Still learning, of course, but one major theme of pursuit has been regarding the various gifts of the Spirit.
New light, this past week, in regard to a couple of things. Fairly perpetual, really, as pertains especially to prophecy.
There's a vast amount of interest, presently, in regard to what basically equates to "prophecy on demand" in the church. Entirely disheartening, as the mentality implied by such a trend indicates certain varying extents of willful, self-indulgence...and no small amount of desperation. The latter of all is actually a good thing. Desperation for the Lord yields so much, it's become a prayer for unending continuance.
Yes, though--apparently, the trend toward prophecy has come and gone, over course of time. This past century, though...now, to the point where it's sought as a sort of means of divination. Which--the temptation is one which has been experienced, and it's strong as to be fearfully distanced.
Much prayer, is all. Much, much prayer. We need to help one another, on this account, and apparently one means of doing so is to prayerfully inform one another of ways unto Christ, in regard to this all.
Not self-seeking, in other words. It has to be about the Lord. Period.
If it's not, then it's ungodly.
Period.
The Holy Spirit always directs to Christ. Not to God, even--to Jesus. He said so, so it is.
And, if for some reason, whatsoever spirit isn't directing to Christ...?
Be very wary. We have to be, in all things, really. Just...it's not a matter of being anxious. It's not a matter of being scared. It's not a matter of being on pins and needles, always. It's not a matter of continually fretting over what to do or where to look or how to tell.
It's a matter of prayer and trusting the Lord to guide. He does and He will. He will show the references. The Holy Spirit will always direct to Christ Jesus, and will always agree with Scripture. Scripture always refers to Christ, ultimately...so it goes.
If, for some reason, something doesn't quite jive. Do, please, keep in mind that in the mouths of two or three witnesses truth can be established. But...again...still has to be prayerfully approached.
And, honestly, there are some things wherein that's taken months. Because it has seemed better to wait on the Lord than to jump to conclusions. Seriously--He's infinite, He's omniscient, He's extratemporal...if He has refrained from providing revelation on a particular point, then there's reason. And He's faithful to answer all things, in due time and due course.
Like, for instance, one thing which has been asserted and reasserted over the course of this past month and some is that the gifts are all well and good, but love is what makes the difference.
Today, that reassertion came by way of teaching (Piper--Desiring God Ministries) which reinforced the notion that, not only is love the most important of all which comes by the Spirit, but to possess gifts without love is to be in very dangerous--likely damning--territory.
Which...yeah. Because if those gifts are received and utilized outside the constraining influence of love? ...then tend toward self-idolatry, outright.
Oh, pride. I'm seriously praying for greater revelation, thus deliverance, on that count.
Paul talked about how it consumed some folks, outright. ...and it does. Give it one moment's worth of indulgence, and there comes a taste for pride...self-indulgence in self-glorification, ultimately...seeking worship, even if that worship only comes by way of self-idolatry. The whole "patting on the back" of self, even unto seeking similar appropriations as collaboration from others.
The fellow who made the Holy Ghost movie talked about it fairly well at the movie premier, saying it was very, very tempting to want to revel in even just a teensy bit of the glory...but that's not right, because God deserves all the glory (always).
Which...makes it really difficult to clap after "performances" at various churches...
...same dude, though, put things in such a way--invited people to "bless them," by clapping.
That's been something big on my mind, lately--what to do when people expect thanksgiving unto a worshipful response to a self-defined "good deed." You can tell. Seriously. Maybe you've never thought about it, but it's a common thing we've all done at some point (most likely--at least, I've been guilty)... ...doing something nice for someone, going out of one's own way for someone, feeling very self-congratulatory about doing such a good, nice thing, and expecting to be adequately appreciated and to receive gushing gratitude for so doing and being? Yeah, that's a desire for worship, and it's self-idolatry.
it's prideful
...and, it's in opposition to God, as all of the sort.
So, what to do? Because there's an admonition not to knowingly bring offense. And folks who are of that mindset are definitely offended when "adequate" recognition isn't proffered (again--previously guilty...praise the Lord for sanctification!).. ..so..
...what to do?
After...however many months of praying, there've been a couple of developments. The all of which do come back to as that fellow said--bless them, instead of thanking them.
There will still be folks who won't particularly respond well to that, most likely, but in all honestly--think about it...
...okay, so secular folks won't necessarily even want to consider the magnitude of what it means to be blessed of God...
...but, still, even then...
...to be blessed of God is of utmost desirability. Same as knowing folks are praying for a person's good--seriously, good stuff.
As opposed to indulging them in a momentary glorification which equates to abomination before the Lord? Yeah. Much preferable. Even as it's going to take grace and what equates to a miracle to get to the point where it's a reality.
The trend toward desiring prophecy "on-demand" is along that line, though--very self-congratulatory. My exposure to certain of what's going on, nationally (internationally?...maybe--not going to research credentials), has been first-hand...and the observable decline unto derisiveness was fairly quick and thorough. Lamentable, entirely. Still prayerfully recalled.
Folks don't quite comprehend some of Paul's instructions in regard to "order" in the church, pertaining to the operation of gifts. Largely because they haven't experienced it, or even...moreover, that they've not been aware of what they've been experiencing when they have experienced precisely what Paul was talking about.
And, just to note--I know I'm not the first one to realize this, it's just been a weird sort of side-road lately wherein it seems that most folks are really rather confused about this, and given direct experience with it...there's feeling of obligation placed unto sharing insight (what's given in the dark/privately then to be shared in the light/publicly--yet, prayerfully).
Public exercises in being so led by the Holy Spirit, as the Church, can include...
...prayer meetings, wherein the group discusses afore what needs be (without becoming a gossip session, dear Lord forbid!)...then, all agree to begin praying as one begins, all praying solemnly in accordance with whatsoever the leader intercedes...silent accord...then, as they're led to conclude their thanksgiving, prayer, and supplication...the next led by the Spirit to begin interceding does pray aloud...and, when all are praying in earnest, the Spirit does keep all in accord. Period. One after another. No interruption. Many necessary things prayed.
Spirit-led, organized, directed, and concluded.
Same, with prophecy. One person who has received revelation from the Spirit speaks, then someone else who's received revelation... and.. experience has been that the Spirit will often provide further revelation to another in the group, in accord with revelation shared by one of the others--building upon, to a deeper level... ...and then, that person will also listen. And anyone else who also prophesies who receives revelation that anything said was not entirely in accord with the Spirit (sometimes, folks do get off on a tangent into "natural" musings)... ...then, that person who prophesies can speak to redirect toward the Spirit, unto the Lord.
The same goes, with tongues. Which, honestly--at this point, there's only been one experience of the Scriptural process. It was the most powerful service... ...but, even moreso perhaps for quite what was spoken, even beyond the manner of proceedings.
But it proceeded the exact same was as those others. I mean, seriously--and it had never quite occurred to me, in thought as such, but heard it said not long back (don't remember by whom)--the Holy Spirit is not going to interrupt Himself. Period. He just doesn't. So, when those in the congregation are truly expressing, in all love, the gifts of the Spirit? ...it's VERY orderly. And very solemn. And very, mind-numbingly (literally) edifying.
With the service which included the Spirit operating through the range of the gift of tongues, though? The first to begin speaking in tongues was the pastor. He was caught up in beginning to describe the process of Christ's sacrifice. Then, completely gave way to the power of the Spirit, began speaking in Hebrew. For a good few minutes.
Jaw-dropping. Electrifying.
And he actually ended up translating. The entire portion of his part of the dialogue. For it was a dialogue, as it went.
I just...I'd been wondering, at that point for a few months...what the "weeping and gnashing of teeth" was about. What it meant, why it was so perceivedly horrid to consider.
When the portion of his dialogue came to completion... ...the entire congregation responded.
It was as if the air had been sucked out of the room, as though darkness so deep it was unfathomable and limitless had descended, and such a heart-wrenching, gut-wrenching, mind-altering, soul-destroying grief as exceeded absolutely anything I had ever experienced before (even so far beyond the loss of my mother to suicide that there really is no compare, except that my mind periodically has been utterly stalled in reflecting that there could be such a vastness in increase of grief beyond her loss)... ...I don't know what everyone was doing--I collapsed in grief, and only recall the fathomless depths of it, and how unsearchable they were and how unreachable He seemed...so far gone from us, so far gone...and to begin to hear, in the darkness all the sounds of shrieking and groaning...and gnashing of teeth, even as there were those other than myself who were also weeping inconsolably...it was beyond surreal..
...and, then, just as all was absolutely void...someone stood, a woman began speaking, telling a tale of likewise grief and of the lamentable necessity for the course, that it had been as was required as was necessary and that there was no love less for having so done... ...and the things she spoke, there was just such a force... ...reconciliation.
And even the moment she ceased, the pastor began again, acknowledging all that had been spoken.
And there was a moment, then, when even his voice changed and his manner. And there was such peace.
The moment the woman had begun there was peace, even, of a sort. Solemnity, in recognition and acknowledgment.
But when the pastor spoke again...just...hope sprang to life again, in such a way as makes no literal sense. It wasn't him, the fellow speaking. Just...the things spoken, the tone of it. That voice.
Not the pastor's, but the one behind it.
Such love. Such resolution. Even as before, the first time he'd begun...with the Hebrew--the grief, the resignation, the love, the sorrow...just overwhelming.
Then, so was the love and power evident, over the second course of speech.
The second portion of his second portion of dialogue was the most compelling of all--it included directive, provision, and covenant. Certainty and love. Faithfulness and reassurance. Beyond all measure.
He will go before us and make the ways straight. Every road. Every time.
We are His. He will never leave us, never forsake us. Ever.
...
Needless to say, driving the three hours to Roanoke along the dark road, "alone," that particular night...was yet a very moving experience.
...
Point being...when the Holy Spirit moves, there IS order. It all refers to Christ, to who we are in Him, to how best to be sanctified and to serve Him...and it will agree with Scripture.
Period.
Which is why, hearing one pastor today talk about how...prophecy now is different from so-called "Old Testament" prophecy...?
...makes me wonder in what capacity he believes God has changed.
He does NEW things, but He doesn't change. Which is wherein there seems to be a lot of confusion regarding the gifts of the Spirit, apparently.
Because, as that same pastor pointed out in regard to himself--he had never had any means of classifying a gift of prophecy.
Which...yeah. At what point do we really begin to classify God?
...it would also do well to note that, regardless of what some may think--it is possible to receive salvation without being an adherent to Calvinism. Or Arminianism, for that matter.
Which I thank the Lord for, so much! If salvation were dependent upon doctrine, who would be saved? It's such a glory and wonder that salvation, instead, rests upon the gospel of Jesus Christ by the grace of the work of the Holy Spirit, through faith! Not through the tenets of man, blessedly!
If we had to depend upon man for salvation, we'd all be right where we started...and the worse for the wear. Chaos unto chaos. Rather than the glory of God--which is much preferable to all things.
So, yeah, when folks start talking about means of classifying the gifts, according to points of observation and according to doctrinal ideologies...rather than according to revelation by the Holy Spirit and according to Scriptural accordance? I'm out. By the grace of God, though--otherwise, there'd be absolutely no discernment between the all.
That's the thing--there's continual need to discern, and it's given by the Spirit, alone.
So, yeah.
As to everyone wanting to classify and break down means of distinguishing...
...the thing is...how are you supposed to distinguish between things which have to be discerned?
...wherein "distinguishing" entails natural orders of mental determinations....as opposed to "discernment" which is entirely a course of perception yielded on the spiritual level?
Don't get me wrong--you can describe spiritual things all day, as regard how they seem to operate, how they appear to be, and of the evidences and describing experience of them... ...but can you experience mentally what occurs solely on the spiritual level of existence?
No.
One can be affected by the other, and vice versa...but you can't trade them out, one for the other.
And especially can you not really describe the working of God. Which, for a converted spirit...means that we're in Christ, spiritually, so how are we to restrict that into word?
There are only bits and pieces, ever evidenced as momentary glimpses--that's all. You just simply can't restrict the infinite into a momentary conception. So, nor can we really, fully and wholly explicitly restrict the work of the Holy Spirit into a set of tenets.
Despite that folks want to.
Again--we all are utterly tempted to be able to somehow bring Him down to our level, as to be able to understand Him on our terms...which, perhaps it was Carter Conlon...someone once pointed out was the core desire behind what drove the Israelites to seek that Aaron build them a god while Moses was 40 days on Mount Horeb with the Lord... ...they wanted a tangible god--one they could see, and touch, and feel, and understand, on their own level.
They wanted something they could wrap their minds around. Something on their own level.
They wanted something made in their own image, to worship.
Because there's a vast amount of vulnerability entailed in worshipping a God which exceeds comprehension. And that vulnerability is utterly humiliating, as brought to fore merely by course of ever being forced to acknowledged one's own ineptitude and incapacity and sheer insufficiency in the face of a God which is sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient, and holy.
Which, really, is what becomes so irksome about theology and doctrine. As a means to further one's appreciation and love and reverence unto God...then, yes--by all means! Just...there seems to be such a tendency toward learning for learning's sake.
Knowledge, for the sake of knowing, rather than for edification unto the Lord...and the pride which oft comes by way of those courses (again--have been guilty of this all, in various matters of pursuit)...again, ends up in a line of self-idolatry which becomes unloving as judgmental of others.
Know things, but know them for the glorification of God! Know them as to edify ourselves and one another, in Christ! Please!
Just...hearing someone talk about classifying the work of the Holy Spirit, according to observable traits which seem consistent according to reason...? ...seek God, using the scientific method?
Contradiction, thereabouts.
We're all just so confused, but the thing is...there's rest in Christ. there's certainty IN CHRIST
But, in Him, ONLY.
Seeking details, ultimately tends toward deviation from focus upon the Lord. Seeking to understand His ways is... ...yeah. Have fun with that. Seriously. He'll catch you, when you fall. He caught me, after all.
It's all just glimpses, y'all. Seeing now through a glass darkly, much? Now we see in part, for real, because that's ALL WE'RE CAPABLE OF. We are yet temporal beings contemplating and extratemporal Creator--that, alone, sums up the sheer impossibility of accomplishing full revelation.
Which...is where...faith comes in.
Do you trust Him? You can. Period. He CAN be trusted.
He IS faithful.
So.
Do you trust Him?
...do you trust Him enough to not feel as though you must understand absolutely everything about Him, as to be able to seek Him first in all things?
...do you trust Him enough to put your life in His hands and do whatever He leads?
No matter what that happens to be, or where it takes you...from one state to another, to the next, and thrice back again?
Do YOU trust Him?
Do.
Trusting means letting some things just be. Comprehending the work of the Holy Spirit is one of those sort, for many...
Although He will give revelation to some, it might not be to you. There are certain things He hasn't, and may not ever, reveal to me...yet which He's revealed to others. But those points are some which I need to simply trust Him in, rather than seeking to fulfill an errant desire for self-justification through their revelation...
I trust Him to keep me in His ways--it's utterly beyond me to be able to walk in them, on my own accord and by my own will, as it were...but, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. As can you.
Just...we all have a tendency to go to extremes, in regard to interpretation. Either knowing everything or absolutely nothing, rather than seeking the Lord to guide in what's necessary...
...such as the debate over whether He still gives apostles.
I mean--does it matter, really? If He does, it's His business, and they'll do as they're given, regardless of what anybody thinks on any account, one way or the other. And, as with Paul and the initial apostles...they'll likely be the most persecuted, most despised, most unintentionally controversial folks even amongst the church...even as they walk in abject humility and seek only the good of those around them. Or, perhaps I've read things wrong? But...it sounds to me as though Paul was talked unfavorably of by those in some of the churches, to the extent that some folks attempted to usurp his position...wherein there were others who ended up basically worshipping him and other apostle, much to his chagrin...and he was constantly fighting for his life, in one way or another...yet, all the more dependent upon the Lord, consciously so, because of that abjectly dire state of being. Even unto death.
So, while I could in no way give you a checklist which would tell you whether you're given to be an apostle, I can point you to the experiences of apostles past...and we could likely agree that the experiences of that degree of responsibility would probably entail similar degrees of reliance upon the Lord, similar extents of communion with the Holy Spirit as to be adequately and constantly equipped to accomplish the requirements of such a position.
Because, while I hear a lot of people talk about the giftings...it seems there's generally not much discussion of the responsibilities entailed. Like, for instance, with that of prophets...was it Ezekiel, or Isaiah, or Jeremiah, or...probably every single prophet of the Lord?...who was let to know they'd be held personally responsible for the blood of all the people who were to die in condemnation, if they were to refrain from doing precisely as the Lord gave them to do, in prophesying?
That's a pretty big burden. The blood of an entire nation on your head, unless you do precisely as the Lord wills you to do--even as He's also simultaneously preparing you by way of letting you know that every single thing you say will be completely and utterly rejected by everyone who hears you. That you'll be mocked, you'll be persecuted, you'll perhaps even face a horrible death...but that your commitment and due service is to Him, and that it is ultimately, truly a privilege and honor to be duty-bound by Him into such service?
And, again--that was the office of a prophet. The blood of a nation on their head. Persecution. Horrible death.
The office of an apostle is listed as higher responsibility, thus greater extent of service and subjugation than of a prophet.
So, let's consider the implication thereby, if we really must consider what all the administrative gifts truly entail.
You want prestige? Realize that you are personally going to be held responsible for the blood (i.e., condemnation) of everyone you meet, see, walk near, or even come into shouting distance of...whom you don't share the gospel with. Take that with you.
And meditate on that for a few days... ...in every chance meeting you have on the street, in the hallway, in the aisles of stores.
And, even if you're not given to the office of an apostle, or a prophet...if you are a God-fearing person, I would fair guarantee you'll still begin to feel increasingly desperate for spreading the gospel in whatsoever ways and manners and moments the Lord allows and directs, at all times, in any way possible, to anyone given. Period.
Again, just consider--the prophets seemed generally to be responsible for a nation. And, a couple places down on the list...pastors, who are responsible for their congregation...
...teachers, perhaps for their class...
So, if we do want to apply reason to this, it would then seem that apostles would certainly be responsible for more than a single nation.
Whereas, perhaps evangelists are responsible for subsets of nations, but yet for more than a single congregation?
Honestly, it seems much more reasonable that the distinction between these offices--as observable distinctions--is concentric entirely about their scope of responsibility, even thereby entailing likewise expanses according to the geographical range of their service.
Which, something learned today through one pastor (no idea who he was...just listened)...there's definite distinction between "nation" and "country" which we don't generally consider, nowadays.
Nations are groups of people (Samaritans, Israelites, Cherokee, etc.), whereas countries are land designations according to political delineations (ofttimes encompassing numerous nations of people--think "nationality"). Along those lines, it just came to mind that, where prophets were responsible for nations...perhaps it is that apostles became responsible for countries, to some extent.
Rather than that apostles are people who had first-hand experience with Jesus. Which, in all honestly, it seems that the argument along that line is that they were eye-witnesses to Jesus. Seems spurious, and nothing I've read in the New Testament seems to either imply or corroborate that argument.
...whereas, at least with the idea of the scope of their responsibility (the extent of their subjugation in service, in ministry, as serving so many people...being responsible for them..)...there's definitely something about the prophets in the Old Testament being held responsible for groups of people, and there's definitely information about pastors being accountable for their responsibility to a congregation.
Okay, this is ridiculous, but it just came to mind that there's corresponding sort of adoption of the hierarchy of Christ's Church in modern corporate structure. Oh. yeah.
Corporate-level managers (each of which generally has a particular focus area of specialty) which are responsible for coordinating all of the geographically-organized district-level managers (again, each of which generally has a particular area of specialty correspondent to a corporate-level variation in specialty), store-level managers which are responsible for coordinating all activities within an individual operation (which will have varying specialties, themselves, but generally are necessarily more focused on general operations), then department-level managers which have subset areas of specialization within the individual operation (corresponding to a variation in specialty evidenced at every other level), and then general employees...which management is responsible for grooming for higher degrees of responsibility so as they acquire promotion within the organization dependent upon inherent skill and interests.
Not that the Church is organized exactly like that, no, but things in the world do tend to mimic God's ways, to varying extents and in varying ways. Political structure is more or less the same, although there are far more variations in structure according to "operating dynamic." ...ideology?
Yeah.
That's weird, but it makes more sense of the idea of their being different "parts" in the body of Christ. Just...been thinking on Wigglesworth, for the past 24-hours, curious of how he fits in alongside guys like Charles Finney and Duncan Campbell and Billy Graham. Curious of how they all fit in to the entirety of the Lord's schematic of His Church, according to delineation in the "member parts."
...the apostle of faith, though. That's quite a moniker.
What would Wesley have been? ...Luther?
And now, who? There are things going on, but even as certain have been realized, there's a great degree which isn't yet discernable.
Something, though, which a theologian in the Holy Ghost movie mentioned...which hasn't quite left my mind, since hearing--so very exciting...
...he talked about how there are generally two camps of Christians: those who believe in the inerrancy and total sufficiency of scripture (yet who either believe the Holy Spirit no longer operates as at Pentecost or who just overlook the operation of the Holy Spirit, except as some "muted helper")...and those who believe the Holy Spirit's operation in the church is of vital importance to the church (yet who are largely overlooking the necessity of dwelling in the Bible)...
...he said that both are right, as to the overt premises...but that, given each is only part of the picture, they're both limiting themselves basically.
...but that where there comes a union of the two...?
A church which relies wholly upon the entirety of Scripture and which also believes in and relies upon the full operation of the Holy Spirit, in all the capacities described by the Scriptures...?
I'm excited.
It's exciting.
And even as it's something which will entirely be an act of the Lord, then so be it.
None of this "five-fold" ministry stuff where people basically attempt to collect divine appointments like trading cards, in order to consider their own personal church "complete," oh no.
It's a matter of divinely appointed structure unto proper, fully-empowered and grace-filled operation--in the beauty and majesty of the Lord's gift to us all, as we were given by His unspeakable gift to us...
...operating truly in the divine service we're given, in divine authority so granted and bestowed. Truly as ambassadors, rather than merely as mouth-pieces proclaiming a gospel we don't truly feel and see and know with every ounce of our being as utmost truth beyond any else we'd ever heard or experienced...
...given that He yet speaks to us, daily...
...knowing Him so...?
That is to witness.
We are called to be witnesses, first and foremost--those of us who receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, truly and blatantly so. We are called to be His witnesses in all the world, to all the world.
Aside of what He revealed to John at Patmos, directly, that was the last face-to-face revelation given by the Lord--when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, we are to witness in all the world.
But...I know the argument comes that those things which He spoke to the original disciples were for them, especially or only...
...if that were the case, then where would the Church be? If the Great Commission were limited to them, then how would the Church have propagated? If baptism were to have been performed by the apostles, alone, then how could any of us have received the benefit? If faith comes by hearing, and yet only the original apostles and disciples were truly given to share the gospel and witness of Christ, then how could any who came after them ever have had faith unto salvation? God-given, yes, and come by hearing. As Paul basically said...Without someone to preach the gospel, though, who could hear?
The argument against present-day baptism of the Holy Spirit is tedious, is all. People are just afraid, is all--I was. I sought it, regardless, though...and was subdued and soothed and reassured, even prior to receiving. Seeking wholeheartedly, though.
There've been those, too, that don't seek because they're afraid of what the Lord will require of them. The thing is...as has been my experience...yeah, He's required absolutely everything of me, as is right and good. But it's not as though one day I just woke up and was confronted with the decision to either serve the Lord and forsake all else, or be put aside. No. Just...it's been a matter of progressing in a relationship with Him, coming to know Him, to love His Word, His fellowship, His ways...above all else, beyond all else...to the extent that, when it's come time that He's asked me to turn away from certain things, the sacrifice is gladly done so as to dwell more richly in Him and His word--the joy of His fellowship, abounding, far exceeds everything which has gone by the wayside.
Materially, socially, financially, and in all ways physical...possessing less than ever before...but, although periodically tempted back toward such things...still, so gladly fulfilled and wholly satisfied in the humbling peace and joy of His presence that there's nothing (but by grace, oh hallelujah!)...absolutely nothing which would be preferable.
So, yes--He may well require you to give up your job, your house, your "dreams," your plans, your "security," and everything in this world. But you gain Him, increasingly along the way so long as you're actually pursuing Him wholeheartedly and being obedient to His will..
..so long as you're His, ultimately, He'll keep you and draw you ever nearer.
And the joy of knowing Him...just knowing Him, talking with Him, listening to Him...exceeds anything you could ever conceive of as well-doing and gladly received in this world. Exceeding the puerile "joys" of complete self-indulgence in a societal, geographical, occupational, financial, psychological paradise to such an extent that the attempt to compare is ultimately pointless--there is NO comparison.
Otherwise, I'd either still be in hotel management in the French Quarter, painting faces in Tampa, or now bartending in Key West. Because the indulgences, the extents to which worldly success could be attained per any of those courses were wide-open. How much would you wager a hotel general manager in a tourism-based economy for an international vacation spot might garnish as recompense? That would have been possible, within a brief span of a few years. Even as the face painting position would have led into management and further training in the trade which would have yielded further opportunity for gainful employ, even unto self-employment...in an atmosphere of "open acceptance" which gladly welcomed, so long as Christianity wasn't a serious topic of discussion. Or, the temptation to phone a friend with a beach-front apartment on the southernmost isle in the States...whom I miss dearly and pray for near-daily, or whensoever as the Lord prompts...and to step back into such a lifestyle of reckless abandon and heady reveries as we ever were wont, meeting and embracing the all of humanity for the sake of sharing a moment in loving, accepting conversation?
All of that, yet Christ is more. So much more.
Loving them all, yet having come to a point of realizing it's all for nothing except that He's my Lord and the Light in my life.
Love covers a multitude of sins.
So, ultimately, it doesn't matter what the distinctions are. Ultimately, it doesn't matter who does what, who holds what position, what gifts the Lord has gives us each...so long as we love each other, the rest will come and will be ordered by the Holy Spirit. And if I have to start calling Him according to leaving off the preceding article, then I'd rather just call Him Ruach Elohim.
Because it feels weird to call Him by Holy Spirit, as though that were His name. His name, as "the Holy Spirit," is as a superlative moreover from how it seems when saying. So, to go with the transliteration of the Hebrew for so distinguishing Him seems more apt than to drop the indication of such a superlative state, in English.
Same as...oh, yeah...I've heard arguments on both sides, and heard folks speak it on numerous occasions, and even tried to do so myself...but it's just not in me to call my Heavenly Father "Daddy."
Abba may well have particular connotations of familiarity, but I'd prefer to even call Him that than this other English term with foundation in childish familiarity, even wrought unto varied societally adopted perversions denoting arrangements of willful dependency.
Abba moreso has connotational implications which, while they do entail familiarity, yet imply an innate reverence for acknowledged disparity in status, inherently referring to one's own position of relative subordination rather than to mere dependence. So, yeah.
Those things have been roiling for a few months, and it's just...a part of the nature of where I'm at in my walk with the Lord, that they're even currently remarkable to note. Ridiculous, really--completely irrelevant, either way.
If someone else feels the need to go by either of those terms, so be it for them. Just...I can't, I won't. And those are the reasons as to why, even as it was previously entirely beyond me to even begin to delineate. Still. There they are.
It doesn't matter, either way, perhaps. Just, not for me. I'm just as happy for anyone who can go by those lines as for my own ability not to, though. And would be curious to hear of their relationship with the Lord, as to the delineations along with those particulars have developed. Maybe He's given to be called those things--dunno.
For whatever reason, the transliterated Hebrew names are generally the ones given me. Elohim works as well as Ruach Elohim, so far as has been given. Adonai. Yeshua.
Jehovah. ...Yahweh. Howsoever. And His name, ultimately, is beyond comprehension...ultimately beyond contraction into mortal terms, so far as I've been led to understand. Same as is He. ...we just get glimpses, per His goodness as to so condescend into acquiescing to our desire to know Him in any degree, even unto whatsoever degree..
Always more, then.
So... ...God bless you.
=)
Again, mind now goes to thinking on that bit of teaching shared by brother Washer...in regard to the highest order of blessing which a good God could give to His creation would be to further reveal Himself. (linked it a couple days ago, in consideration of God's glory being to our good--such a fascination, overwhelming, awe-inspiring, love-inciting concept)
So, God bless you.
No comments:
Post a Comment