is trusting in Another to save him on judgement day, not trusting in his own good deeds (Job 16:19-21). Thinking it through. (a). What is the difference between ‘being given justice’ by God, and ‘getting what we deserve’ from Him? (b). Bribery may get you what you want – but is it ‘just’? Why? (c).How do the other attributes of God that we have seen, give us the confidence that God will always be just and fair?

Bible reading: 1 John 4vs9-16. My life (put) alongside God's word, volume 1. In 1 John 4:14 we read the clearest statement of the meaning of Christmas one could ever wish to see. In fact, between vv9-16 we read no less than three times why God the Father sent God the Son into the world, (see vv9, 10, 14). Since all three texts involve the word “sent” we should first establish the precise meaning of this word. The English dictionary defines: “To have caused or ordered (a person or thing) to be taken, directed or transmitted to another place”.[1] The Greek dictionary says of the word apostello: “to commission, to set forth to serve”. Putting these together we can understand that, within the mysterious Trinity Who is Almighty God, God the Father commanded God the Son from heaven to earth. We know from elsewhere “Christ is the image of the invisible God” and “in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” Colossians 1:15, 2:9. So it could be put like this, “God Himself came to earth and in His (God's) human life He showed us what God is like, in ways understandable to us”. In His mind God the Father had a specific task, a lifetime of service. God the Son came from the glorious, heavenly presence of God the Trinity, into a human body in Bethlehem’s scruffy stable. He would soon be named ‘Jesus’. He was conceived miraculously in Mary’s womb. As Joseph was told, Jesus would, “save His people from their sins”, Matthew 1:21. Please note: there was no sex between God and Mary as some wrongly think. There didn’t need to be any sex. This was a wonderfully pure miracle of Almighty God, implanting a divine seed through the “overshadowing”, Luke 1:35, of God the Holy Spirit, into a remarkably submissive human being. He had set apart Mary for this awesomely responsible privilege. How I wish I had Mary’s faith! Luke 1:38. Jesus would live a sinless and perfect life. He would die an undeserving death, because God was showing His great love to the world during that first Christmas. This part of 1 John is all about the love of God. It is “a great love” 3:1, “we know what love is by Jesus’ atoning death” 3:16, “love comes from God” 4:7, “God loved us and sent His Son” 4:10, “God so loved us” 4:11, “we can rely on the love God has for us” 4:16, and surely the most wonderful description of God in the entire Bible: “God is love” 4:16. (Italics all mine). Knowing we are thinking about God and His love for us, let’s now examine the three 1 John texts which say “God sent His Son into the world”. 1. “God sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him” 4:9. In His love God has provided a way for spiritually dead people to come alive, being born again into a living, daily relationship with God Himself. All people are born like lame animals, unable to be fully what they were created to be. Our human “lameness” is because we have disregarded God and His laws. We have lived our own way. We are “sinners”, Matthew 1:21. Jesus was not lame like us. He was everything humankind was created to be, and more besides! 2. “God sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” 4:10. Because God loves everyone of us so very much – even though we have done nothing to deserve His love – God has faced His own wrath and judgement for sin. This was when God the Son, Jesus, died on Calvary’s cross. Jesus was born to die, at the hand of God, in our place. Elsewhere Scripture says, “God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ”, 2 Corinthians 5:19. When peoples war against each other it can sometimes end when a Peace Agreement is signed. Jesus is God’s offered Peace Agreement to us. Unlike human agreements, there is no negotiation. God Himself has paid everything necessary for our peace with Him, using His own spilt blood. This is now a ‘take it or leave it’ offer. 3. “God sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world” 4:14. John writes that we can trustingly rely on God’s shown love for us, 4:16. Everyone who wants to may ask Jesus to be their own personal Saviour. A “Saviour” is “a deliverer, a safe-keeper”, “a person who rescues another from danger or harm”,[2] As young children rely on their parents, so we can rely on God. What a tremendous privilege, to have God Himself as the One in Whom we can trust, not only for this life but also through death and beyond. At Christmas time, when many people give gifts to one another, (and at other times) remember the greatest Gift of all time. God gave His own Human Life to death so that you and I may one day stand before Him, free from all of our sin. Our Saviour – the Lord Jesus Christ, will shelter us! Let us all take time now to praise the name of Jesus! Discussion questions: 1. How can you explain the Holy Spirit’s “overshadowing” of Mary to someone who believes “it must have been sex”? Consider Luke 9:28-36, where the same Greek word (episkiazo) appears in v34, describing the transfiguration of our Lord Jesus. 2. There is a difference between all of John’s references to God’s love and the text, “God is love”, 1 John 4:16. We know what it means to “love someone”, but what does it mean to “be love”? 3. Read 1 John 4:15-16. How does any person “know and rely on the love God has for us” v16? How do you? [1] Collins English Dictionary (Harper Collins: Glasgow) 1994. [2] Vine’s Expository Dictionary (Nelson: Nashville) 1996.

Acts 15vs36-40; 16vs1-5. Church Growing Pains. A friend of mine once wrote an article in a missionary magazine about the immense task facing his mission. "How do you eat an elephant?" he asked, and he came up with two answers. The first was simply 'one mouthful at a time'. If that was too slow an option he said, the second way is 'bring others to eat it with you'. Our Lord Jesus called Peter and Andrew, James and John, and the other disciples to follow him. "'Come, follow me', Jesus said "and I will make you fishers of men.' At once they left their nets and followed Him", Matthew 4vs19 and 20. My old Boys Brigade captain encouraged me into the ministry. I learned a great deal at his Bible class at the church in the London Borough of Hounslow where I was converted. While still a teenager he would ask me to give a testimony when he was preaching in nearby churches. Then I was asked to read the Bible passage and later to lead the service through. My first attempt at being master of ceremonies was before that while I was about 10 years old in the Methodist Sunday School. I did everything quite reasonably well, except I announced the last hymn instead of the sermon. When my parents teased me over lunch I'm told I replied "It didn't matter really because we'd heard it all before!" As the months and a few years passed by I led my first service and preached at a little Baptist church adjacent to Heathrow airport, London on November 27th 1966. I still have the notes I preached from. When I read them now I wonder how on earth the people listened so politely and restrained themselves from ejecting me from their pulpit. Yet ministries have to start somewhere. If we cannot make those dreadful mistakes in a church pulpit where can we begin? I thank God for the men who let me into their pulpits although they were many times more competent than I was. By their faith and confidence in God I have learned through experience what it means to "preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction", 2 Timothy 4vs2. We can now look at several examples in the book of Acts where people encouraged others into a ministry. The first is in Acts 11vs25, 26 where "Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch". Barnabas knew Saul from the time when he brought him to a rather reluctant group of disciples in Acts 9vs26, 27. He respected Saul's conversion and was able to forgive him for his past violent attacks on Christians. He watched Saul "speaking boldly in the name of the Lord" , while in Jerusalem, Acts 9vs28, before a murder plot forced Saul back to his home town of Tarsus. Out of sight was not out of mind as far as Barnabas was concerned for Saul. Having been different to virtually everyone else in discerning what God was doing in Saul's life, Barnabas brings Saul back into the mainstream of events at Antioch. He had been sent there himself to see what God was doing in bringing people from Greek and Jewish backgrounds into faith. Because large numbers of people had been brought to the Lord (The Greek word 'mega' is used three times in Acts 11vs21, 24 and 26) there was a huge need for systematic discipleship. Who could help Barnabas ground these folk in the Scriptures and the events of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Barnabas thought of Saul. He recalled how Saul's commission had been to carry the name of Jesus Christ before the Gentiles, Acts 9vs15. He remembered with a warm glow how Saul had baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ, Acts 9vs22. He knew Saul had had experience of talking and debating with Greek-speaking Jews in Jerusalem, Acts 9vs29. The brothers had wisely taken him out of that situation when he provoked death threats against himself, but Barnabas thought that here was another chance in a different environment to use all of Saul's knowledge and experience. It sounds easy, Acts 11vs25, "Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul." We could have picked up a phone and had Saul tracked down in virtually no time. We could have invited him to join us and received an answer within an hour, if not a few minutes. I first learned how difficult the events of this little verse were when we wanted someone to take a lecture for us at an evangelists' conference in Khartoum North, Sudan. The proposed speaker was a pastor from the other side of Khartoum. No telephone in his house or ours (not that they work very well even if we had had them). My friend and I travelled by bus for one and a half hours and walked a further thirty minutes to his house. He was away for a few days and was expected back Monday or Tuesday. We left him a note of what we wanted, but we would need a reply to our request for we may have to ask someone else if he couldn't come. It was a two hour journey back. Late Tuesday evening we again crossed the town to this man's home to find he was out and had not left us any message. We were welcome to wait for what was expected to be an hour or so. Three hours later the man did finally come home and said "Yes, I'll be delighted to come and speak at the conference." It had taken us eleven hours spread over five days to get that reply. It would have been five minutes on the phone. Barnabas travelled some 200 miles from Antioch to Tarsus. He would not have been totally sure that Saul would be there, and during the ten-day journey must have wondered whether he was wasting his time. The Greek word translated 'to look for', 'anazeteo', means to look intensively, to search carefully, implying difficulty and effort. One commentator paraphrases it "Barnabas hunted him up". He must have really wanted him in his ministry team to have put himself out so much. Is there a lesson for us in that? Like Barnabas we should look for the potential in Christian people, we should keep our eyes open for possibilities of service, and we should be prepared to pay a personal price for bringing people into what God wants for them. Did Barnabas ever use his time more effectively for the long-term growth of the church? Of course it did not stop there. Barnabas also shared the nurturing of dozens of young and uninstructed believers in Antioch with Saul. While they were doing that the senior man was also instructing the junior along the way. Then in Acts 13vs1-3 the two men team up again on a missionary journey. They are called by God and confirmed by the church at Antioch. By Acts 13vs13 the team is already starting to become known as "Paul and his companions". There is a hurdle we must overcome if we are to be faithful to God in bringing others into the ministry. We do not have to stay at the head of things. Just as parents have to let their children grow into adulthood and give freedom to them to develop their own lives in their own way, we must be ready to take a back seat as those God pairs with us to bring into the ministry establish their own spheres of service. They may go with a different church or mission group. They may do what we do, but differently - perhaps in a more relevant way. They may become more famous than us! Praise God. We obeyed Him and did what He asked us to the best of our ability. Our second example is Barnabas and John Mark, Acts 15vs36-41. Mark had gone with Paul and Barnabas from Antioch on their first missionary journey, Acts 13vs5. He was only with them in Cyprus and when their boat reached the mainland at Perga John left them to go back to his mother's home in Jerusalem, see Acts 12vs12. Paul and Barnabas obviously viewed his dropping out differently to each other. Acts 15vs37 and 38 "Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work." Perhaps Paul was concerned about the work: "We cannot have an unreliable person with us", while Barnabas was characteristically concerned for the worker: "We cannot leave him as a failure for all his life". Barnabas' family relationship with Mark would undoubtedly be an influence, Colossians 4vs10. I am very thankful that I have had more than one opportunity in Christian work. I try to learn from my mistakes and so I hope to be more useful as the years go by. The "sharp disagreement", Acts 15vs39 was very real and hurtful to both men. It is costly to team up with some people when others disagree. If God is calling us to help restart a failure then we must do it. Barnabas helped this failure not to fail again. He received Mark back, which is one of the ways of translating 'paralambano' "Barnabas took Mark". Paul may have written him off, but Barnabas had not. Paul himself later acknowledged Mark's value in the ministry, 2 Timothy 4vs11. Acts 15vs40 could mean that Barnabas was really out on a limb as it appears the brethren commended the team of Paul and Silas while not so commending Barnabas and Mark. In any case he wisely went back with Mark to Cyprus, his own home and the place where Mark had started and succeeded in his earlier ministry. It seems that Paul and Barnabas agreed to preserve their earlier work, by one team going to Cyprus and the other to Asia Minor. God encouraged unity by separation. Perhaps each one would learn in time that the other had had a valid point. God cares both for His work and all of His workers. Mark traditionally wrote his gospel at the dictation of Peter who frequently visited his family home, Acts 12vs12. His Christian upbringing and Christian friends did a great deal towards God's plan for his life. Our third example is of a church speaking well of one of its younger people and encouraging him into the ministry. Timothy was a disciple in Lystra, Acts 16vs1. He had mixed race parents and it was his mother's side that taught him the Scriptures. Paul wrote later "I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also." "From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus", 2 Timothy 1vs5, 3vs15. The family is always a great way of encouraging another into the ministry. It need not be a clergyman or preaching missionary. God requires His people in all walks of life and He regards them all as His ministers. We should tell our children of the great saints of history and pray that God will fulfil His plan for their own lives. When Paul and Silas arrived in Lystra from Derbe the Bible narrative says "The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him (Timothy)" Acts 16vs2. A selfish church may have been looking out for its own interests and been wanting to keep Timothy to lead the youth group and occasional services. An ignorant or careless church would not have noticed the blossoming Christian talent in their midst. These believers had a wider church on their minds and the future of their young protege on their hearts. They may have given the suggestion to Paul and Silas that wider experience would help him immensely. They willingly accepted the need for circumcision so as not to create a possible obstacle in ministry elsewhere. There was no need for it, but it was helpful to the scope of the work. Were the prophecies mentioned by Paul given in Lystra or Iconium? We don't know, but Paul drew Timothy's attention to them when the ministry was going to be difficult. "Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight." 1 Timothy 1vs18. "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands", 2 Timothy 1vs6. The church noticed, encouraged, supported, advised, took an interest in Timothy. Paul invited him, commissioned him, reminded him of his calling, gave him opportunities, 1 Timothy 1vs3, and developed a 'father and son' relationship with Timothy all the way through their respective ministries. I thank God for the privilege of helping some people over the years who are now pastors or their wives, lay elders in churches or homegroup leaders, missionaries in England and elsewhere. At the time it probably seemed as if Brenda and I were simply helping these individuals through a sticky patch in their lives, but now looking back over twenty years we can see a lot more that God had in mind. Who should you be giving opportunities to? Do not exclude people on the basis of what they believe or do not believe. We saw in an earlier chapter how Aquila and Priscilla invited Apollos into their home for a while so that they could share with him a more adequate explanation of the way of God. Teaching, persuading, encouraging, recommending and releasing are all in this story of Acts 18vs26-28. The end result was an immense help to the believers in Achaia as Apollos debated wholeheartedly with their Jewish colleagues, and was able to prove from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ. When Jesus Christ told His disciples to "Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest field", Luke 10vs2, He also challenged us to pray for co-workers, to partner them, to provide for them and to point them in the general direction in which He is preparing to use them. Discussion questions Can you think of jobs you do in the fellowship that you could involve someone else in? Giving out bulletin sheets could be a start! Are you ready for them to do it better than you do? When was the last time you encouraged someone into a ministry you could see they had?

the message of God's prophet Amos, 5:14, 24. God Rules, O.K.? 1. God speaks to people through people. 1:3 “This is what the Lord says” (also vs6, 9, 11, 13; 2:4, 6 etc.) – How does the Lord speak? 1:1 “The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekon.” I hope that as many of you come Sunday by Sunday to KIC, you come anticipating, hoping, expecting to hear ‘the Word of the Lord’ to you, somehow through His people. The word ‘shepherd’ describing Amos is not the most common word. It is ‘noked’, a shepherd who cared for a particular breed of sheep, the Arabian ‘nakad’, an ugly looking dwarf sized sheep – whose wool was especially valuable. Application: You can’t always tell by outward appearances, the real value of what you see and hear. God may lodge a little something in your heart today He will bring to your mind tomorrow when it is just the right word for you to have. You may turn TV, radio on/off at your convenience, but not God! 2. God speaks in His own time. This prophecy is dated 1:1 “two years before (an) earthquake”, when two particular kings were enthroned. And it contained a surprising message from God: vs2 “the Lord roars from Zion.” When does a lion roar? Not when hunting, stalking or when resting. A lion roars at the moment of attack! Amos – as a shepherd, knew from experiences! His surprising message to Israel was this – ‘Although you are in a time of comparative peace and prosperity, and everything is quiet around you; watch out!’ ‘God is on the attack’. 8:8 and 9:5 give us a Sudanese visual aid. As you watch the River Nile rise after the flooding rains higher upriver, and you know every year it rises and then falls, so – without knowing the precise dates – we know God speaks, He certainly speaks – “(This earthquake) makes the whole land rise like the Nile, and be stirred up, and then sink like the river of Egypt.” 3. God brings ultimate justice. Chapters 1 and 2:5 describe why God brings “fire, destruction, wrath,” upon Israel’s neighbours. Their wickedness is briefly described in each section: “threshing other nations, capturing communities to slavery, ignoring written agreements made, murdering rather than having compassion, slaughtering pregnant women and their unborn children in a greedy rampage for personal power.” Illustration: God will settle all injustice. U.S. President Bush last year quickly changed the name of his campaign against Al Qaeda when Moslems and Christians – including myself, were deeply offended by his first choice: “ultimate justice” is something no man can give – only God can do so, and He will. 4. God’s own people are not immune from God’s justice. “Judah” 2:4, 5, “and Israel” 2:6-16 are both judged with fire and destruction by God. Having been “diverted into worshiping false gods” and “rejected God’s laws”, having turned their hearts from God, God turned His wrath upon them. Please read Amos 2:6-16: Judgment on Israel 6 This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not relent. They sell the innocent for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. 7 They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane My holy name. 8 They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. In the house of their god they drink wine taken as fines. 9 “Yet I destroyed the Amorites before them, though they were tall as the cedars and strong as the oaks. I destroyed their fruit above and their roots below. 10 I brought you up out of Egypt and led you forty years in the wilderness to give you the land of the Amorites. 11 “I also raised up prophets from among your children and Nazirites from among your youths. Is this not true, people of Israel?” declares the Lord. 12 “But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy. 13 “Now then, I will crush you as a cart crushes when loaded with grain. 14 The swift will not escape, the strong will not muster their strength, and the warrior will not save his life. 15 The archer will not stand his ground, the fleet-footed soldier will not get away, and the horseman will not save his life. 16 Even the bravest warriors will flee naked on that day,” declares the Lord. Notice in vs10-12, the words “I, I, I … but you …”. God provided for His people’s physical needs, and their spiritual needs, but they “silenced the prophets God told to speak.” Mankind – who thinks he is almighty tries to silence God – who actually is almighty! Application: And you and I may have tried to do it too! We choose the parts of the Bible we read and obey, work hard at some while we avoid what doesn’t suit us. Some Sudanese tribes may have an excuse: God’s word is not all available in their language. But for most of us we have it all – but we do not heed it all. Only our favourite bits, ignoring the rest. 5. So, God sends catastrophes. Amos 3:1, 4:1, 5:1 all begin “Hear this word … the Lord (has, seen and knows and is going to deal with you).” 3:2 ‘I have chosen you … but I will punish you’, says God. (As in the New Testament: God disciplines those He loves; He prunes serving branches for fruitfulness). See Hebrews 12, John 15. 4:1 “You oppress the poor and crush the needy” while outwardly going through religious practices vs4-5. You are hypocrites ‘bragging about your donation’ while living in luxury at the expense of others. See what God had done: chapter 4. Read Amos 4:6, 7, 8, 10, 11 “I (God) have done this”. In your past – you have ignored Me – now then vs12 “prepare to meet your God”. Five terrifying words! Illustration: When God withdraws some of His blessings and benefits today, we have a world summit, or we change economic policies; we contrive together to ‘manage ourselves out of this crisis’! Application: Missions are tight for money, permissions are denied: leaders who will say God is speaking to us. Where are the country or mission/business leaders who will call their people to confess their sin – open sin and secret sin; to repent before God and to cast themselves on God’s mercy? 4:13 “(God) forms the mountains, creates the wind, reveals His thoughts to man, eclipses the sun, treads the earth: the Lord God Almighty is His name.” I think the devil gets blamed for a lot that God does! Application: Notice God’s full description. How big is your God? Is He a ‘pet’ domesticated God you bring out to play with now and again? Is He a lame God? A cute and cuddly God? A lucky charm God – touched when you want something? Or, is He the God of all these minor prophets, including Amos? 6. God restates what He wants from us. 5:4, 6 “This is what the Lord says: Seek me and live.” How do I seek the Lord? Read on … vs7 by seeking justice and righteousness for all; vs11 by meeting the needs of the poor, not living in a way that makes it worse exacerbating them; vs12 encouraging righteousness (holiness), avoiding bribery of any kind – which exploits the poor who cannot give it. Holy living costs! You say ‘but it’s a way of life’. Exodus 23:1-9 “do not follow crowd in doing wrong.” Some Christians cause great problems for others by living to unchristian standards. If “it has to be done” – then your God is not able, and therefore not worth following. Justice that has to be bought is not justice! Which shows a huge difference between ‘mankind’s peace settlements’ with enormous monetary aid incentives – and ‘God’s justice’ put simply in 5 words again: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” Vs14 “Seek good and not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say He is.” A real presence of God, not a false presence living off the past. Vs15 God walks through His people, as He did in Egypt bringing death – but this time His own disobedient, careless people, are the sufferers. Application: Since God can turn against the Israelites, do you think He can also turn against Christians? Beware. He can. Note the Old Testament term 5:18 ‘the day of the Lord’. On Judgement day, it will be too late to change. Application: Why have you come to KIC tonight? Answer in your mind. Now listen to God: 5:21-23 “I hate and despise your religious gatherings … I do not accept what you offer … your Christian singing turns me off as I know you don’t mean half of what you sing.” So – we know what God doesn’t want: what does He want? vs24 is the key, core verse of Amos: “let justice roll on like a river, righteousness (holiness) like a stream bubbling away that never dries up.” ‘Just as the waters flood down the wadi in the rainy season, and the perennial stream continues to flow in the driest of summers, so let justice and righteousness flow through court, market, home and business centres, flooding the whole scene with freshness and cleansing away every impurity. Thus alone could there be reconciliation to God. J.E. McFadyen (in A Cry for Justice) says, “These are immortal words; they express in imperishable form the essence of religion, the simple demands of God upon man. The justice, the righteousness for which Amos here pleads is … a social thing: it is a tender regard for the poor, hatred of the evil conditions that have dwarfed their lives (5:15); it is the spirit that yearns and works for the removal of these conditions; it is, in a word, respect for personality, fair play as between man and man. Let justice, in that sense, run through society, unimpeded by greed or selfishness or cruelty, let it roll on without let or hindrance like the waves of the sea; let it roll on unintermittently, all the year round, whatever be the political weather; let it roll on ‘like a perennial stream’, which even in the fiercest heat of summer never dries up.’” Tatford: Prophet of Social Injustice, p.93. 7. Having restated what God requires, God gives Amos four pictures, chapters 7 and 8. a. Locusts eating crops – God’s judgement, Amos begs God to stop, and God does. 7:1-3. b. A blazing fire engulfing everything – God’s judgement, Amos pleads with God to stop and God does. 7:4-6. c. A plumbline. Illustration: testing a wall of Omdurman shop, is it true (straight etc)? Not sure how this works on the Bank of Khartoum multi-storey construction, ask Ming? God puts His measure against His people. If you have a Bible which presents Lord in capital letters or small lower case letters, notice the change here. Lord = Jehovah Who saves. It changes here 7:7, 8 to Lord ‘Adonai’ – no more is God always Saviour, He is often judge: NIV vs8 “I will spare them no longer.” d. A basket of harvested fruit 8:1-3. After the harvest it is too late to change. Vs11, 12 God’s word towards salvation will no longer be heard. Like the River Nile inevitably rises and falls 8:8 – God’s time for judgement has come. Application: Do not delay in getting right with God! Illustration: Friend membership offer for sports club. Went after weeks – day after the person left! Too late. 8. God’s people have trouble with God’s prophets 7:10-17 God speaks in His own time, bringing real justice to everyone. He is involved in disasters, attracting attention. He restates His consistent demands. God’s people choose to accept or reject. Illustration: State and church align to reject God’s messenger. Like a CD or music tape – ‘I’m not in the mood for that’ turn it off and pick another! “Get out”, “Don’t prophesy any more” vs12, vs14. “Go home you foreigner” vs12. But the prophet has no option. He must be where God wants and say what God says. I am a pastor, not a prophet. Yet my research last year on the role of an International Church may contain some prophetic words for KIC. Elders are looking at some ideas. It is available, some in congregation are reading it. Rejecting me has few consequences. Rejecting God (and you discern what is from Him) will have far reaching consequences! 9. God judges Israel, but still widens salvation to be available to the whole world! Chapter 9 “The Lord” vs1 Sovereign judge, no longer Saviour, vs4 “sees evil, not good for His people.” But 9:11, 12 – verses quoted by James in Acts 15:16 God’s salvation broadens to encompass “all the Nations” – Gentiles and Jews, even vs7 “the Cushites (of Sudan or Upper Nile). Vs13, 15 “The days are coming … says the Lord your God.” Let us individually and corporately hear and receive the Word of the Lord. God Rules, O.K.? Khartoum International Church 1st September 2002.

Thoughts from my journey with JESUS. There are several Bible readings throughout this chapter. As Christian believers we are called by God to be attractively different from all other people around us. In His Sermon on the Mount our Lord Jesus challenges us with, arguably, the greatest need for the whole Church in South Sudan and Sudan today: not to retaliate when wronged, but to positively forgive. For the entire Body of Christ in the two countries to do this, every single one of us Christians needs to live this way, with no exceptions. 1) Please read Matthew 5:38-42; 7:1 Matthew 5:39 reads “But I (Jesus) tell you, do not resist an evil person”. John Stott comments, “Jesus does not deny that (this person) is evil. He asks us neither to pretend that he is other than he is, nor to condone his evil behaviour. What He does not allow is that we retaliate”.[1] The Good News Bible reads, “Do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you”. All four examples Jesus uses are as relevant today as when He spoke them: 1. When you face personal violence, vs39, “Do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you” 2. When you face property violence, vs40, “Do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you” 3. When you face unreasonable pressure to do things, vs41, especially things against your Christian beliefs and practices, “Do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you” 4. When you face heavy demands, vs42, “Do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you”. You will never satisfy yourself by taking revenge or avoiding positively kind actions. In some tribes and cultures, perhaps especially among men, to ‘turn the other cheek’ and to ‘hand over more’ or to ‘go the extra mile’ are perceived as weaknesses. Christians must turn away from that wrong view and always follow the Bible. Consider our Lord Jesus and how He demonstrated the Christian life. He was beaten, spat on, betrayed, framed in court, tortured, left alone and executed. But He never showed weakness. He displayed godliness, just as we should in His strength. Jesus’ perfect Christian life was one of strong and steady self-control. May God the Holy Spirit reproduce in our lives that same fruit for God’s glory and praise. Recall God’s challenge to us from Galatians 5:22-25: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit”. 2) Please read Matthew 6:9-15 Many congregations pray ‘the Lord’s prayer’ Sunday by Sunday. After uplifting God-centred worship in vs9, comes a focus on God’s ‘out-of-this-world’ kingdom, which we pray will soon come here to earth, vs10. Having asked for daily provisions, vs11, verse 12 introduces “forgiveness”. Do not let the familiar words come and go without seriously meditating on them. “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors”. The Good News Bible reads, “Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us”. Matthew 6:12, (italics mine). Because we want forgiveness for our own wrongdoings I wonder if, when we pray these words so regularly, we think more about the first part of the verse than we do about the second? Yet the second part of this verse in the prayer Jesus taught us to regularly use is a warning to me, indeed to us all. We must forgive others if we are to expect any forgiveness from God ourselves. “It is a reminder that we should forgive others in the same way that we seek forgiveness from God, Matthew 6:14-15. Those who themselves know how to forgive will be more open to forgiveness from God and others”.[2] I know I often need to be forgiven by God because I sin so easily. I am so relieved the blood of Jesus cleanses and purifies me from all my sin, see 1 John 1:7. But notice this, if God were to treat me as I treat someone I have not forgiven, it would do me real harm. I have no right to seek God’s forgiveness for myself if I refuse to forgive a fellow human being, who has been lovingly created in God’s image just like me, whatever he or she may have done to me, whoever he or she may be. To ‘forgive’ means ‘to cease to blame or hold resentment against someone or something; to grant pardon for a mistake or a wrongdoing; to free someone from penalty, obligation, debt, payment”.[3] It is no mistake the word ‘forgive’ ends with the word ‘give’. To ‘give’ means “to present or deliver voluntarily something that is one’s own to the permanent possession of another or others”.[4] The Greek word aphiemi has the idea of ‘to send away’.[5] Jesus uses it constantly in His lessons. To properly forgive we must release and set free the persons we hold things against. We must do it limitless times – not only once, see Matthew 18:21-22. Forgiveness is not a single instance event. Forgiveness is a lifetime’s process. You are the only person who can truly forgive someone else for the wrong they have done to you. And you must do it! Do not take ‘the law into your own hands’ and seek to get your own back in whatever way you can. It is much better to take ‘Christian love in both hands’ and embrace your ‘enemy’ with that love. If you do not do this, who does it hurt according to Matthew 6:14-15? “If you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins”. 3) Please read Ephesians 4:29-5:2 Paul uses mainly the word charizomai when writing about forgiveness. The Greek beginning of this word is the word for ‘grace/gift’. We need to ask God for His unending grace in order to: help us forgive initially, and then keep us forgiving forever. We will not naturally live like this, but to be a Christian disciple who radiates our Lord Jesus Christ we must live supernaturally in the ability of the Holy Spirit. We must let He Who is in us shine out! Verse 32 is a bit like a sandwich. The bottom piece of bread says, “do not grieve the Holy Spirit’, vs30. The top piece of bread says, “Christ gave Himself up for us … as a sacrifice to God”, 5:2. In between the two pieces of bread is ‘the meat of the sandwich’: Ephesians 4:32, “forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”, (italics mine). Here we note again the strong link between forgiveness and the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. We Christians are always to live as close to Jesus’ cross as we possibly can. The cross is the place of forgiveness, from where Jesus’ Himself prayed for those crucifying Him, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” Luke 23:34, (italics mine). His was a gentle but a piercingly pure Christian voice amidst the most awful violence that brought darkness in the middle of that day. His way of doing things in life and in death is ours to follow. We need God to forgive us for so much so often. I certainly do. When the Holy Spirit troubles us about our sin then we must confess it to our Saviour and we will receive a refreshing, revitalising shower to reinvigorate our daily walk with Him. If we are not troubled by our sin we are in a very dangerous place spiritually because only confessed sin is ever forgiven. When we have become clean before God through confession of specific sin then we are in a good position to forgive those who we believe have wronged us. Our Christian love becomes visibly expressed “just as in Christ God forgave you”, as we: forgive ‘our enemies’, Matthew 5:43-45 set free those who owe us things, Matthew 6:12 show we are continually forgiven by God as we continually forgive all other people, Matthew 6:14-15. This is the only way to renewal and revival in our personal and corporate Christian walk with God. As soccer teams, basketball teams, graduates on Graduation Day and even the army are marked out by their ‘uniforms’, so genuine Christian disciples are recognised by everyone around them as distinctly different in the way we handle having been badly wronged. It is how we show that we follow our Lord and Master. 4) Please read 1 Thessalonians 5:13-24 Verse 15 reads “Make sure nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else”. Either side of this Paul refers to “peace”. Verse 13 reads, “Live at peace with each other”, and verse 23 “May … the God of peace sanctify you through and through”. Greek words for peace mean to be silent, to be still, calm coming from harmonious relationships between people.[6] Two English language meanings of ‘peace’ are “a state of harmony between people and groups”, and “the absence of mental anxiety (that is, peace of mind)”.[7] When we allow a spirit of unforgiveness to stay in our hearts we bring a niggling pain and hurt into ourselves. It is a bit like indigestion! It usually is just in the background but from time to time it flares up into something much worse which is not generally under our control. We are controlled by our pain’s timing and its seriousness. The only way to be ‘healed’ of this is by offering the ‘loving forgiveness’ mentioned above. If you are not sure you can do this, then carefully read the last verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:24, “the One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it”. Trust your God! I am not saying this is, or will be, easy. But I am saying this is necessary. Forgiving is not an option. Forgiving is essential. Every individual in Sudan and South Sudan (as well as everywhere else) needs to be forgiven and to forgive. A good Christian lifestyle put into daily practice may win the soul of your ‘enemy’ to eternal salvation in heaven. Now think carefully: Is this not of much more value than merely retrieving your cattle, repossessing your fields or home, recovering your money, your burned books and other possessions, or even taking revenge for the life of your brother and the rape of your sister? When the Bible says one thing and you are doing another, who is right? Scripture is God’s word. It is the word of the God you say you are trusting for your salvation, if you are a real Christian. In the same sermon on the Mount where we started this chapter, our Lord Jesus warned that nobody can serve two masters, one earthly the other heavenly, Matthew 6:24. He said, “Seek first (your heavenly Father’s) kingdom and His righteousness” (italics mine), Matthew 6:33. This is the best way – I am suggesting the only way – to “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”, Matthew 5:16. Forgiving others is certainly a good Christian deed. 5) Please read Luke 20:9-18 “This parable is often called “the parable of the wicked vinedressers”,[8] which assumes that the renters are the major players in the drama. But in its cultural context the vineyard owner is clearly the hero of the story. He exhibits makrothymia. This rich word refers to a person in position of power who can exact vengeance on his enemies but chooses not to do so. That is (literally) “he puts his anger far away”. In this parable the vineyard owner opts for total vulnerability in the face of violence. English has no single word for this virtue. Greek makrothymia and Arabic halim have such words. Patience, longsuffering, risk-taking, compassion and self-emptying together describe the vineyard owner”.[9] His attitude is similar to David who could have killed the murderous King Saul. He knew God wanted him to become king in turn, but he chose to spare Saul’s life, see 1 Samuel 26:9. At this moment in time David chose to put his anger far away. During Herodian times landowners frequently lived a long distance from their estates. In Jesus’ story the tenant vinedressers provoked the owner to probable anger by rejecting his messengers bringing his legitimate demands. They even resorted to unjust violence. Retaliation could be expected – probably retaliation in kind. But is further violence from his position of power and rightness the only answer? No. The owner demonstrates it is not. Outrageously against standard human logic the owner decides to commission his own son, and sends him alone and unarmed to collect the due rent. The implication is of amnesty if the rent is paid. Notice the son is sent in vulnerability not in vengeance. Neither father or son intend to bring retribution on the vineyard tenants. The son journeyed with respect, probably hoping for a good resolution and the resumption of good relationships between everyone. I think he was peacefully fighting to forgive. Please allow me to quote an example from a book I read in November 2018. It concerns Hussein bin Talal, King of Jordan in the last decades of the 20th century. The event described was apparently confirmed to the author by a high-ranking American intelligence officer serving in Jordan at the time: “One night in the early 1980s, the king was informed by his security police that a group of about seventy-five Jordanian army officers were at that very moment meeting in a nearby army barracks plotting a military overthrow of the kingdom. The security officers requested permission to surround the barracks and arrest the plotters. After a sombre pause the king refused and said, “Bring me a small helicopter”. A helicopter was brought. The king climbed in with the pilot and himself flew to the barracks and landed on the flat roof. The king told the pilot, “If you hear gunshots, fly away at once without me”. Unarmed, the king then walked down two flights of stairs and suddenly appeared in the room where the plotters were meeting and quietly said to them: “Gentlemen, it has come to my attention that you are meeting here tonight to finalise your plans to overthrow the government, take over the country and install a military dictator. If you do this, the army will break apart and the country will be plunged into civil war. Tens of thousands of innocent people will die. There is no need for this. Here I am! Kill me and proceed. That way, only one man will die”. After a moment of stunned silence, the rebels as one, rushed forward to kiss the king’s hand and feet and pledged loyalty to him for life”. [10] There is a cost in our call to be Christians. Part of that is to be willing to sacrifice ourselves in the overall good of things. When we deliberately do not forgive people for anything, we are refusing to pay the price we should pay. Perhaps we are not willing to go against the worldly standards, or the family and tribal traditions expected by our community around us? Perhaps we are too proud and cannot humble ourselves to approach someone we think has wronged us? Maybe we are waiting for them to make the first move? Perhaps we think that we are right in the dispute and we selfishly want to hang on to the ‘moral high ground’ rather than appear weak or guilty? Whatever situation you face, remember that to forgive is to prove you are a genuine Christian, and a true disciple of your Lord Jesus Christ. Originally written as BiMonthly Encouragement No. 51, January 2018. More help on ‘Forgiveness’? For further study see my website www.colinsalter.net . The following are also available as parts of printed books as well as being freely downloadable from the website: ‘The Christian response to persecution’ in Issues Facing Christians in Sudan Today published in Juba, 2009, in either English or Arabic. ‘A Christian response to persecution’ in My Life Alongside God’s Word Volume two, published in Juba, 2014, in English. ‘Why Jesus tells us to love our enemies’ in My Life Alongside God’s Word Volume one, published in Juba, 2013, in English. ’Do not repay anyone evil for evil’ in My Life Alongside God’s Word Volume one, published in Juba, 2013, in English. ‘Overcome evil with good’ in My Life Alongside God’s Word Volume two, published in Juba, 2014 in English. Discussion guide 1. What makes ‘forgiveness’ so hard to give or receive? 2. Why do you think our Lord Jesus links God’s forgiveness of us directly to our forgiveness of others? Matthew 6:12, 14-15; Luke 11:4. Try to look at it from God’s point of view as well as from ours. 3. God’s grace gives us the best resources to be able to forgive in all circumstances. Ephesians 4:32 reads, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”. 5:1-2 go on to speak of Jesus’ sacrifice. In what ways are these positive patterns for us to follow? 4. ‘Truly forgiving others is part of the price we must pay when following Jesus’. Share how easy or hard this is. 5. Read Matthew 18:21-35. Jesus told this parable in order to illustrate the number of times we should forgive anyone. Verse 35 reads, “This is how My Heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from the heart”. What are the differences between merely “forgiving”, and “forgiving someone from the heart”? List as many as you can. Give examples of both. [1] John R.W.Stott Christian Counter-Culture (Inter-Varsity Press: Leicester, UK) 1978, BST series, p.103-124. [2] Joe Kapolyo (Zambia) Africa Bible Commentary (Word Alive Publishers: Nairobi, Kenya) 2006, Matthew, p.1122. [3] Collins English Dictionary (HarperCollins: Glasgow) 1995. [4] Collins English Dictionary (HarperCollins: Glasgow) 1995. [5] W.E.Vine Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Thomas Nelson: Nashville, USA) 1996 edition. [6] W.E.Vine Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Thomas Nelson: Nashville, USA) 1996 edition. [7] Collins English Dictionary (HarperCollins: Glasgow) 1995. [8] The Greek georgos can mean farmer, tenant or vinedresser. [9] Kenneth Bailey Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes (SPCK: London) 2008, page 410ff. [10] Kenneth Bailey Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes (SPCK: London) 2008, page 418.