In the Spirit.

The recent storms that hit Scotland certainly left their mark. We had three different sections of a strong wooden fence blown down. They have been temporarily dealt with, but it may be some time before I am able to fully repair the damage.

Now why am I telling you all of that? Simply because, although I know that it was the strength and power of the wind that was responsible, I did not, and could not, actually see the wind! I could only see its effect! I was reminded of words of the Lord Jesus: "The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:8)

 

We cannot see or hear God the Holy Spirit, but He is very real and is, in fact, the very life of each true Christian. The Christ, in His resurrection body, is seated at the right hand of the Father in Glory, but the Holy Spirit has His temple in our very bodies.

 

From the moment we receive Jesus the Christ as Saviour and Lord, we live in the Spirit; He is always with us, to guide our steps, to bear witness with our spirits that we belong to God, to illumine our understanding, and, when needed, to convict and chasten when we get out of His will.

 

Therefore, "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." (Galatians 5:25). When we yield to some worldly temptation, it is because we have ignored this admonition: "... walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16). The very presence of the Holy Spirit assures us of our eternal salvation, so how can we ignore His holy constraints on our behavior? "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in Whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30). We speak of worshiping God in church, or home, or elsewhere, but if we really worship Him, we must "worship God in the Spirit" (Philippians 3:3), for we have access to the Father, and the Son, only through the Spirit.

 

Paul exhorts that when we pray, we must "Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication." (Ephesians 6:18). He also reminds us that: "... you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Any one who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him.  . . . . For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." (Romans 8:9, 14). 

For many years, God the Holy Spirit was the "forgotten" Persona (not a typo - see the chapter on "The Trinity" in my book "Great Words of the Faith") of the Trinity. Then, with the rise in Pentecostalism and the Charismatic movement, He seemed to have become the focal point. Neither of these positions, I would contend, is Biblical. Perhaps the words of the Nicene Creed help: "We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, Who proceeds from the Father and the Son, Who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who has spoken through the prophets." (emphasis added).

Let us neither ignore, nor forget, God the Holy Spirit. Let us always remember that He is God, and that He is a Person - not some kind of "force" (although, like the wind, He can be very forceful!). If we are disciples of Jesus, let us be grateful for His working in our lives, making us more like the Master, day by day. 

A Time to Die

As an octogenarian, I find myself thinking more about the topic of death than I did when I was, e.g. in my twenties! The current political situation in the UK is also keeping that topic at the forefront of my thinking - with the Leadbeater Bill in Westminster, and the McArthur Bill at Holyrood, each of which is an attempt to introduce so-called assisted dying/suicide to the British population. 

I also find myself thinking of those well-known words from the book of Ecclesiastes: "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;" (3:1-2).

 

In the first eight verses of Ecclesiastes 3 there is a remarkable listing of no less than 28 "times" arranged in 14 pairs of opposites. Every timed event is planned by God and has a "purpose" (v. 1), and everything is "beautiful" in God's time for it. (v. 11).

 

Although it is beyond our finite comprehension, it is still bound to be true that the infinite, omnipotent God "accomplishes all things according to the counsel of His will," (Ephesians 1:11). Even when, in our time, we may not understand how a particular event can be purposeful or beautiful, we can have faith that if it occurs in God's time for it, it is. As Paul wrote to the early church in the great metropolis of Rome: "We know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him, who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28).

 

The time of our birth is, of course, not under our control, but we may actually have a part in determining the occurrence of all the other thirteen "times," even the time of death. With the exception of those still living at the time of Christ's return, each of us will eventually die. God has appointed a time for each individual, but it is wrong for any of us to shorten that time by suicide (even if "assisted", and "legal"), or careless living, which can never be part of His will for any of us.

 

We should be able to say with David: "My times are in Thy hand" (Psalm 31:15), and seek to live in ways pleasing to Him as long as He allows us to live. We should pray that, when our time is finished, He will enable us to die in a manner that will be "beautiful in its time" (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

 

Not one of us knows when that ordained "time to die" may be for us, so we must seek daily to "Conduct[ing y]ourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time." (Colossians 4:5).

During the online interview that I gave last year on "Death - a Christian perspective" (may be viewed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPEfzYiPfcI&t=124s - please click on the "Like" icon!), I mentioned a booklet by a minister friend, long since gone to be with the Lord, entitled "Death with a steady eye". The basic premise of the booklet was that the disciple of Jesus, when faced with physical death, does not fear it. We do not necessarily embrace it, but we are ready to accept it. Why? Because we serve the One Who has defeated death and, as He was raised from the tomb, so those who have placed their trust will also rise to eternity in His gracious presence.

Paul writes: "... we speak, knowing that He Who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into His presence." (II Cor.4:13-14).

That is the great hope, and assurance, of the disciple of Jesus. Hallelujah!

Always accepted.

I have access to an online Bible programme that provides me with more than sixty English language versions/translations of the Bible! That is not counting I don't know how many versions in other languages - I am usually concerned only with the four French translations!

Normally, in this blog, I use the RSV - the version to which I was introduced when I was accepted as a student at the Bible Training Institute in Glasgow, 'way back in 1966! However, I sometimes check out a different version. In preparing this post, I wanted to look at some well-known words of the Lord Jesus - "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me; and him who comes to Me I will not cast out."  (John 6:37) However, I found the the wording used in the NCV (New Century Version, 2005) to be more relevant! In that version, the verse reads: "The Father gives Me the people who are Mine. Every one of them will come to Me, and I will always accept them."

In this verse and the verses to follow, we find the Christ using a marvellous teaching technique. Several times He makes a general, generic, statement, but He then quickly advances from the general and impersonal, to the particular and personal.

Note that at the first, Christ tells of an abstract gift to Him from the Father of an entire group, ("the people") that would come to Him for salvation. This is in itself a wonderful truth, for the Lord Jesus highly values this gift from His Father: "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, Who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand." (10:28-29). The entire group "will come" to Him - those chosen "in Him before the foundation of the world," (Eph.1:4).

 

But - returning to the RSV! -  the Saviour switches in mid-sentence from general to specific: "him who comes to Me I will not cast out" a concrete statement of the effect of this work on an individual. We are part of a group, without doubt, but also each one of us, individually, is His precious child.

 

The passage continues in the same vein. "And this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that I shall lose none of all those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day." (6:39). Again, the impersonal passes into the personal, "For My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day." (v. 40).

 

From the mass of created mankind, many have come to Christ for salvation. But each one who has believed and been granted everlasting life has great individual worth in the eyes of the Savior. "The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. . . . . I am the good shepherd; I know My own and My own know Me, " (10:11, 14).

Remember then, that while God loves all of His human creatures, His love is totally focused on each individual. How can He achieve that? Because He is God! He is focused on you, and longs to have you respond to His love, with the love of your own heart. As I have shared, many times, before, that involves a recognition, and confession, of your sins (all that offends Almighty God) and your sinfulness (your propensity to sin); an acceptance that you will never be able to gain salvation by any other means; and a commitment to follow the Lord Jesus for the rest of your mortal life.

The "whosoever"/"whoever" in John 3:16 is singular - Jesus died for you!

The Christian's Prosperity

One of the phenomena of the 20th century church, that continues today, is what is referred to as "the prosperity gospel". The basic premise is that if we give more to God (through the particular "ministry"!), then He will "reward" us abundantly. Of course, that is not an offering from a grateful heart, but an investment! Father God is not in that business!

However, the disciple of Jesus does know prosperity, even if not always of a financial nature! Paul writes to the Ephesian believers: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places," (1:3; emphasis added).

Yes, our blessings are spiritual rather than material - and spiritual blessings last! Of course, given our high position in the Christ, it follows that the Father would provide whatever is necessary to accomplish His purposes in and for us.  

The "Beatitudes" of Matthew 5:3-12 (please read!) provide a good illustration. Each "blessing" is designed to meet a need or fulfil a desire of God's "chosen" (Eph.1:4). The poor, meek, and persecuted are given ownership in the kingdom. The mournful are given God's special comfort. Those who hunger for righteousness are filled. The merciful will obtain mercy, the pure in heart will see God, and the peacemakers are identified as God's children. The longings of our souls and characters are all met by God.

 

The practical needs of "knowledge and discretion." are met, too (Eph.1:8). Wisdom is knowledge focused toward useful application, and prudence is the ability to develop successful activities based on wisdom. The Word of God is the source of wisdom (Deut.4:1-6; Prov.1:1-6) and is inspired of God to be "... profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (II Tim.3:16-17).

 

Furthermore, "He has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of His will," (Eph.1:9). "kept secret" in the days of the Old Testament prophets (see Rom.16:25-26), it is now made clear to us so that "through the church, the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. " (Eph.3:10). These spiritual resources are available for every believer "for the common good." (I Cor.12:7). Let us pray that we do not waste these resources like the "wicked and slothful" servant in the parables of the talents and the pounds (Matt.25:26; Luke 19:22).

Joy is better than happiness.

When I was young, there was a popular chorus for children to sing that went: « If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. If you're happy and you know it, and you really want to show it, If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. »

However, apart from Lamentations 3:17, I am unaware of any reference to “happiness” in the written Word of God (at least in my RSV!). However, there are some 200 references to “joy” - which is a different concept. You see, “happiness” is dependant upon circumstances; “joy” is beyond circumstances.

Jeremiah is not usually thought of as a "joyful" prophet, yet he states: "Thy words were found, and I ate them, and Thy words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by Thy name, O YHWH, Elohim sabaoth." (Jeremiah 15:16)

People today seem always to be looking for fun or entertainment. “Fun”, of course, is never mentioned in the Bible, so it is evidently not considered to be a very significant part of the Christian life. The word “entertain” is used to speak of hospitality, and such activities as “play” and “revelling” only receive condemnation. (Playing is appropriate for children and animals, of course.)

Christians, however, have something far better than worldly fun - they have heavenly joy! This is the unique privilege of the redeemed, and there are many channels through which this joy can be experienced.

First of all, Christian joy comes through the Word. As even Jeremiah said, “Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart” . Then we rejoice in God’s great salvation: “I will rejoice greatly in Yahweh; My soul will rejoice in my God, For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,” (Isaiah 61:10; LSB).

There is great joy also in the privilege of prayer and having our prayers answered: “Hitherto you have asked nothing in My name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:24). Christian service and witnessing are a source of tremendous joy when their fruits are finally seen. “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy. He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, carrying his sheaves with him.” (Psalm 126:5-6; LSB).

And there is much, much more! Paul, writing from a Roman prison - no holiday camp! - can encourage the disciples of Jesus in Philippi to: “Rejoice in the Lord always:” and, just in case they thought that he had made an error (or completely lost his mind!), he repeats: “and again I say, Rejoice! ” (Philippians 4:4). 

After all, he might have added, we have a personal knowledge of the very Creator of all that is good and, as Peter points out: “Without having seen Him you love Him; though you do not now see Him you believe in Him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy.” (1 Peter 1:8). 

Do you know Him? If not, this may well be, for you, the moment to humbly approach Him, claiming the salvation that He has provided, freely, through the atoning sacrifice of the Son. If I may be of any help, please feel free to contact me, using the e-mail address at the top of the blog.