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. 

In the Beginning - Pt.4

Continuing the theatre analogy, this post brings the entrance of the villain of the play! Booo!

If there is an orchestra playing at this stage, they would surely be playing the well-known Frank Sinatra song: "I did it my way"! We find the script in Gen.3: 1-13, which I would encourage you to take time to read. The devil, in the form of a serpent, tempts us all into the one basic sin that we must all face - that of deciding for ourselves what is right, or wrong, instead of taking God's word for it! The one restriction placed on our first parents was, you may remember, "... of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die." (Gen 2:17). 

That was a simple, straightforward, and easily understood instruction. However, the devil questions, and distorts, God's word: "He said to the woman, "Did God say, 'You shall not eat of any tree of the garden'?" (Gen 3:1). Now, of course, that is not exactly what the Creator had commanded - but it is very close! The woman, who was being targeted, provided a more accurate quotation (vs 2-3 - but note the additional instruction that she included! cf. 2:17 if you need some help!), so then the devil flatly contradicts God's word: "... the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not die.'" (Gen 3:4). He spreads the lie that God's law is actually an unreasonable restriction, and that He won't punish those who break that law: "You will not die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Gen 3:4-5).

The woman chooses to believe the devil, and the man follows suit: "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, and he ate." (Gen 3:6). What follows is a series of fractures as they come to terms with their own self-image: "Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons." (Gen 3:7). Worse than that there was a fracture in their relationship with God: "... they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But YHWH Elohim called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?" And he said, "I heard the sound of thee in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself." (Gen 3:8-10). When further questioned by God, there was also a breakdown in their own newly-formed relationship: YHWH asked "... 'Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?' The man said, 'The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.'" (Gen 3:11-12). Oh, how easy it is to blame others - even God Himself! - for our own failures! And the woman did the same: "Then the YHWH Elohim said to the woman, 'What is this that you have done?' The woman said, 'The serpent beguiled me, and I ate.'" (Gen.3:13).

Can we be totally honest withourselves? Have there been times, even recently, when we have given into temptation? Times when we have believed the devil's lies? Have we then tried to pass the blame on to someone else? I suspect that each one of us must admit to this having been our frequent experience. Certainly, the apostle John makes it clear that none of us can, honestly, claim that it is never our experience! "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." (I John 1:8-10; emphasis added). And, like our first parents, we try to put the blame on someone else! However, instead of doing that, we should allow God to emphasise, in our own consciences, that it is our fault! We may then confess it, and seek His forgiveness - a forgiveness that was won for us at Calvary.

Until next time.

Holy - me?!

It would appear that a number of those who receive these weekly posts, did not receive the one sent out last week. The post was rejected by about 20 Inboxes! The message, received by me, was "The response from the remote server was: 554 Message rejected on 2021/08/01 22:58:50 BST, policy (3.2.1.1) ID (60CA88F70810F1FD) - Your message looks like SPAM or has been reported as SPAM

As that post was the most important of the little series of three, I would encourage all to check it out on the blog (link below!). The reason for the "spam" message may have been that I included a couple of graphics. Anyway, I believe (but am open to correction!) that if you have my e-mail address in your "Contacts", then no message will be considered to be 'spam' unless you deliberately so designate it. Hope that helps!

Having dealt, in the previous three posts, with sin, I want to move on to something else. You may recall that sin has its consequences. You may be surprised to discover that salvation also has its consequences! Those consequences are summed up in a big, theological word: "sanctification". As with so many great words of the Christian faith, that word is dealt with, more fully, in my first book "Great Words of the Faith". The Kindle version is less than the cost of a couple of cups of coffee in an average café (or one cup if you use the more exotic establishments!), and ALL royalties are sent directly to Release International, in support of the persecuted church.

So what is "sanctification"? Well, to the disciple of Jesus - one who has recognised the reality of his/her sinful state; has understood the results of that sinful state; and has accepted the remedy provided by Father God through the Son; the word refers to the process of becoming increasingly more like Jesus. It has to do with holiness. However, holiness is a word that is often misunderstood! There are many who seem to think that it refers to "perfection"! After all, they would point out, does not Father God, Himself, say "... you shall therefore be holy, for I am holy."? (Lev 11:45). Yes, He does! But the word "holy" (qadosh, in Hebrew) does not actually mean "perfect", although Father God is, of course, total perfection. The word means to be separate - and is used, e.g., of the vessels in the Temple that were the best possible - but were "holy" because they were separated from common use.

So, to be holy is, in common language, to be different. The disciple of Jesus should be different - in a very positive way - from those who are not His disciples! I have often been told by people who claimed to be disciples of Jesus that if they acted in a certain manner, that was in line with God's Word, they would "stick out like a sore thumb"! My response was usually along the lines of "That's what you're supposed to do!" Would that more of us were like sore thumbs!

Sanctification, as I point out in the book, begins at conversion. "It begins as soon as I give control of my life to Jesus; as soon as I open my heart’s door to Him; as soon as I acknowledge my own sinfulness, and my total inability to deal with it; and accept His free offer of full salvation." Sanctification follows on from justification. However, while justification is an instant act, sanctification is a process. Just as physical growth begins, in one sense, at birth; so spiritual growth – which is what sanctification is – begins at rebirth.  I have a long way to go; I will make many mistakes; I will fall down again and again.  But I will have started!

Of course, even with the help of God the Holy Spirit, the process of sanctification is not easy! The simple reason for that is that when the enemy - the devil - realises that we are being serious about our new life in Jesus, he doesn't just leave us alone. Rather, he attacks with increasing ferocity! Peter writes: "Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion , seeking some one to devour." (I Peter 5:8). We must expect to take blows: discouragement, repeated falls, temptations. It's a daily struggle for all who want to walk in the Spirit - but this struggle is, in itself, proof that God has done something in us!

However, although not easy, sanctification is possible because God has made us a place of habitation of the Spirit, and John reminds us that "... He who is in you (God the Holy Spirit) is greater than he who is in the world. (the devil)" (I John 4:4). Sanctification is possible because God has made us new creatures, saints, so that we can enter into his pre-prepared works. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Eph 2:10). 

It is also worth noting that sanctification is not an option! Indeed, the very idea that it even could be is a nonsense! Listen to Paul, again. Having shared on the grace of Almighty God, that deals with my sin, and yours, he continues: "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?" (Rom 6:1-2). Being saved/born again/regenerated while still wanting to live in sin, is incompatible! Indeed, wanting to live in sin, is to be a slave to sin, while our salvation makes us dead to sin, i.e. we no longer wish to be controlled by it! 

The relevant chapter in my book ends like this:

« "Sanctification – the process of being made like Jesus:

Who are sanctified?  Only true believers – disciples of Jesus - because sanctification begins at conversion.

How are believers sanctified?  Through the indwelling power of God the Holy Spirit, as the process continues in Christian living.

When are believers fully sanctified?  Only after physical death, as their growing more and more like Jesus is completed in glory; as they become like Him; seeing Him as He is.

To the best of my knowledge, the little printed plaque that is on my study wall is a Brian Ross ‘original’ (the words, not the sentiment!).  It reads, quite simply: “In this life I shall never be sinless but, by God’s grace, I may sin less!” »  And that is sanctification. It's amazing what a bit of separation can do! 

Testing, testing!

When I was very young, public address systems were not very common. Then as the years passed, it seemed to be the case that every public building had to have such a system installed. At the beginning of the programme - be it a Variety Show in the Town Hall, or a worship service in a church building - someone would always be heard, speaking into the microphone the words "Testing, testing" in order to ensure that all of the equipment was operating correctly.

Many years later, as a schoolteacher, I was required to test my pupils on their knowledge of my subject - be it Religious Studies, or History. Although there were set times for the formal examinations, I would also throw in a test or two as we worked our way through a topic. Some pupils didn't like such additional tests, but they knew that they would be coming, and that they should be prepared for them by completing homework, and staying abreast of classwork.

Almighty God, we might say, works on a similar principle. His Word says: "... do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, ..." (I Peter 4:12; NASB). Of course, God's tests aren't necessarily ones that we would have chosen for ourselves, because they never seem to come at 'the right time', and they invariably test us in our weakest areas! However, there is a reason for this. The tests of life are designed to sharpen us mentally, and strengthen us spiritually. They are not for the benefit of the teacher - they're for our own benefit! 

When tests come - and they will! - we have two possible reactions. We may act the victim, complaining that we have been singled out, and are being unfairly treated. Alternatively, we may allow them to teach us more about ourselves, and the Father God we claim to serve. 

For a number of years, I regularly 'worked out' at a gym. I had a choice. I could use the various pieces of apparatus as resistance, and push myself to grow physically stronger. Or I could have walked around, feeling sorry for myself, and remaining flabby! The same is true in the spiritual realm - and we have to make the choice!

Commenting on the temptations of the Christ, William Barclay has this to say: "In this life it is impossible that we should escape the assault of temptation; but one thing is sure - temptations are not sent to us to make us fail; they are sent to us to strengthen the nerve and the sinew of our minds, and hearts, and souls. They are not meant for our ruin, but for our good. They are meant to be tests from which we emerge better warriors and athletes of God. ... ... Jesus was not left to fight His battle alone - and neither are we." (D.S.B. on Mark; in loc).

Here's a comforting (i.e.strengthening) thought - Father God will never give you more than you can handle, or give you a test that you cannot pass.Listen to these words of Paul, from his first letter to the disciples of Jesus in Corinth: "But remember this - the wrong desires that come into your life aren't anything new and different. Many others have faced exactly the same problems before you. And no temptation is irresistible. You can trust God to keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it, for He has promised this and will do what He says. He will show you how to escape temptation's power so that you can bear up patiently against it." (I Cor 10:13; TLB).

But be prepared. The test may come at any time. We prepare by the faithful, daily, practices of reading His Word, and of communing with Him in prayer. Are you prepared?!

He is always "in control"!

It was only when I logged on to my Blogspot dashboard to start this post, that I noticed that the number of people who had accessed the previous one was a great big Zero! Now, I have had some posts that have been viewed by few people - but had never experienced a zero before. That was when I noticed that I had failed to publish the post!!!!! I had published it on other sites, but not on what should be its premier site! Duh!!!!! [Comments that refer, in any shape, manner, or form, to my advancing years will, obviously, be deleted!!].

Anyway, I am still being exercised by the thought of the absolute control of Almighty God. The recent flooding in parts of Israel, together with the "sabre-rattling" of certain national governments, reminded me of the story of some people who spotted a nine-year-old boy in a swollen river. He was struggling as hard as he could to stay afloat in the raging torrent, but did not have the strength to swim to the river's edge, even although it was only a few yards away. Rescuers quickly jumped in, and pulled him to safety. 

The boy, exhausted and bedraggled, lay panting on the riverbank. After he had recovered sufficiently, someone asked him, "Did you fall in?" "No," came the reply, "I just wanted to find out how strong the current was. I guess that I now know!"

Perhaps the first lesson that we all need to learn from that story is that we must be careful where we go! The adage is true - "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread" (it's not from the Bible, by the way!).  To deliberately place ourselves in temptation's path is to mock the providence of Father God!

However, the story illustrates something else. In Psalm 9, David sings about the strength of the omnipotent God, the creator, Ruler, and Judge of all of the universe. He describes what happens to those who decide to challenge His strength, or to exalt themselves above Him. They eventually find out how powerful He really is. They lose their thrones. Their kingdoms, or empires, crumble. Their armies collapse. Yet YHWH endures forever! 

"Thou hast rebuked the nations, Thou hast destroyed the wicked;" (v.5). 

However, David also provides another side to this all-powerful God. He portrays Him as the One Who protects, and cares for, those who take refuge in Him. "But the Lord sits enthroned for ever, He has established His throne for judgment; and He judges the world with righteousness, He judges the peoples with equity. The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble." (vs.7-9). 

The same God Whose power destroys evil, preserves what is good - and no-one can break through His protection, without His permission (remember Job!!). What a consoling, and strengthening, comfort it is to know that God's power can thwart the wicked, and protect the righteous! That is a God worth trusting. As we look around us, and see the increasingly rapid approach of the end of time, we may ponder the words of the un-named psalmist who penned Psalm 2:

« Why do the nations conspire,

and the peoples plot in vain? 

The kings of the earth set themselves,

and the rulers take counsel together,

against the Lord and His anointed, saying, 

"Let us burst their bonds asunder,

and cast their cords from us." 

He Who sits in the heavens laughs;

the Lord has them in derision. 

Then He will speak to them in His wrath,

and terrify them in His fury, saying, 

"I have set my King

on Zion, my holy hill." » (Ps. 2:1-6)

In a world of many superlatives, our God is still the greatest. Glory to His name!

The Ten Words (10)

In many ways, this last of the Ten Words (Commandments) may be seen as the most serious!   It reads: "You shall not covet your neighbour's house; you shall not covet your neighbour's wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or his ass, or anything that is your neighbour's." (Ex 20:17).

Basically, the commandment is instructing us to control our material desires.  There is, I would contend, nothing inherently wrong with admiring that which is possessed by another; or even of wishing that I had such an item myself.  It is, however, when my desire for that item begins to take control; to eat into my being like a cancer; to become my main obsession; that I am breaking this tenth commandment.

Ultimately, to covet that which belongs to someone else is to express dissatisfaction God's provision for myself.  In the modern, materialistic, society in which so many of the world's inhabitants live, this is not a welcome thought.  Surely, if my neighbour (and cf. Luke 10:29ff) has a brand-new, top-of-the-range, car I am entitled to a similar model!  If my neighbour has just purchased a 50" flat-screen television set, am I not entitled to the same level of home entertainment?   My neighbour has a cleaning lady come in, every day, to attend to housework, and cooking.  Why should I not have the same benefit?  That, sadly, is the attitude of so many in the 'civilised', and 'developed' west!

However, I stated, above that, in many ways, this commandment may be seen as the most serious - or, at least, the breaking of it can lead to so much more.  You see, if I covet in this way, I am putting personal greed, lust, and self before God.  That is idolatry, and is the breaking of the second commandment.  However, such covetousness may lead me to break into someone's home and take the item that I desire so obsessively.  That breaks commandment number eight - I have stolen.  Regretfully, in the course of my burglary, my neighbour returns, unexpectedly.  In order to cover my tracks, I hit him with the crowbar that I used to gain entry to his home and, in so doing, I murder him.  I have now added commandment six to my growing list of transgressions! 

Having escaped to my own home without any further 'mishap', I find that, shortly afterwards, the local constabulary are questioning everyone in the street in their search for clues as to the identity of the perpetrator of this double crime.  Well, I am hardly going to confess - so I lie!  That is the breaking of the ninth commandment!   I then decide that I should, at least, put on a show and visit my neighbour's widow in order to express my shock, and offer my sympathy.  She is an attractive woman.  I return more frequently - just to be of assistance! - and, before I know it, I am engaged in an affair.  Down goes commandment number seven.  My agèd parents find out about my misdeeds, and are shocked.  This was not the way in which they had reared their little boy.  That breaks commandment number five.

Have you been counting?  I make it that I have now broken a total of six of the ten commandments - all because I coveted in the first place!

So, is there an answer?  Of course there is.  The same God Who gave us these commandments also assures us that "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (I Cor. 10:13).

Under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, Paul also writes: "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would. But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like.  I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." (Gal 5:16-24).

One more post on this subject - but that will have to wait until next month!

I have just applied for a job.  I have been informed that the salary is £60,000 per year (plus expenses).  I have decided that that is not a good enough package.  So, what do I do?  Being a person of reasonable intelligence, I cancel my application, and look for a job that will pay me what I consider myself to be worth!

Unless, of course, I am an Honourable Member of the Westminster Parliament!  Yesterday, I listened to the news report concerning the former Labour MP, and Minister for Europe in the B.Liar government, Mr Denis McShane, who has offered a 'Guilty' plea to the charge of having fraudulently claimed almost £13,000 in 'expenses'.  Regrettably, I didn't catch the name of the person who spoke during the report, and who seemed to be suggesting that if MPs were paid a "reasonable" salary, then there wouldn't be the temptation to fiddle their expenses!

My first thought was that £60,000 is a more than reasonable salary for the majority of the British population.  I certainly never earned that amount, or even its contemporary equivalent, at any time during my working life!  And, of course, MPs know the salary level, and other conditions, when they offer themselves for election.  The old adage has it: "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!"  We might amend it slightly and inform those MPs who feel themselves to be so hard done by that "If you can't stand the heat, don't bother entering the kitchen in the first place"!

My second thought was that "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (I Cor. 10:13).  The thing to do with temptation is to resist it!  My personal Bible reading, today, was from Luke 4 - his account of the temptations of the Lord Jesus.  Jesus resisted temptations that we will never face.  None of the rest  of us is sinless - but that doesn't mean that we have to knuckle under when the enemy of souls shouts.

Perhaps if MPs were to seek the help of God the Holy Spirit in resisting any temptation to defraud their employers (that's the taxpayers, by the way!), they might discover that He would, indeed, strengthen them to do so.  Of course, if they were to seek His guidance in all matters, the UK would be a much better governed country than it presently is!

Lent.

Today was the first Sunday in Lent - that season in the Christian calendar that, like so much else, seems to have been hijacked by those who profess no allegiance to (or even interest in) the Christ of the cross.  It seems to be just another photo-shoot opportunity for so-called 'stars' to let us all know which particular item they are going to be "giving up for Lent"!

But what is Lent?  What is the real thinking behind it?  May I suggest that it has all to do with Jesus.  The Lenten period is a reminder, not that He "gave up chocolate" (I doubt if any would have been available in the Middle East of the time!), but that He spent forty days in the wilderness area, culminating in the attempts, by the devil, to sidetrack Him from obedience to the Father's will. (Matthew 4:1-11, et al).

Lent, if it is to be in any way meaningful, should surely be a time when we seek to concentrate our minds more on Him.  We, too, are subject to the temptations of the evil one.  Peter reminds us that he "... prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (I.Peter 5:8).   Just last night, I was watching a television programme that showed lions (actually, lionesses!) hunting.  It isn't just the speed of the great cat that is employed.  Indeed, speed is of secondary importance!  What those lionesses used was cunning strategy.  They targetted their prospective lunch, and worked, together, to bring it down.

The devil is no less cunning.  He knows me better than I know myself (although not as well as the Lord knows me).  He knows my weaknesses; my "Achilles' heels".  He also knows my strengths - few 'though they may be - and he employs all of that knowledge to attack me where he has most chance of success.

The fasting aspect of Lent, which is much more than giving up chocolate, or whatever, is an opportunity for me to use the senses that are thus sharpened in my defence.  If I give up an activity, then the time I would otherwise have used, should be used in alternative activities that will draw me closer to Him.  If I save money through this period, it should surely be given to a cause that is seeking to exalt His Name in our day.

Of course, I don't want to be "religious" about all of that.  I recall what Jesus had to say about those who act thus:  "And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men.  Truly, I say to you, they have their reward.  But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, thatyour fasting may not be seen by men but by you Father Who is in secret; and your FatherWho sees in secret will reward you." (Matt.616-18)

Lent - let it be to His glory!