The Hope to which He has called us (V) The opposite spirit

Still working with the prayer for “a spirit of wisdom and revelation that we might know the hope to which He has called us” (Ephesians 1:17,18). There is a spirit of wisdom and revelation and there is a spirit of hope. Well what do I mean by that? Let’s think about the opposite for a moment. If you can read body language you can “see” the spirit of discouragement on someone in a state of hopelessness. You can see it in their fact, it's not just no smile, it's a downcast look, perhaps stooped shoulders. They carry a “spirit” of heaviness, and your attempts to cheer them up simply fail. I'm not talking about healthy grieving here, the necessary period of mourning after a significant loss, for there's “A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn” (Ecclesiastes 3:4). It's more than possible though, for the spirit I am talking about to set in if we do not learn to grieve properly.

There is a spiritual song that has recently not only caught my attention, but is helping me in my struggle to extricate myself from discouragement over something that  happened. It’s called “I raise a Hallelujah.” The line “Out of the ashes hope will arise” is standing out to me this morning as I write. The principle is that this will happen as we raise a Hallelujah, as we praise the Lord in spite of the circumstances. The “ashes” are likely a reference to Isaiah 61:3 where we read that Messiah came to “To give beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” Indeed these things are gifted, but like all spiritual gifts,  they have to be received, they have to be appropriate, and we do this through an act of obedience by “raising a Hallelujah.”

Perhaps you don’t feel like it. But we don’t feel our way into action, we act our way into feeling. You see every thought is accompanied by an emotion, some stronger than others of course. But when we nurse our feelings, they grow. “But I would be pretending,” I hear you say. But no, you are practicing not pretending. And in the words of another spiritual song “I’m done chasing feelings.” Related to this is the command to rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4). Verse 8 tells us how. In particular whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy we are to meditate on these things. Actually it' spiritual warfare, the song I am talking about puts it this way “my weapon is a melody.” No we are not pretending, we are practicing. And I don’t know about you, but I still need to practice bi-times.

Father, if we are going to do this well, there will certainly be times of mourning. Lord though what I am talking about this morning is practicing, nevertheless it's more than possible to pretend if we do not face the brutal reality of our situations. Thank You that there is a greater reality, and it's You, it is You who ultimately gives us the oil fo joy for mourning, and who will ultimately wipe away all tears. In the meantime Lord, please give us a revelation of what it means that to live is Christ, but to die is gain (Philippians 1:21) in Jesus Name Amen

The first Ephesians prayer (IV) The glory of the riches of our inheritance.

Paul continuing Ephesians 1:18ff, asks for a spirit of wisdom and revelation of the glory of the riches our inheritance. As with hope, this has both the here and now, and hereafter aspects. Dealing this morning with the former, we need wisdom and revelation to know firstly what is our inheritance, then secondly to know and experience that aspect of Revelation that enables  us to tap into it. Peter tells us that all necessary things that pertain to life and godliness have already been given to us. And as here,  in the Ephesians prayer, in Peter it's “through the knowledge of Him,” but also through the “exceedingly great and precious promises” (2 Peter 1:3, 4).  Clearly we need to know what the premises are (so read them!), how to contend for them, and then we need revelation Grace to press into, and to war for them.

When Scripture speaks of life here in 2 Peter and elsewhere, it's  speaking of life in the hereafter, but also life in all its fullness, that is the best possible life we could live (John 10:10b). If we are not there yet, and  because it’s progressive I daresay that non of us are, then there is yet much "land to be gained."  When Israel was about to enter the promised land,  the Lord told them He would “drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you” (Deuteronomy 7:22). Notice the cooperation here between God and Israel. It is God who ultimately drives them out, but also it “you” who will (be allowed to) eliminate them. It’s the same with us! Notice also that if we try to deal with too much at once,   other things ("wild animals") will come in take over the land we have gained. We should not despise the day of small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10) particularly in recovery where sometimes people try  to deal with many issue at the same time. There is wisdom in dealing "little by little."

Nobody can do this for you! If all you do is listen to Sunday sermons, you will not grow in wisdom and grace (2 Peter 3:18). All things have already been given, but tapping into them, is not automatic. I hear things like “If God promised, it'll happen!” But this is to fail to understand the need for the cooperation we see in the Deuteronomy passage and elsewhere. God will do His part if we do ours. In particular we read "The word they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith (Hebrews 4:2). And the type of faith spoken about here, is a faith that acts, a faith that's obedient (verse 6, see also James 2:17).

Father, I like the version of Psalm 68:19 which says “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits. The God of our salvation! Selah.” So I thank You again this morning Lord for salvation and for all the benefits that you daily give. Lord many think that Selah means to pause and reflect, and this fits well with Your Word, and what we are considering today. In particular he who mediates on Your word night and day will prosper in all that he does (Psalm 1:2,3). Thank You Lord for the Principles and Promised of Your Word, and for the Power of Holy Spirit in our lives in Jesus Name Amen

The Hope to which He has called us (IV) If in this life only we have hope …

Paul, with the perspective of heaven could say “I do not regard the sufferings of this world to be worthy to be compared to the glory that is to be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). And very likely Paul suffered more than any of us (i.e. 2 Corinthians 11:23-28), but his hope was very much anchored in the hereafter. In fact he could famously say “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied” (1 Corinthians 11:19). I have heard some say, that if Christianity wasn’t true, they would still live the Christian life. But I don’t think I want to live my life on a lie, that would be delusion. But more than this, Paul goes on to say ”If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die’” (verse 32)! 

 

Sure I love the experience of His love poured out in my heart (Romans 5:5), and would miss that. But among things I would not miss, are the trials and difficulties that come with life and with standing against the increasingly militant culture that misunderstands my wanting to love as hate. Who needs that? I am not saying my suffering is anywhere near Paul's. I mean his fighting with beast at Ephesus was clearly about being thrown into the arena. He didn’t need that, and neither do I! We were talking recently about what it costs to convert to Christianity in some countries. Even today you can be legally killed according to their law! If it wasn’t all true why would anyone want that! What advantage indeed?

There has to be something more than the subjective experience of His presence, as precious as it is. We need hope of something better, and this hope needs to be sure and steadfast. The writer to the Hebrews tells us that this hope for which we pray is exactly that, it's an anchor for the soul, and it passes behind the veil (Hebrews 6:19) into the very presence of God. As I sit here I am seeing it as no coincidence that I am blogging this subject this morning. I ask God day by day for things to write that are relevant to my life. And this morning I am needing the assurance that I have not believed cunningly devised fables (2 Peter 1:6),  that this light affliction is but for a moment (2 Corinthians 4:17), and though sorrow may last for the night, joy will come in the morning (Psalm 30:5).




Father, it's so easy to take my eyes off what You are doing, and obsess and grieve for the things that so easily discourage me. And I want to thank You Lord for the sure hope that there is indeed coming a day when there will be no more tears or suffering (Revelation 21:4). I needed this anchor this morning Father.  Lord, I cannot pass this hope on to the world through logic alone. But Lord please let my testimony do it, the testimony that I have found a secure place to stand in You, based on Your Word, Your truth and the experience of Your loved poured out in my heart. In the meantime Lord, give me the courage and the tenacity to be steadfast immovable always abounding in You. In this way may my living hope be contagious in Jesus Name Amen

The Hope to which He has called us (III) The refining fire of delayed answers

Joseph had had  prophetic dreams which his family understood,  only too well,  meant  he would rule over them. It would take many years and a great deal of suffering before it happened (Genesis 37ff; Psalm 105:18,19). Knowing us well, the Scripture tell us “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life (Proverbs 13:12). Last day we heard of those who got so sick that they died because of deferred hope. It doesn't have to be so dramatic, but the period between the promise and its fulfillment can rightly be described ofttimes, as a fire. But when we have a promise, we need to stand firm,  believe it, and press into it. We can stand on such promises as “He who sows in tears … shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:5,6).

In the circles in which I move, there are many whose children are not following the Lord. And over and over in faith, we make the declaration “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). And we supplement this declaration with other scriptures. For example we read that the believing spouse is sanctified by the believer “otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy” (1 Corinthians 7:14). Similarly “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31). But it can take a very long time, and the hope deferred can indeed make the heart sick, if we allow discouragement to set in. In these times, it’s easy to blow it. Abraham did exactly that when the promised son was delayed. In particular, he tried to make it happen by going into Sarai’s maidservant Hagar. The results were disastrous (Genesis 6:1-6).

The Lord will work things out even when we've blown it, but it’s better if we learn from other people’s mistakes and wait patiently for Him (Psalm 40:1). Waiting patiently does not necessarily mean we do nothing, but we need to do only what He directs us to do. Otherwise our impatience may actually delay the answer. I am wondering if that happened with Abraham. The Lord may have needed to allow Ishmael to grow to a certain age before sending him away (Galatians 4:30). A mistake that I made in contending for my promise, is the same the prisoners made in the story in last day’s blog. I set time limits for Him to come through for me.  It was very painful. He had told me to wait patiently, and well I waited, but was it patiently? Well no, and the disappointment that set in,  sent me back to some of my pre-Christian unhealed addictions. And He could not fulfill the promise until I got the victory again.

Father, there is a point in Joseph’s waiting, that always strikes me, namely that it was a further two full years of waiting, even after all his suffering, even after You had shown him the route of deliverance (Genesis 41:1). But Lord You were continuing to do a mighty work in Joseph, so that in the end he could not only forgive his brothers their betrayal, but declare “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20). And I thank You this morning Lord that You have brought me to the place where I can thank You for the work that You have done and are doing in me in the delay of my promise in Jesus Name Amen

The Hope to which He has called us (II) The Stockdale paradox

Continuing Paul’s prayer “that we may know the hope to which He has called us” (Ephesians 1:18), I want to talk this morning about the Stockdale paradox. This was popularized by Jim Collins in his book “Good to great.” Named after James Stockdale who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam, the basic idea is that you have to balance reality with the right kind of optimism, the right kind of hope. Many of his fellow prisoners had the wrong kind of optimism, or perhaps it was a wrong view of reality. Stockdale’s point is that you must never confuse the faith (the hope) that you will prevail in the end, with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts, whatever they may be. It is a paradox, because what he is saying, is that you must face the reality that your case is essentially hopeless, yet not loose hope.


Victor Frankel interred in the Nazi death camps, tells similarly of what happens when these things are not held in tension. In particular between Christmas 1944 and New Year’s 1945,  a large number of prisoners died. This was not, he tells us, due to a decrease in the already poor conditions, or in fact anything exterior to them. Frankel attributes this to the loss of hope of those who had been banking on getting out by Christmas. When it didn't happen disappointment overcame them, and this had a disastrous effect on their ability to resist.  A great many of them died. Like everything else that is practical and works,  the principle being expounded here can be found encapsulated in Scripture. The Lord had promised childless Abraham that he would become the father of many nations (Genesis 17:4). The Scripture tells  that it was twenty five years after the initial promise that it was fulfilled. We are told that Abraham “contrary to hope, in hope believed” (Romans 4:18). In other words he faced the brutal facts that his body was “already dead since he was about a hundred years old” (verse 19), and that Sarah was 99. Yet in spite of of it all he  retained hope!


Stockdale recounts that paradoxically it was the optimists that lost hope and died. He tells that they were the ones who said “We will get out by Christmas, and Christmas would come and go. Then they would say we will be out by Easter, and Easter would come and go,  .…, and when it did not happen they died of a broken heart.” Without hope, we do not seem to be able to live. And that is why we,  with Paul,  need to pray that we may know the hope to which He as called us. In particular we need a revelation that God has plans for us, plans to prosper us to give us peace and a future,  and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).


Father, faith and hope seem to be inextricably linked and, as the above examples illustrate, hope and faith are also linked to our physical health. I don’t pretend to understand depression, but I suspect that there is a link there too.  But in any case Father,  I pray again this morning for myself,  and all those reading this, that You would give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation in order that we may know the hope to which You have called us. I also pray that we would progressively realize that hope given by You,  is a sure hope in Jesus Name Amen

A resting place between rigid dogma and relative truth (I) All things to all men

My thinking was really messed before I got saved. It was only later that I realized   that the Lord downloaded a whole bunch of revelatory knowledge. And at the point of conversion the truth was so clear, that I couldn't see why everybody didn't see it.     Only weeks later, I was thinking "It's so complicated   how can anyone find it?"   I still saw the truth,   but   what I realized, is that the Lord had lead me through a very complicated intellectual maze (with many possible false turns) from where I had been before conversion, to the truth.  And  He had done   it  in such a way that I never missed a correct turn. But then He sent me back to find my own way through without His guidance, and I took rabbit trail, after rabbit trail. It was so complicated!     He   then helped me in a different way, in a way that helped me to understand the difficulties others have in seeing the truth. In this way I could help others,   if they are   willing, to find their way through their own   maze.

Paul said “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22). That is,  he put himself in their shoes,   seeking to enter their thought process and (in terms of my picture) so lead them through their maze of error to truth. One error in our culture is to believe that all truth is relative. The church has responded by saying “No, all truth is absolute!” But,  as I have said in previous posts while there is absolute truth,    there are also truths that are relative, for example truths that require different solutions in different situations (see 2md and 3rd September). So if we are to be like Paul, we need to understand where the world is coming from, and so give an appropriate answer of the hope in us. Again,  we don't get saved by reason, we get saved because God opens our spiritual eyes. But like I was before I became a Christian there is, many times an awful lot of clutter  others need to  get past. So how do we help?

  Jordon Peterson in a debate with   Sam Harris   started off by stating points of agreement. One that   struck me,  is that both men wanted to find a place for morality to stand between the rigid loveless dogmatism that characterizes much religion (both Christians and non-Christian), and the chaos that results from believing all truth is relative. I believe Peterson is following Paul's example, and in so doing so, he gained Harris's respect and  the right to be heard. We need to to that too! I see three things.  We need   (a) to engage the culture in a respectful non-condemning way, but seeking to speak the truth in love, (b) to be in the   process of being changed from one degree of glory to another and (c) to give the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy .

Father, if we try and give the   testimony of Jesus without being in the process of being changed,  we will not likely be heard.  Help us  to love people Lord,  and to learn the skill of meeting them where they are at, not where we want them to be. Help us to be respectful and to see them as You see them, as the best possible version of themselves. In this way we can call them up,  not out in Jesus Name Amen

A resting place between dogma and relative truth (VI) The relationship of Truth and obedience

I was sitting in the caff one day with a young woman, when out of the blue she blurted “I don’t think adultery is wrong!” I think she was hitting on me! I looked her non-judgementally in the eye and gently replied “That’s because you want to do it.” She brought her hand up to cover her mouth, not quite quickly enough to hide her ‘guilty as charged’ smile. There's an interesting connection between the knowledge of God and obedience to His Word. In Romans 1:18 we read that we suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Well, nobody wants to think of themselves as a villain, and if you want to commit adultery, but God says it’s wrong (Exodus 20:14), then , either the adultery will have to go, or your faith in God.

It works both positively and negatively. In particular Jesus tells us “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself” (John 7:17 NASB). This positive aspect of knowing is progressive (it grows), as can seen in the Greek tenses of John 8:31, 32. Emphasizing the force of these tenses, these verses can be translated as “If you continue in my Word, you will progressively know the truth, and the truth will progressively set you free.” The Amplified Bible, expands the word translated ‘continue,’ with “hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them.” And as we have been saying, Biblical knowing is not just knowing statements about the truth, it's about encounter, experiencing Jesus, who is the living Truth (John 14:6). It's revelation truth, truth that comes with the Grace that enables, that gives us the wherewithal to embrace and obey the truth that is being unveiled. It even changes our wrong desires (Philippians 2:13).

These things are not obtained without our full surrender and obedience however. In Romans 12:1, 2 we read “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Being conformed to the World is lawlessness. In particular “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). On the other hand full surrender and obedience to His Word, is our part in the transformation of our minds. And the fact of the matter is, that we are either growing in obedience and in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18) who is the Truth, or we are being given over to a reprobate mind (Romans 1:28).

Father, there is such lawlessness and apathy among those of us who say that we belong to You. I fear that many of us are deceived. Lord I do not want, on that day, to hear from You the words “Depart from Me you workers of iniquity, I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23). Open our eyes Lord to see that if we are not on fire for You, then our testimony to this wicked and hurting World that is going to hell in a hand-basket, will mean nothing. Only You Lord can keep us close to the flame, but You will only do Your part if we do ours. Thank You Lord that You help us even in this,  when we are willing, and when we repent. Thank You Lord in Jesus Name Amen

A spirit of revelation (III) The testimony of Jesus

I was struck by hearing recently of a young man with whom two different people had shared the gospel.  With one it had gone completely over his head, in fact he was not even really listening.  With the other he sat, and although he said nothing,  was listing with rapt attention.The second person had recently been delivered cold turkey  from a six year crack cocaine addiction.  And perhaps the  difference in how it was received can be best described as “the power of a changed life.” It is not about being mature or having it all together. Frankly after six years of addiction his life is a mess. No,  it’s about being in the process of being changed,  and of having the joy and peace of the Lord. I have been saying that the words that accompany spiritual revelation are spiritually discerned, and are mostly nonsense to the World.  So it’s not primarily about the words that were spoken.  We get insight into what is happening here from the  command  “Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus, is the spirit of prophecy”  (Revelation 19:10).

So first, what is the difference/connection between the spirit of revelation and the spirit of prophecy?  Well in one sense nothing, for both are primary about revelation. The main emphasis of New Covenant prophecy is receiving something  (revelation) from God for someone with the purpose of  building  up, encouraging and comforting.  And that someone can be yourself.  I have been saying about Biblical revelation, that it comes with both a deep conviction of truth (I know, that I know, that I know), but also with Grace,  the wherewithal to facilitate the putting of that truth into practice, into incorporating it into our  lives.  And the testimony of Jesus is revelation,  and an invitation in the above tap into truth. In the case I was talking about above, the invitation to be set free (John 8:32).  And it comes with Grace that enables you to do what previously was impossible.  It’s possible, but not automatic. We need to respond!

Clearly not everybody is going to have the testimony of being  delivered from crack cocaine.  But the testimony of my friend is in fact prophetic to you and me in the sense that firstly,  it is an invitation to be in the process of being changed “from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18).  Secondly since the spirit of prophecy is revelation it comes with available  Grace to do enter into this.  But,  as with all prophecy, we have to contend for it, it does not happen automatically.  And again as I keep saying over and over, part of this is our need to deal with the issues that keep us stuck. And we all have issues, I think it is fairly safe to say that none of us has arrived (1 Corinthians 10:12).  If you doubt that can you confess to having life in all it’s fullness (John 10:10b)? In any case we need  to press in and continue to present our bodies as living sacrifices holy and acceptable to God this is our reasonable service. In particular, in view of His tender mercies,  anything less is unreasonable (Romans 12:1 NKJV).

Father, I want to thank You this morning for the encouragement of young Christians. They are so on fire and so challenging. It is so easy for it to get old Lord. So I pray this morning for myself and all those reading this that You will restore the joy and passion of our salvation in Jesus Name Amen

A resting place between dogma and relative truth” (V) Interpretation (Hermeneutics)

I have often been asked if I take the Bible literally. I tend to reply that it's a bit like asking if I have stopped beating my wife yet. I mean either a yes or no gets me in trouble. There are certainly things that are meant to be taken literally “Do not murder, do not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:13,14). But what about “Unless you hate your mother and father, you cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26)! What Jesus is saying of course, is that your love for Him needs to be so very much greater than your love for your parents. So not everything is intended to be taken literally, but commands and morality are, that is unless, like the Luke reference, is it hyperbole. Hyperbole are exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally. We need to understand literary genre. We need to ask for example, if it’s poetry, or a letter, or history, or apocalyptic? Most apocalyptic passages are meant to be interpreted allegorically. It is a mistake however, to interpret everything literally or everything allegorically.


Another question I'm asked about the Bible is “Can’t you make it say anything you want?” Our culture does this in spades turning a clear “no” into a “yes!” But using the same “rules,”   you can make the dictionary, or in fact any literature, do the very same thing. Perhaps we should stop using the dictionary? What I'm saying, is that part of loving the Lord with all our mind, is working out a hermeneutic that at the very least avoids the traps we are talking about today, and were talking about the other day (hermeneutics is the science of interpretation). My aim in this post is not to say all that needs to be said, but rather to point to the need to “study to be approved unto God” in this area (2 Timothy 2:15).


I have been saying we need to figure out a set of non-negotiable essentials so that we don't major on minors. Some things are very clear, for example things pertaining to salvation and morality, and we need to stand firm on these things. Other things are hard to understand (2 Peter 3:16), and there is a strong need for Christians to be able to say “I don’t know!” But perhaps the main point I want to make this morning is that just as there are there are areas in doctrine where we need to take a stand, and   others where we need to be more tentative, so it is with interpretation. It is sobering to realize that even translations are interpretations (see August 6 post for an example). In particular we can all get our interpretations wrong. Yes there are areas where we are intended to have confidence (i.e. 1 John 5:13). But we must not universally equate our interpretation of Scripture with Scripture itself. When we do this, we are in danger of imputing wrong things  to God, and to my way of thinking, is taking the Lord's Name in vain!


Father, since we are very unlikely to persuade the world by logic alone, and it's giving testimony of the hope that is within us that's commanded, we need Your help to find a firm place to stand that avoids  the extremes of rigid dogma and relative thinking. But we also need to live what we believe,   otherwise our testimony will not ring true. Continue to lead Lord us into all truth in both doctrine and in practice (John 16:13) in Jesus Name Amen

A resting place between rigid dogma and relative truth (IV) Non-negotiable Christian essentials

Forged in the furnace of interdenominational dialogue,  the following are the belief statements of the  International Fellowship of Evangelical students. 

    •    The unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the Godhead.

    •    The sovereignty of God in creation, revelation, redemption and final judgement.

    •    The divine inspiration and entire trustworthiness of Holy Scripture,  and its supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

    •    The universal sinfulness and guilt of all people since the fall, rendering them subject to God’s wrath and condemnation.

    •    Redemption from the guilt, penalty, dominion and pollution of sin, solely through the sacrificial death (as our representative and substitute) of the Lord Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God.

    •    The bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and his ascension to the right hand of God the Father.

    •    The presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the work of regeneration.

    •    Justification is by the grace of God through faith alone.

    •    The indwelling and work of the Holy Spirit in the believer.

    •    The one holy universal Church, which is  the body of Christ to which all true believers belong.

    •    The expectation of the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Since we should not be always learning and never arriving at the truth (2 Timothy 3:7)  we need a place to stand and I believe these statement form an excellent place for this, and a solid basis for   unity.   We do need to keep learning however since "If anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know" (1 Corinthians 8:2).

Father, give us humility, wisdom and balance in these things in Jesus Name Amen

A resting place between rigid dogma and relative truth (IV) Non-negotiable Christian essentials

Forged in the furnace of interdenominational dialogue the following statements form the basis  of faith for  Inter-varsity Christian Fellowship. All leader (as opposed to members)  must agree with these statement. I suggest they are  an excellent basis for Christian unity.

 We believe in:-

The only true God, the almighty Creator of all things, existing eternally in three persons Father; Son; and Holy Spirit; full of love and glory.

The unique divine inspiration, entire trustworthiness, and authority of the Bible.

The value and dignity of all people: created in God’s image to live in love and holiness,  but alienated from God and each other because of our sin and guilt,  and justly subject to God’s wrath.

Jesus Christ, fully human and fully divine, who lived as a perfect example,  assumed the judgment due sinners by dying in our place, and who was bodily raised from the dead and ascended as Savior and Lord.

Justification by God’s grace to all who repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.

The indwelling presence and transforming power of the Holy Spirit, who gives to all believers a new life and a new calling to obedient service.

The unity of all believers in Jesus Christ, manifest in worshiping and witnessing churches making disciples throughout the world.

The victorious reign and future personal return of Jesus Christ, who will judge all people with justice and mercy,  giving over the unrepentant to eternal condemnation  but receiving the redeemed into eternal life.  To God be glory forever.

A resting place between dogma and relative truth (III) No package deal theology

It   grieves me to see over and over Christians going to University and then rapidly loosing their faith.   It's not the only problem, but   by and large we have not taught our people to think. Part of this, is the strong pressure (certainly not just in the church) to conform to the dominant mindset of our group or denomination.   In our anxiety to teach truth, we put out unconscious rules that disallow disagreement or questions, and our theology sets like cement.     And then   at University   when “our neighbour comes along and examines us,”     showing us our error (Proverbs 18:17),   the baby is thrown out with the bathwater.   Actually some of our theology is quite sophisticated, with every doctrine connected to another.   And the problem then, is that if you   demolish one precept, the whole thing comes down like a pack of cards. I call such theologies “package deal theologies.” And too often you are expected to accept the whole thing without question.   It’s not realistic!

I am told there are over forty thousand registered, Christian denominations most saying “We have the truth,   and everyone else is wrong!”   And when asked   “Which truth,” forty thousand of us answer   “mine!” We need to see this though the unbeliever's eyes and repent!   I previously mentioned the furnace of dialogue, the difficulty   of speaking the truth in love.   One place where this has been worked through is in para - church ministries,   which   minister across denominational lines.   Since perhaps the most asked question (by Christians) of such ministries is “What do you believe” their statements of faith have likely been refined over and over in the fire   of inter-denominational dialogue. I was asked once to give nine talks on the International Fellowship of Evangelical students statement of faith.   I came away     with a deep appreciation of the balance of what is put forth there as the set of   non-negotiable essentials.   Their statement on Scripture for example,   is   “The divine inspiration and entire trustworthiness of Holy Scripture,   and its supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.”

But if the Bible can be trusted in this way,   how is it we get so many different theologies all claiming to be Biblically based?   Well there  are parts that are  difficult  to understand (2 Peter 3:16),  to which we give simplistic explanations,  and  in so doing fail  to love the Lord with all our mind.   We tend to classify all truth as non-negotiable essentials,  often  majoring on  minors.   We can emphasize just one  side of truths that need to be held in tension, and dismiss the other side.   We go to Scripture looking for support for already established positions, rather than seeking to know what it says.  We isolate from those with whom we disagree  disallowing our neighbour to examining  us.   Finally when we see  error,  we  then go overboard making an equal and opposite error  or   focus  entirely  on our correction of  the error. We even name our denominations after our corrections! There is a desperate need to establish   a set of non-negotiable essentials that encapsulate what really is essential and what's not.   We still have our denominational distinctives, but just not use them as a reason to separate!

Father if Your church is to be the witness to the World  that  Biblical truth,   and Biblical morality are firm places on which to stand,   then we need to work through these issues, and we desperately need Your help to do this, so I am asking for it this morning Lord  in Jesus Name Amen

A resting place between dogma and relative truth (II) The furnace of dialogue

I don't  minimize  apologetics (the defence of the faith) in our communication with the world. It is pre-evangelism,  useful for clearing away the intellectual clutter that often prevents the world from even considering faith options. But our primary mode of this communication  is intended to be through personal testimony (“an answer of the hope within us” - 1 Peter 3:15), but also through cooperate testimony (they will know we're Christians by our love (John 13:35). Since God’s primary purpose is the reconciliation  (Ephesians 1:10), and He has committed that to us ( 2 Corinthians 5:18),  we had better get this right.  Our testimony is intended to impact the world is through the demonstration of Christian unity. The  three integrated (trinitarian) ways we know (reason, experience and intuition) need to be mirrored in this.   In particular we need to demonstrate unity in three ways.  Firstly by unity (in diversity) in how we understand and teach  the Word of Truth (propositional truth - reason,  theology). Secondly in  encounter,  in  our experience of Him in His presence and in genuine worship - not just singing sons.   Thirdly in intuition, in the enlightening of the eyes of our hearts by the Spirit (Ephesians 1:18). We experience this last part when we find ourselves teachings things we did not know until we opened our mouths!

This trinity also needs to manifest itself in  unity in diversity (the very nature of trinity) in fellowship.  In particular we need to be of one mind, heart and soul.  But  we need to unpack what this unity in diversity, looks like in our theology, in our practice and in our oneness in Christ.  We also need to be aware that the World sees us as uniformity in unloving isolated and often mutually judgemental groups (denominations). And we need to repent for our disunity in all three areas. Notwithstanding this, Paul tells us “There must also be factions be among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you” (1 Corinthians 11:19).  In particular errors and imbalances need to be exposed and corrected, and this can only happen through dialogue speaking the truth in love, the Christian version of free speech. 

Nobody is saying this is easy, but it’s what we are called to eagerly maintain (Ephesians 4:3). This can only be done though the furnace of dialogue. In particular  “The one who speaks first seems to be right until his neighbour comes and examines him” (Proverbs 18:17). This is perhaps best described as “Iron sharpening iron” (Proverbs 27:17). It  sounds painful! I have mentioned iron sharpening iron times in this blog, but it was mostly about the personal  interaction of our faults.  Doing this is clearly part of our unity. But we also need to the world cross denominationally that we are Christians by our love. And we need  to come out of our isolation and,  speaking the truth in love,  wrestle though the furnace of dialogue.  And in this way obey the command to maintain true Christian unity (in diversity).  This is the testimony and demonstration of the hope within us.

Father, I want to repent on behalf of myself and others this morning,  for the many ways we have failed to eagerly maintain the unity that You purchased for us at the cross. We need to change Lord, and we need You to show us the way.  But most of all Lord we need a fresh outpouring of Your Spirit,  and so I pray “Even so come Lord Jesus,” in whose precious name I ask Amen

A spirit of revelation (III) Encountering Truth: A resting place between dogma and relative truth

Jordon Peterson fascinates me, because although I don't always agree with him  (I don't even always agree with me) I have learnt a lot from him. In debate with Sam Harris, he starts by expounding points of agreement. It's a good place for us to start too! A particular point of agreement struck me and it's that both want to find a resting place for morality between the rigid loveless dogmatism that characterizes both Christians and non-Christian religion, and the chaos of believing all truth is relative.




In terms of dogmatism “Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies”  (1 Corinthians 8:1). In particular much religion operates out of pride of being right. This equips us to debate, but love in action goes out the window. Love in action? Well I hear “I love the sinner, but hate the sin,” but such love often has no legs. We oppose abortion, but are not willing to help those in trouble. “Well it's their own fault!” No doubt, but where is the love? On the other hand believing there is no such thing as right and wrong also causes people to not act in love. For example we need to call the  destructive behaviour of the alcoholic wrong.  And when we fail to hold him accountable by making excuses for him and/or covering for him behaviour, it  circumvents the lessons he needs to learn from the painful  consequences of his sin (Galatians 6:7).  This is not loving because it leaves him stuck. The scripture tells us “If anyone is overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6;1). This is to walk in love towards our brother.




But who am I to judge, and didn't the father of the prodigal let him go (Luke 15:12)? Well firstly there is a difference between judgemental condemnation, and judging as in discerning that something is wrong. And we likely don't need spiritual discernment to know the wrong! But how are we supposed to know whether to go to our brother, or to let him go? Well as I said earlier,  a spirit of wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 1:17), is  essentially about encountering Truth. We encounter (experience) the truth of the written Word, for example, when we continue in it and thus receive (encounter) the promised freedom (John 8:31,32). So to answer the above question of how we would know, we need an encounter with the wisdom of God who gives it liberally (James 1:5). And what does that look like? Well “My sheep hear My voice (John 10:27). It is not usually audible, but again it is in encounter, that we know that we know that we know. So for the Christian the place for morality  to stand, is in  encounter  (revelation) with the both the living Truth Jesus, and the truth of the written Word. Since it is in encounter it is not something that,  without circular argument,  we can use in debate.  But there is much more to say. 





Father, Your word tell us to always be ready to humbly give an answer of the hope that is in us. It's about our witness,  our testimony of encounter. And  because truth is spiritual discerned in this way,   we can never get there by logic alone. Our testimony is essentially an invitation to encounter Truth. So Lord we need the ongoing spirit of revelation operating in our lives,  or our testimony will not ring true. So please Lord keep us close to the flame of Your love in Jesus Name Amen

The first Ephesians prayer (III) The hope to which He has called you

Continuing with Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:15-21, Paul prays that God would give a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him “in order that they might know the hope to which He has called us” (verse 18). There are two aspects of hope to talk about which in some ways should be seamless. Firstly there is the hope of heaven in the hereafter,  and secondly hope in the here and now. In terms of the here and now the Lord speaks to Israel in exile saying “‘I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD, ‘plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope’” (Jeremiah 29:11).   This  hope of the future would be realized by the in gatherings of Israel.

Recently I was speaking with a dear brother who is wrestling with the mess his life is in. The mess is  a direct result of his having spent years addicted to drugs.  He expressed that it was always going to be difficult like this, and I told him “That’s a lie!” The Lord has called us to hope, yes hope in the hereafter, but also hope in the here and now.  We need to get a revelation of this,  an unveiling of this truth that is accompanied by the Grace not only to receive it, but to rest in it. It then becomes an “anchor for the soul,  both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil” (Hebrews 6:19).

This is intended to be a very present reality. As I write this morning I recently received the news that a loved one  has drifted away and is involved with those who are likely to take him further down that path.  I knew that I needed to release him and I symbolically I stretched out my hands and offered him up to the Lord.  Like the father of the prodigal son, I knew that I had to let him go in order to win him back.  I also knew that I needed to get out of the Lord’s way.  I can however pray, claim His promises and declare “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” Is it any coincidence that I have recently been hearing teaching on perfect love casting out all fear. I think not!

Father, these times are crossroads, will I trust you, or will I try to fix things myself by nagging and/or manipulating? The prodigal’s father let him go completely,  and trusted him to You. Thank You for Your grace to do this Lord, and for the strange sense that this has  drawn, and will continue to draw,  me even closer to You, and  into the presence behind the veil, in Jesus Name Amen

A spirit of revelation (II) To he who has, more will be given

In Matthew 13:12 we read “To he who has  has,  more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” It puts me in mind of the phrase “Use it or loose it.” When we don’t use our muscles,  for example,  they atrophy, that is the wasting or loss of muscle tissue. And one cause of this is not using the muscles enough.  Last day I mentioned that Revelation comes with empowerment to facilitate,  in a practical way,  the truth that  is being revealed. I gave the example of counting ourselves dead to sin. Here the enabling, the Grace that is given,  helps us not only to know that we must not empower the sin by wrestling with the temptation, but a true revelation of it comes with the peace and the confidence that enables us to  stand and having done all to stand (Ephesians 6:14).

There is a saying in the recovery circles in which I move, and it is that it is one thing to gain the victory, and quite another to keep it.  This is the essence of what I am trying to say here this morning. In Hebrews 2:1 we read “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.”  This drifting away is very common, and we are warned “Let he who thinks he stands take care lest he fall (1 Corinthians 10:12).  What tends to happen,  is that we walk in the victory and forget that it was God who gave the victory and/or the deliverance. In other words we start to think we did it all by ourselves and pride raises it's ugly head.  I have seen number of times the Lord giving individuals dramatic deliverance from years and years of heavy drug use, but left them with a smoking addiction. And I think the reason He does that is as a constant reminder that it we He who did the delivery, not the individual him or her self!

So what am I  saying? Well,  one way to put it,  is that we are never standing still. We are either moving forward,  or we are moving back.  There is no fence, there is no middle ground here!  So we do indeed need to give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, and there are a number of ways to do that.  We need to see that faith without works is dead, and act accordingly. In particular we need to serve.  But there are also times when we exercise our faith by standing still and watching the deliverance of the Lord (2 Chronicles 20:17).  Knowing which to do when is all about staying close to the Lord. After all His sheep know His voice (John 10:27).

Father we cannot separate knowing and doing,  and revelation and doing,  even if the doing is standing still in difficult times. The victorious Christian life is all about our  relationship with You, and we need to guard it by keeping short accounts, and loving You with all we are and have. We need You for this Lord, I do, and I am asking for Your help again this morning Lord to stay close, in Jesus Name Amen

A spirit of revelation (I) - spiritually facilitated revelation

Have you ever asked someone how they knew something,  and they to you  "You just know, that you know,  that you know"?  It can drive you nuts if you’re not there. I mean how does it help? Obviously I can’t speak for everyone,  but in the areas in which  I can say I  know,  that  know,  that I know,  this knowing has  come by revelation. For example I know,  that I know,  that I know that I am loved by Almighty God. And part of this,  is that the Spirit witnesses with my spirit that I am His beloved  son (Mark 1:11; Romans 8:16).  I didn’t always know that  in this way. For the first two decades of my Christian walk I only knew intellectually that I am his child.  I didn’t feel it in the depths of my bones, and  I needed a revelation of it. But look,  language is so inadequate. I mean feelings are fickle, and even when I don’t feel it,  I know that I know!

So how do we get it? Well it can come as a soverign act of God. It did with Saul (Paul)  on the Damascus road. God essentially hit him over the head with a 2x4 knocking him off his horse (Acts 9:4).  You might not want it to come that way.  Another way is through prayer (Ephesians 1:17).  To my way of thinking there are two aspects of this. The first has to do with receiving a revelation of  Biblical truth. For example we all need a revelation of  “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). The  difference between this being revelation knowledge as opposed to head knowledge, is that it comes with empowerment. In this case, we no longer need to strive with sin.  I am not saying we  don’t get tempted, but we  don’t have to strive. I was good at that! You see we  empower what we strive with.   When  we have  revelation of truth, it comes with the Grace, the wherewithal,  in this case to simply take authority and say (and mean)  “I am dead, and dead men don’t strive!”

We all likely have had the experience of a verse or a passage standing out to us. This is the start of revelation.  And it is,  I believe,  an invitation to press in,  and to go deeper into truth through  prayer and meditation.  It is good to journal the thoughts and ideas that come.  In many ways, this is what these posts are all about.  A second aspect of  revelation,  is of God Himself.  It seems to me that the 24 elders are getting fresh revelation of His Glory over and over, as over and over they fall down and worship Him (Revelation 4:10). And it is here supremely where it  is a spirit of revelation (as opposed to an event), because it is ongoing and part and parcel of who they are,  and what they do!

Father I pray with Paul this morning for myself,  and for all reading this blog, that You would grant each us a spirit of wisdom and revelation on the knowledge of  Yourself.  Help us to do our part Lord in taking time,  with unveiled face (no secrets from You), to behold Your glory and so to be  being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18) in Jesus Name Amen

A spirit of wisdom - spiritually encoded wisdom

In  the world  we hear such things as “Don’t get mad, get even,”  or “If you  don’t look after number one, nobody will.”  And if there is no God to whom we must eventually give an account  (Hebrews 13:17), and if there is not a  day in which every wrong will be righted  (Isaiah 40:4), and if there is no-one who loved us and gave Himself for us, then this makes perfect sense.  But theses things are true and God does exist, and there is a wisdom that is greater than the wisdom of the world, but it is spiritually encoded.  I am thinking of the verse “the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

The Pharisees “believed” in God, but when they did their good deeds and their prayers before men to be seen of men (Matthew 25:5-7),  they in reality exhibited a practical atheism. What I mean is that when they did this,  then for all practical purposes they operated as if God is not a rewarder of those who diligently seek and serve Him  (Hebrews 11:6). And of course they have already received their reward (the praise of men  Matthew 6:2). And when we conform to the world in similar ways, we too are exhibiting practical atheism, and we must not think for a moment,  that that does not affect the way we think, and the way we are able to receive spiritual wisdom and revelation.  If we think that, then  we are fooling ourselves in the same way the Pharisees fooled themselves.  The point is,  that we suppress the truth (and wisdom and knowledge) in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18).

Even in the world there is a wisdom (but it's not widespread), that tell that  it is good to endure  short term pain if it produces long term gain (getting a degree for example)! And in terms of eternity, and if the dead are raised, then it makes sense that Paul would  fight with beasts at Ephesus (1 Corinthians 15:32), and that some of the heroes of the faith would not accept deliverance “that they might obtain a better resurrection” (Hebrews 11:35).  What I am suggesting this morning, is that if we do not live our lives in the reality that we must all give an account of the deeds done in the body, or like the Pharisees if we do them with wrong motives,  then our Father who sees in secret,  will not reward us openly, we will not advance the Kingdom, and  we will not unlock the spiritual encoding of the Spirit that enables us to understand the deeper truths of God (1 Corinthians 2:10).

Father, we are trinity body, soul and spirit, so that  what we do in the body,  and why and how we do what we do, all this affects every aspect of our being and of our knowing. And I am guessing that this is why You command us to love You with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength. Because only as we seek to do this,  and do it  this way will You unlock all  the treasures of and wisdom and knowledge that are hidden in You (Colossians 2:3). So search us again this morning Lord,  to see if there be any wicked way in us,  and lead us in the everlasting way in Jesus Name Amen

The first Ephesians prayer (II) The spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him

The  first petition in this prayer (Ephesians 1:15-21) is that God would give a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.   He is not just asking for wisdom and revelation, he is asking for the spirit of it. If we have a spirit of intimidation for example, it is something that we carry with us all the time in our bearing (not suggesting it by the way). Likewise to receive a spirit of wisdom and revelation is to receive something ongoing, something part of our way of  living and operating. Wisdom  is different from knowledge, and perhaps the clearest way to say it is that knowledge is mostly about facts, whereas wisdom is engage with knowledge is a positive way.  And it often comes from the experience of doing it wrong!

The wisdom and revelation that Paul prays for,  has to do the “the knowledge of Him” (verse 17).  We can understand this in two interrelated ways.  I is  knowing things  about Him, but also knowing   Him in the way that we know a person by experience,  and by them letting us into their  life.  The first aspect of this knowledge is  found supremely in His Word, the Bible, and we can facilitate the answer to Paul’s prayer by “meditating on it day and night” (Psalm 1:2). Revelation speaks of something not previously known or seen, and the prayer here is for the revelation, the unveiling,  both of Biblical truth  and of Truth incarnate,  Jesus Christ (John 14:6). The two aspects are interrelated because as the truth about Him becomes real in our lives, it  enables us to draw closer in intimacy with Him.

When we learn through experience to trust somebody,  we learn the fact  that they are trustworthy.  That knowledge then enables us to draw close to them if we,  and they, facilitate it. It is a two way street.  God is always willing to do His part. It is of course on His terms, but His terms are always reasonable. He is neither controlling or manipulative.  He has given us the gift and responsibility of free will, and He lets the prodigals go!  And He has taken the initiative in making  it possible for sinful man to draw near to a Holy God in and through the Cross  (God so love the world ....).  He tells us  “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8).  Part of this drawing near  is that we are to search for Him with all of our heart (Jeremiah 29:13). It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings to search it out (Proverbs 12:2).  He hides for us,  not from us.  To do this on a daily basis, is to possess a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

Father, just as relationships on earth are two way streets, so our relationship with You is a two way street.  You will not make up for what we are not willing to do in our drawing near, but You will make up for what we cannot  do.  And part of our part is to pray and to ask for this as in Paul's prayer. So this morning Lord I pray for myself and all those reading this,  that You will give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You in Jesus Name Amen

The first Ephesians prayer (I) Our good, good God and Father

We are looking at Paul’s prayer recorded in Ephesians 1:15-21. After telling that he did not cease to give thanks for them, and to remember them, Paul tells that the prayer is addressed to the “God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory” (verse 17). Expanding in this in Ephesians 3:14,15 he describes Him as “the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” For many the concept of God as Father is difficult, and this is largely because we tend to confuse Father God with our earthly father. Working in prison ministry I hear stories that would break your heart, and it's no wonder that God is rejected when He is identified with them. But there are fathers who are good role models, and the Ephesians 3 reference implies that they are more accurate models of Father God.

My own father, though I knew he love me, was a workaholic and essentially love me from a distance. It took me a long time to realize that Father God is not like that. Perhaps this is you this morning. But no matter how good or bad your father was, any goodness there, is but a pale reflection of the goodness of God. For me the clearest picture of the goodness of Father God is of the father of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11–32). The son, by demanding his inheritance “right now,” was essentially wishing the father was dead. The father, knowing it was the only way to win him back, gives him his inheritance,  and lets him go. The Lord does that with us too. He lets us go our own sweet way. And then, again like the prodigal, when circumstances and our own poor choice bring us to the end of ourselves, we too “come into our right mind,” and repent and become willing to reconcile with the father (verses 17, 18).

As I say, the goodness of the prodigal's father, is a picture the goodness of God. And like the prodigal's father, He waits for us so He can be gracious to us (Isaiah 30:18). When the son repents and returns, the father lavishes his affection on him, gives him dignity and honour,  and restores him to sonship. Consider then what manner of love and goodness the Lord has bestowed upon us that we should be called His children (1 John 3:1, 2). The World rejects Him, but “to as many as received Him, He gave the right and the authority to become God’s children (John 1:12). And as sons, we are joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17), and we receive “the riches of the glory of His inheritance” (Ephesians 1:18), this  together with many many benefits of His  passion  (Psalm 68:19). Part of Paul’s prayer is that we would grow in the knowledge of these things, in particular growing in the knowledge of His goodness.

Father, in many ways my thought are spilling over into next day’s post, that we may know You more and more, and that we may  experience Your goodness. I believe Lord that if we knew You more, we would run to You. Help us Lord not to let bad experiences with parents, others, or the Church turn us off You. And Father I ask this morning, that You expose the lies we have believed about You, in particular the lie that You are not good, for indeed You are Lord. And I praise and bless You again Lord in Jesus Name Amen

The goodness and the severity of God.

Henry Cloud tells the true story of a father grooming his son to take over his business,  when he overhears his son berating an employee. He takes him into his office and tells him "Son I am wearing two hats here,  the boss hat and the father hat." As the boss he had tried multiple times to get his son to change this way of operating,  but nothing had changed. So as the boss he fires him. He then puts on the father hat and says to his son “Son I heard you just got fired, I am so sorry to hear that,  is there anything I can do?"  So is the father being hypocritical here? I think not, because in doing this he is in some ways,  like God.   Paul could speak about the goodness and the severity of God  “on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness (Romans 11:22).

In the previous verse Paul speaks of those who are haughty, having a proud and lofty attitude towards God.  The Scripture knows nothing of  salvation based on presumption. “God will forgive me no matter what I do, that’s His job.”   There is a sense in which we need to fear God, and there is a sense in which we need to let His love cast out fear (1 John 4:18).  The one that God looks on with favour is he (or she) who “is poor and of a contrite spirit,  and who trembles at My Word”  (Isaiah 66:2). Humility and obedience is not what saves us, it it the finished work of Christ that does that. Salvation is the free gift of Grace received by faith, it is not of works, not of anything that we can do (Ephesians 2:8,9).  But we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ that  “each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” ( 2 Corinthians 5:10).

Paul was reminding the Corinthians of a teaching he had given earlier  in 1 Corinthians 3.  After telling that there is no other foundation for our faith that Jesus Christ  (verse 11), he had admonished them to  “take heed how he builds on it"  (verse 10). Their works,  he tells them in verse 13,  will be tested by fire to see what sort it is.  Our works, Paul tells us are of different kinds, and he pictures  these kinds as  gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw (verse 12).  Perhaps wood are works that look good, but are done with the wrong motive, to be seen by men  for example (Matthew 6:1). Such works will be consumed by the fire,  any reward will be lost, “but  he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” (verse 15).

Father, Your Word describes You as a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), yet paradoxically the safest place in the universe,  is close to the flame,  living life as a living sacrifices,  holy and acceptable to You. This is our reasonable service, it is spiritual worship (Romans 12:1 NKJV,  NIV). Help us not to play games with You Father,  for You would rather we be cold than lukewarm (Revelation 3:16).  But in view of Your tender mercies, neither state would  be reasonable. Let Your perfect love cast out all fear Father, in Jesus Name Amen 

Outreach (VI) The secrets of the heart revealed through prophecy

There are similarities and difference between New Covenant and Old Covenant prophecy.  As we saw last day with Gideon, there are times under the Old Covenant when the prophetic word called people up, rather than out. And since under the new Covenant prophecy is for building up, encouragement and comfort (1 Corinthians 14:3),  this is the predominant mode under the New Covenant. In this same passage, we  read that hearing the prophetic word in this positive  New Covenant way, that  the secrets of the unbeliever's  heart are revealed and he falls down on his knees and worships God (verse 15). Some have seen this predominantly as conviction of sin, but the response we read  is worship not repentance.

For me the issue is resolved by an old Covenant example which says a very similar thing.   When Samuel encountered Saul,  who he would anoint King, he told him “Go up before me to the high place,…. and tomorrow … I will tell you all that is in your heart.”  Samuel then gives  Saul a prophetic word and,  long story short, God gives Saul a new heart.  Saul himself stats to prophecy and  was “turned into another man” (1 Samuel 9:19-10:6).  So here again we see the Lord calling Saul up into his destiny,  through the prophetic word which revealed “all that was in Saul’s heart.”  It’s not that the sin in a persons life does not need to be dealt with. But it’s better done through the pastoral ministry in relationship (Galatians 6:1), rather than through the prophetic.

Kris Volloton tells the story of meeting two men in relationship sitting on the plane.  One of them was extremely artistic, and  into all sorts of creative art including sculpture.  The Lord gave Kris a word of knowledge about this and when he shared it with them,  they were blown away (positively).  Words of knowledge  like this help people to know they are loved and known by God. In situation like this the well know prophet  Shawn Bolz speaks words to the effect that "God loves what you do, more than you do!"  In my own life the most impactful word I have ever received spoke of my determination to go forward and not give up, and how difficult and painful that can be. It went on to emphasize that “I know you, I know you.” And this word from complete strangers certainly made me feel known and appreciated. 

Father, I am only just beginning to see the potential for evangelism through the prophetic word.  And I, and Your Church certainly have a long way to go in utilizing it to show others that  You know and love them.  You tell us Lord to desire spiritual gifts, but especially that we should prophecy. So I ask for myself this morning,  and for Your church , that You would teach us, and we would learn,  to walk in the prophetic anointing in bringing in the Kingdom on earth in Jesus Name Amen

“The LORD is with you, you valiant warrior!” How the Lord sees us

Gideon was threshing  wheat in the wine press, in order to hide it from the Midianites.  They had been regularly raiding Israel and destroying the produce. In fact Israel was greatly impoverished  because of the Midianites and had cried out to the Lord  (Judges 6:1-11).  In one sense it was sensible to hid in the wine press from the Midianites, but in another it was useless, because  you need wind to separate the wheat from the chaff, and there was no wind down in the wine press. Then the angel of the Lord comes to Gideon and says to him “The LORD is with you, you mighty warrior”  (verse 11).   The Lord goes on to instruct him “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you” (verse 14).

But Gideon begins to protest essentially telling God that He has got the wrong man, and in any case he is totally weak. The Lord insists that He is with him and will do it through him. Gideon asks for a sign. It is given, and it scares the living daylight out of him, but  convinces him it really is God (verses 17-22).  Later “All the Midianites and Amalekites, the people of the East, gathered together; and they crossed over and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel” (verse 33).  Gideon still doubts his ability, and asks for further sign (two actually - often referred to as Gideon's fleece).  It is given, and the rest, as they say is the history of God delivering Israel through him (Chapters 6, 7).  The point here, is that God sees Gideon not as he was in the wine press, fearful and without confidence.   God sees him as he could be, as he will be if he puts his hand into God’s hand partnering with Him to do what God was calling him to do.  To put this another way, God calls Gideon up into his potential,  rather than calling him out for his cowardice.

As I have said before God often gets a bad rap. He is often thought to be just waiting for us to make a mistake, and so to ball us out.  But like He was with Gideon, He is much more an encouragement coach coming along side and spurring us on to our destiny, and showing often times infinite patience with our weakness and hesitation. Actually with some of us we start off overconfident doing things in our own strength,  totally blowing it, and then going to the other extreme  becoming like Gideon fearful and full of doubt.  But also like Gideon, God calls us up, not out. He sees the end from the beginning, seeing us as the overcomers He calls us to be.  He believes in us. He believes in you, and He believes in me!

Father, Thank You Lord that You see us as we can be, not as we so often see ourselves in  our weaknesses. Your Word tells us that You always lead us in triumphant procession in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14), and that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us and gave Himself for us (Roman 8:37). Help us Lord to never be content to settle for anything less than all You can be through us and all we can be through You.  And we will give Your the glory in Jesus Name Amen

Outreach (V) Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed

There were times when Jesus spoke out boldly against sin (woe unto you Scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites Matthew 23:13), and other times when He withheld truth (I have many things to say to you, but you are not yet able to bear them John 16:12). Of course even when He was angry, He spoke and acted in love, and so we need to, too. And there may be times when He would lead us to say things like “I don’t know if you realize the hypocrisy of expecting us, in the name of tolerance, to accept you unconditionally, while at the same time soundly attacking and condemning any and all positions that differs from yours.” Since a soft answer turns away wrath (Proverbs 15:1), we would need not only to have His leading to do this, but also His grace to speak what He would have us speak in a way that honours both Him and others.

But there will also be times, like Jesus, when we need to hold back from speaking the truth until the time is right to speak it. Our tendency is to look on, and try to deal with the outward appearance, but the Lord may have a different priority and be wanting to deal with the heart. And again we need to stay close to Him to know what He would have us do, or not do. But some have gone too far, even to the extent that they affirm others in their sin. If a skinny,  young,  anorexic girl weighing only 75 points has embraced the lie that she is fat, it is not merciful to agree with her. And it is not unloving, hateful or fearful, in the right way, to help her gently to see that she has believed a lie.

They say that if you don’t believe the truth, you will believe anything. And when we throw out God, and the traditional values that have served us well for millennia,  we reap the consequences of the lies we believe. Having said that, it is important for us to acknowledge that there has been abuse and fear and hate, even among those who name the Name of Christ. And there is need of a change of heart and mind and action, and the making of amends in identification repentance. In many cases it is more than understandable that some feel like victims. But to go deeper, this tendency for our culture to encourage people to stay stuck in victimhood,  and to operate out of it, is not merciful either. Indeed even secular psychological research clearly shows the negative consequences of bitterness and unforgiveness. In particular it poisons us and those we love (Hebrews 12:15).

Father, Thank You for Your work in Salvation where truth and Mercy have truly kissed (Psalm 58:10). We need Your help, Your wisdom and Your grace Lord,  to be like You in  our dealings with the World. Your Word tells me that in many things we all fail (James 3:2), and I hear You saying to me this morning,  that there are yet many things that You have yet to say to me, but I am still not ready. Show us Lord where there is even a trace in our lives of the things of which we are so often accused, and lead us into repentance, and to change us into those who are pleasing to You in these things. And show us when to speak and when to be silent,  in Jesus Name Amen

Outreach (IV) God was in Christ reconciling, not counting their sins agains them

The title is from 2 Corinthians 5:19 which says that “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” I would have to be blind, deaf and dumb however, to not realize that the world (especially the West) is more than a little hostile to the message of the gospel. The church has not helped at times, laying guilt trips and condemnation both on the World, but also on its adherents for not sharing the gospel. The result, is that even when the gospel is shared too often it's been out of guilt, and not motivated by love.

We have been looking at “Always be ready to give an answer of the hope that is in us” (1 Peter 3:15). And this has more to do with testimony than the traditional way of sharing the gospel. So here's what we could say “I had such a heavy load of guilt and shame for the things I had done. I tried excuses, blame and ignoring the issues, but the feelings persisted. I also felt myself being drawn by love, and the truth that God did not want to condemn me. I learned that the penalty for my wrongdoings had already been paid, and that like the prodigal’s father,  God was waiting for me to come to Him. And I am not an exception to the rule, He wants each and every one of us to come, yes,  you too. It’s good news, I am no longer covered in shame, and the freedom, oh the freedom! And well I have to say, I didn’t know what true freedom was.” This of course is another part of my testimony.

It is Holy Spirit’s job, not ours, to convict of sin, righteousness and judgement (John 16:8). Conviction is very different from condemnation. Conviction includes  an invitation to come to Christ to be healed, forgiven and set free. I will need to say more later, but what I want to say here, is that I am not saying we should affirm sin. Condemnation though, should be far from us. In the same context of this morning’s verse we read “We no longer regard anyone according to the flesh” (verse 16). The word “flesh” here, is often translated “sinful nature.” And “No longer” implies that we used to do it that way, looking at,  and often pointing out, other people’s sin. Now, this side of Christ’s work on the cross, we are, from this verse, to ask God how He sees this or that individual. And God sees them as they could be, not as they are (i.e. according to the flesh). In fact God sees you and me as the best version of us that we could possibly be, and He calls us up to be that version of ourselves, saved or not!

Father, You have got such a bad rap in the world, and at times Your people have added to that,  spewing hate and condemnation. But this is not You Lord, You are love, and so wanting to reconcile the world to Yourself. We do need to repent of course, and it is a fine line that we need to walk to represent You well in these things.  We need to stay close to You Father. If not we will not, as Your ambassadors of the Kingdom, represent You well to this hurting world that,  in large part,  has turned its back on You, in Jesus Name Amen.

Outreach (III) How come you don’t (any longer) get drunk with us?

Within the fellowship of those in recovery (entering into true sanctification) is a spectrum of those who never had a problem with addictive substances,  to those whose addiction is out of control. This morning’s title is a paraphrase of “They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you” (1 Peter 4:4). With regard to the abuse, even Jesus received it,  but from the self righteous,  rather than here (see context),  from the other side. We read that Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners, and was accused (falsely to be sure) of being a glutton and a drunkard (Matthew 11:19). So in these diverse circumstances how do we  give an answer of the hope that is within us?  Let’s look first at a few Scriptures.

Firstly we are admonished not to get drunk,  and warned of the dangers of drink (Ephesians 5:18, Proverbs 20:1). It's  not saying no drink period, and there is freedom. Paul addressing this issue writes  “‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’ —but I will not be mastered by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12).  So one of the basic principles,  is to not let anything steal our Christian freedom.  Another principle is to not to cause a brother to stumble.  Paul tells us that if his freedom caused another to stumble (emboldened to partake by our flaunting our freedom), he would refrain from that activity forever (1 Corinthians 8:13).  This is to walk  in love!  But our emphasis this morning, is in terms of outreach,   and so about how we respond in these  situations.  Jesus has an interesting response to His self-righteous accusers (see Matthew 19:16-19).  If we are to respond this way, we would of course need to do so in humility (Galatians 6:1).

In terms of coming out from wild and reckless living, we may no longer do that because we are Christians, but I want to suggest this morning, that putting it that way, may not be the best thing to say. The World already has the false impression that Christianity is mostly about oppressive freedom destroying  rules, rather than a loving, affirming relationship with the Living God.   Of course the Word does not understand true freedom (John 8:31ff), but that for another time.   And  since Jesus,  when He was abused,  did not abuse back (1 Peter 2:23), neither should we.  If you don’t need it (anymore), say so, but do not condemn others. If you find peace and joy in Christ, you can say that.  In particular,  “A gentle answer turns away wrath” (Proverbs 15:1).  What I have found, is that though they may have  “abused me” in the beginning, but when they find themselves in trouble,  they know where come to find help. And we don’t want to do or say anything that would hinder that!

Father, when we no longer, or never did,  engage  in wild and reckless behaviour,  it is very natural for others to think we  are implying  that we are better than they. Lord I am in no position to judge or look down on anyone. Please help us Lord more and more,  to be the sort of person for whom such accusations would be false. Show us  any behaviour or attitude that would hinder our being the ambassadors for You that we both want us to be,  in Jesus Name Amen

Outreach (II) Becoming a person people will ask about the reason for my hope

I was recently talking to a struggling brother, who was feeling that it's always going to be like this. But if we tell ourselves that,  it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.  After all it is “according to your faith be it unto you” (Matthew 9:29). Certainly,  if we want to be among those who will be asked for the reason for our hope (1 Peter 3:15), we will need to be people of hope. Does that mean there should never be times of discouragement? Well we would not be human! Accordingly, Paul prayed that the Lord would give us “a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, that we might know the hope of His calling” (Ephesians 1:17,18). And we need to pray this for ourselves and for each other. You see  hope is the anchor for our soul (Hebrews 6:19).

Notice in the 1 Peter reference, that is it not about our being perfect. It is rather about growing in wisdom and grace and the knowledge of God (2 Peter 3:16). You see we are either going forward, or we are moving back. But we must not judge ourselves as the world judges. I mean “the world looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). I have the privilege of walking alongside some new converts, who just recently came out of deep drug addictions. From the world's point of view their lives are in a mess, but they have joy, and most importantly hope. Others see it, and they can be bold and testify of their wonderful deliverance by God. But what about those of us who have been on the road for a long time,  and are not exhibiting the sort of radical change we see in new believers?

I am talking to all of us here, me included, it is too easy to loose our passion and move towards being lukewarm. It really helps to be around those who are on fire for the Lord, but also around those how are actively in recovery,  even if some are struggling. There is a phenomenon that I have noticed over and over,  and I am no exception. It is that people who get involved in recovery circles because they want to help “those people,” inevitably eventually discover that they are one of "those people.” What I am saying, is that whether we admit it or not, we all have issues, and at some level are all in denial about them. But one way to be living examples of hope is to be dealing with, and allowing God to deal with our issues. It is the only way to be being transformed. A good question to ask ourselves is “Am I experiencing life in all its fullness, and do I have joy unspeakable and full of glory?” If not, I need to press in.

Father, the verse that comes to me as I type this morning is “Let he who things he stands take care lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). It is good to learn that in whatsoever state to be content (Philippians 4:11), but Lord I am asking this morning for myself and those who will agree, that You give us a godly discontent when we are not moving forward the way that You want us to. And I pray Lord as You answer this prayer,  that many will see and fear and put their trust in You in Jesus Name Amen

Outreach (I) There is a way that seems right .… but its end is destruction

I have said before if we want to do something we will likely find a thousand reasons to do it. It’s called rationalization and denial. It was always there, but over the past fifty of so years, the propaganda of the world has become increasingly militant in its rejection of traditional and family values. Today many have their own truth, and we hear things like “That may be true for you, but it’s not true for me!” But worse, “Who are you to tell me what is right and wrong.” And those of us with traditional values are accused of hate and fear, if we even dare to express something that is considered to be politically incorrect. Free speech is under attack. And if we even mention the Bible ….. well we’re self-righteous bigots. Unfortunately there are those who name the Name of Christ who have not presented themselves and their views in hate,  condemnation,  fear,  self-righteousness and bigotry. So how are we to counter this and what are we to speak and do?


The Scripture tells us "Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15). The first part speaks of our living a life that makes people want to ask “What is it about you, you are different, you always seem to be at peace?” The next part speaks about our being ready to make a defence. In my experience Christians are really good at answering questions nobody is asking. The questions in our culture do not so much have to do with truth, but are more about relevance. The point is, that Scriptures is both true and relevant. What is relevant here, is that we reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7), even if we are in denial about it, and/or  are  blaming others for our pain ! 


And people do want the pain to stop. So taking for granted we need to do it in gentleness and humility, how do we give a defence? One way is to say something along the lines  “There was a saying that made sense to me ‘Insanity,  is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome.' I was in such pain, and I started thinking about what I was doing. It  all seemed right at the time, but there was such destruction in my own life and in the lives I was touching (don’t say this is Proverbs 14:21). I became desperate enough to try anything, even God. If He was not real, He would never have held me. But He is, and He did.” This in fact is my testimony, my defence! We don't need initially to mention that our wisdom comes from the Bible, we can just present Biblical truths as the wise sayings that they are! We are planting seeds.


Father, Your Word tells us that we are to be as wise as serpents,  and as harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16). So Lord help us to truly seek wisdom and understanding  (Proverbs 4:5-9). David could say that he had more wisdom and understanding than all his teachers, because Your Word was his meditation (Psalm 119:99). So help us Lord to be diligent to present ourselves approved to You, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing Your Word of Truth in Jesus Name Amen