Continuing to be stricken by a deepening awareness of some portents of the Lord's parables, still. And also regarding their meaning, in general.
Being blatantly confronted with how utterly, absolutely necessary is the Holy Spirit's leading ever humbles and astounds.
And there are just so...so...so many things which He's made and is making clear, even now, that it always seems as though writing could just begin and never end, if all the varying dimensions and facets of thought were given time for consideration, for extrapolation. So, coming here still has to be a very prayerful endeavor. Going anywhere and saying anything really has to be, though.
Whatever is given, is the thing. Never knowing what, exactly, will proceed.
Not perfectly, perhaps, but just according to whatever momentary initiative is afforded, whatever depth of direction has been granted. Even as we are to walk in the fullness of God, having the very mind of Christ.
And of that latter, there are things which could be said rather explicitly, but suffice it to say that...there's something to knowing a person so deeply, so intimately, as to always be somewhat aware their regard for a matter, without having to even see their reaction. Something about presence, about sensing a mood. Only deeper than that, given the truth of matters being that we who do truly know Christ...dwell continually in His living presence, as indwelt by His very Spirit--even as our souls, our lives, are hid in Him.
Thing is...those aren't just words--written, recorded, printed, and read as Scripture. Those are truths.
Reality.
..for those who know Christ.
Our living God.
Not one who is far off, but a God who is ever near--
Even holding all things together, in truth (and spirit).
Part of which could be given to discussion of the distinctions between descriptions of agency and mechanics, again:
Being able to describe, to some extent, how a thing works...doesn't actually and explicitly reveal why it works as it does (e.g., "for what reason," "to what end," etc.) nor exhaustively describe other such features of agency, regarding antecedents.
One example which seemed very apt for illustrating the distinction asks, "Why is a (hypothetical) pot of water boiling?"
In terms of mechanics, you could cite various principles of thermodynamics and chemistry, mentioning excitation of atoms, transfer of energy, and change of liquid state into gas, given application of heat. All those things would be applicable and could be elaborated to varying degrees of description, so to describe "why it's boiling," when actually describing our understanding of how these things work.
Or, you could just as aptly answer by saying, "Because I wanted a cup of tea. Would you like one?," which is an expression of agency. "The pot of water is boiling because I decided I wanted hot tea," and acted upon that decision by getting the pot, filling it with water, and putting it on the lit stove burner. All antecedent circumstances which built up to that action, that decision, and the proceeding offer to share...can only be explicitly, exhaustively known to whatever extent as accurately revealed of and by the one who made the decision and took the actions.
Those two interpretations aren't mutually exclusive, is the thing--accurate interpretations of agency and mechanics are both valid, simultaneously. And in terms of agency, as goes the example here...somewhat a bit of mechanical interpretation within scope of agency is implicit as potentially discernible, in terms of some functions proceeding from, accompanying, and/or preceding agency. The extent to which a mechanical interpretation of agency is possible is much dependent upon whether context is sufficiently revealed, studied, and pursued to increasing extent of understanding.
...this latter does entail understanding which is founded upon deep, abiding, and broad searching of all available, revealed (explicit, implicit) and progressively grasped context as can be studied sufficiently to become truly, accurately known.
But, like the story of the blind wise men who attempted to describe an elephant by only feeling some one part of its major anatomical features...similarly, we can't truly know the sum of observed parts without input from the studied agent. Which, granted--elephants don't speak, but it's a necessary allowance for the sake of this metaphor, when using an elephant as an archetype of the manifest creation of a God who has spoken and does speak, whose express will is manifest all around us...
...such that, when we're trying to discern God--the Underlying Cause, the Absolute Origin...the meaning...
...of all this?
Yeah, we could totally describe so many features of His creation, without really having any idea what we're talking about, in terms of the truth of how vast and measureless He is. We have managed to describe and benefit from describing (ah, technology!) the manner in which all sorts of things work in this, His creation, though.
Even as, again with the elephant metaphor...
...one standing at the flank feels along and might declare to the others that he's detected a wall...another standing at a leg describes a pillar...one at the elephant's trunk describes a snake...at the tail, a brush...at the tusk, a branch...
...then, so too, have we taken to feeling our way into multifarious aspects of the way our physical, manifest reality has been ordered by God...
...using structured means we consider reliable for gauging and feeling our way blindly toward describing some amounts of truth regarding the mechanisms of our world (i.e., using scientific methodology), we've been able to detect and describe many various and orderly instances of mechanical activity ("laws of nature") sufficient to be able to distinguish and topically reference them according to observed (and even reasonably inferred) mechanical function--as physics, kinetics, thermodynamics, chemistry, biology, geology, psychology, sociology, philosophy, and even art and history--even building, cumulatively, upon each precept that's established as understood...unto further reaches of understanding the mechanics of all we see...
...while simultaneously entirely overlooking the fact that we're wholly ignoring the Agent whose manifest will and laws we're dissecting. We're ignoring the Creator, Himself.
We're looking piecemeal at all of creation, in other words. In a sense, this would be as though those blind men had taken the elephant apart to attempt to fully understand what its life is...whereas, in so doing, they would have been obliterating the very aspect of the creature's being which their study explicitly sought to comprehend.
Only, in our case, we haven't realized the vital aspect we've effectively obfuscated from being grasped is that which our existence and well-being entirely hinges upon--in turning away from the One who is our Source of life, we've actually chosen death. And in choosing death, we've become hardened against life, itself. Even as to hate God, the lifegiver, and the one from whom truth and all authority proceeds, and in whom it all resolves.
So, in esteeming ourselves as wise, we've become total fools--seeing everything, except for that which is most vital...then, we actually see nothing, for failing to see that upon which all else rests...
So, being blind to the pinnacle of all truth, we become increasingly blind to truth...
...thus hating the truth (increasingly acting without regard for it escalates to a spiteful neglect)...
...we have become deaf to it, also.
Unwilling to recognize the truth of who God is, we've closed our eyes to truth and thus lost the ability to see it.
Unwilling then, also, to hear truth, we've lost the ability to discern it, when it's heard--we are deaf to truth.
And without being able to see or to hear truth, then we are mute of it--we're unable to speak what we refuse to see, refuse to hear, and have refused to acknowledge. We are thus dead to truth, ultimately.
Yet, one thing that's so utterly incomprehensible of this trek we're on--seeking to understand all of God's creation while simultaneously despising and rejecting Him:
The more we turn from Him, societally and culturally and internationally...
...and the more deeply we peer into His creation, simultaneously--unraveling so many mysterious and wonderful principles of operation which He implemented--laws by which our world, our physical reality remains manifest...
...then, the more mystifying and compelling are these most intricate principles, as revelations which boldly proclaim His glory and wisdom and goodness and incomprehensible power and love--increasingly evidenced to anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear, as each and every bit of "scientific understanding" reaches more deeply, unveiling increasing complexities of the wondrous mechanics according to which God ordained our creation to proceed, operate, and persist.
And there are some who are deeply entrenched in discovery and exploration of these mysteries who do come to realize the truth of God's existence by peering so deeply into the glories evidenced by His handiwork...
...but many only become increasingly blinded by a glorification of self rather than the Creator--glorifying self for having attained to understanding of principles which God ordained, rather than glorifying the One who ordained such pristine and incomprehensibly perfect order, with such absolute precision as to have made all our reality be possible.
He has revealed Himself in so many ways, is all--in all of creation (the fact that it exists, and the more we know about the way it all works, the more magnificent His wisdom seems), through the writing in the stars (i.e., Mazzaroth). Through prophets, old and new, He has revealed Himself.
And, He entered history. He entered time...our Christ, Jesus. God, He took on flesh, He walked among us. Spoke to us. Taught us.
And His words are still on record.
Still true.
Timeless, as He is, truly.
Yet, even as He told the 12--it wasn't given that most should know, that most should understand His words. But meaning was revealed unto those who were as babes. Guileless. Curious. Desiring simply to know truth. Without qualm. With hopeful expectation to receive understanding...
And asking graciously...humbly. Receiving, also graciously.
And humbly.
So many things He said, though. And there are so many ways to read those words.
So many meanings, inherent them.
And, sometimes, certain depth comes to a particular phrase--depth never before suspected.
But, a depth which doesn't undermine prior understanding, yet only furthers grasp on truth--broader context, unfolded.
He leads, in understanding. Unto understanding. Into all truth.
We have to have a shepherd:
Someone to lead us into these things, otherwise we just can't know them:
He prepares our hearts to receive truth, then He gives truth, and impresses it upon us, and further prepares our hearts.
Continual, progressive. Active.
Reading through Matthew's account, still. And the parables have been so much more striking, this time. Especially...
...I had never before realized...
...these parables--they're admonishments to those who would be called to Christ. They're warnings to those who seek to serve Him.
Not just to anyone, not to people who don't want Him, not to those who don't want to know anything about Him.
...even as...still, He's so gracious...so incomprehensibly gracious and loving and good...
...that, although these parables are for those who seek to serve Him, they are still written/composed/spoken in such a way that those who don't know and aren't actively seeking to know Jesus...can still benefit from them, if taking even only the most superficial, preliminary, precursory view of them into consideration.
For instance...
...I grew up hearing a lot of these parables, and they never struck me as anything more than stories with a good moral.
In terms of today's reading, of the 10 virgins...it had only ever seemed a story about people who weren't prepared: so always be prepared, or you'll miss out. And that was the long and short of all my regard for that particular parable.
And as went the parable about the servants given the talents? It never really struck me as anything particularly interesting, honestly. At most, I thought it spoke of a "use it or lose it"-ideology, in terms of abilities and potential.
Thing is--those aren't wholly bad or wrong interpretations.
They are just so, so, so far short of anything even remotely near what's packed into those brief stories that it's nearly saying nothing about them, whatsoever. But I had no idea there was anything else there. And what little bit I'm seeing, even now, is so much more vast and yet surely still so utterly limited in terms of the scope which these truly entail, in terms of taking them in context of all of Scripture and creation, as would be according to full interpretation given by the Holy Spirit.
What has stricken so much lately, though, regarding His parables:
These seem primarily to describe servants of the King, servants of the Master, the betrothed of the Bridegroom, and all those who are called by Him, who do receive the Word--at some point, in some way...in truth.
He spoke almost exclusively about those who either were actively striving to enter the Kingdom of God, those who believed they were already a part of the Kingdom, and/or those who were actually entering the Kingdom (with some overlap in these three), but He very rarely mentioned those who weren't overtly on track to do any of this. Very rarely.
Even as there was such statement as, "For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe on Him would not perish but have everlasting life."
That is an all-inclusive statement--even reaffirmed by one of John's epistles, in terms of whose sins the Lord died for (not a restricted offering, except as according to aforementioned verse).
And we are told that creation testifies of His glory. Creation tells the story, for anyone who would seek or want to know (such that no one will have excuse). God is not reluctant to be known by those who do want to know Him, in earnest (which, He knows the heart so much better than we ever even begin to think to).
And yet, again and again it seems as though He has said, "Many are called, but few are chosen."
So, as goes the parable of the virgins, a few things which were particularly striking, today:
All those who were waiting were apparently betrothed to the Bridegroom (professing and believing themselves so). All of them had lamps to light their way. But only some of them also had oil, for fueling the lamps.
Those lamps were to light their way, when they were called into the darkness--beckoned by the Bridegroom's approach--gone out to wait to meet Him, even at midnight. They were called out into the darkness, unto Him, with their lamp burning, but requiring the oil as fuel. So, it was at the point when they were to meet the Bridegroom, when they were called to wait upon Him...that the oil was evidenced as vital necessity.
At that point, those who had a reserve of oil for themselves were able to have light to guide them unto the Bridegroom. Each of them had to have their own, personal reserve, though--they traveled alongside one another, yeah, but they each one could only depend upon their own lamp, their own oil--light and oil, a necessary fuel for such flame as was given to guide their way.
They could not and dare not look to one another for these resources. Those who tried were told it wasn't possible, and they were left with no option but to go out to obtain their own fuel. And when those were sent out...they were sent with lamps which had been trimmed and lit. So, they did have the lamps to light their way, but without oil, they went out in a wrong direction--they went to market, rather than to marriage. Bartering, discussing, perhaps quibbling--definitely seeking unto a dealing in trade. But not unto love, not unto open acceptance. The problem was, overall, they were not waiting upon the Bridegroom, as the other virgins remained to do, even going out in the darkness--drawing nearer Him, yet waiting patiently and exuberantly upon His arrival, nonetheless.
While the others, without oil, presumably rushed to market.
With their lamps lit.
(Thy Word, my Lord--it is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path!)
What gives life to a fire, though, but fuel?
Otherwise, it will sputter and die as a dry wick is burned up, near-immediate:
A burning lamp must have fuel, though, or otherwise it will extinguish.
Any lamp ever to be lit with fire...must have fuel.
Otherwise, the wick will be consumed, burned up, and have to be replaced before the addition of any further fuel could profit the lamp.
(Would you put new wine in old wineskins?)
The implication, though, is that the thoughtless virgins ultimately found something and then came knocking upon the Bridegroom's door. It's not said whether they found an alternate fuel or whether they gave up the search and just wandered in darkness, exhausting themselves with erstwhile efforts, then to just return to the bridal chamber. Regardless, they came to the door where the Bridegroom had entered with the others who had oil with their lamps...and these oilless ones were denied entry.
Because He didn't know them.
They were so busy attempting to do what they found as necessary--seeking after oil in the marketplace, when they were supposed to be waiting on Him, going out to meet Him--they neglected all opportunity to meet Him.
So, He wasn't familiar with them.
Because they had never met. Despite the apparent betrothal, public. Despite their preoccupation with the eventual wedding. Despite having brought the lamp and using it to guide them, at midnight, to the market. They hadn't sought to be prepared for His imminent arrival, but rather indulged themselves, taking for granted that their lamp, alone, was sufficient. Perhaps they assumed He'd only come when it was convenient for them, even...
It's not about words, though. It's not about works.
All our good and need resolves in our need to know Jesus, ultimately. So, on this one front at least--in regard to this parable--we are given to know (from Jesus's own explicit statements) that one small part of truly knowing Him absolutely entails acquiring, maintaining, and utilizing both our given oil and lamp. These, as we are to be diligent in waiting upon Him.
And it's even as Peter said, then--Scripture wasn't given by the spirit of man, it wasn't written according to the thoughts of the prophets...but it was directly given by God's own Holy Spirit. And because the Holy Spirit gave us Scripture, then He has to also interpret it for and to us. Scripture is not given for our own private interpretation--not given for interpretation apart from the Holy Spirit's direct guidance and instruction, in interpretation.
No methodology or hermeneutic will be able to replace Him (or equal Him). Period. He's the one that makes sure things pass from head to heart, when they do. He's the one who connects the dots, in terms of taking all Scripture in context of all Scripture. Just as, again, God is so incomprehensibly gracious...that even when we attempt to serve Him and seek Him in our own strength and according to our own understanding--which is expressly contradiction of what's directed us, in Scripture...
...even then, He still so often, for the sake of His own name and His own glory (even as to our benefit)...
...even then, He seems often to allow for truth to come to us, to become known, regardless our faithlessness and error and mistrust of Him.
So, not because we're good.
Not because we do well.
Not because we made a good effort.
But only because He's who He is.
And He stands by His word.
And He loves.
So, yeah.
All these things, and many more. Just a few, for now.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
Seek Him, while He may be found.
Monday, January 25, 2016
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Be Led By Love
Reading through Matthew 18, stricken regarding the ending parable.
One who owed far more than could ever be paid, brought before the king to answer for debts. And cleared, given freedom. Rather than losing life and family and all things, truly as would have been fully understood within realm of the king's prerogative and power...he was shown compassion and forgiven the debt, effectively, being freed.
Was he any less indebted to the king at that point, though? Seriously? Having been effectively forgiven (as it was effectively being overlooked as debt, for him to have been released), is he not at that point all the more exceedingly indebted to the king--no longer only indebted for what provisions had been accrued, unpaid, but then also for freedom to live unfettered?
Indebted, at that point, for freedom despite the truth of all debt. Doubly indebted, then. All the more owed to the king, for provision and for life.
But what did he do? Was he humbled by the knowledge of how great was the mercy shown him? Was he grateful to such an extent as to be truly given to service on behalf of the king, for receiving such grace as compassion? Was he given to walk with a deeper expression of compassion, humbled to have received so far beyond what could have been ever expected or warranted?
No, he wasn't. He acted in opposition the grace shown him.
The king allowed him his freedom, despite massive debt. And he turned around, gaining freedom, to then act on pretense of superiority. He exalted himself, as though he had authority like the king's, by calling a fellow servant to task for debt outstanding...
...yet without exercising mercy.
He lorded over his fellow servant, without mercy.
He saw the offenses of another and decried them as unacceptable, denouncing the person's right to freedom and casting them into chains. For even a far lesser debt, ultimately, than he had ever been forgiven.
Totally oblivious, though.
Completely oblivious to the inherent contradiction of such a way of acting.
And as a result, he found himself enslaved to his prior debts, as the king brought him to answer for the things which he had ever done.
It's a very cautionary tale for those who have been forgiven by the Lord.
Specifically, for those who do know Him and call Him Lord.
Which all the more is why it's so very much a cautionary tale.
Because...how many of us do that very same thing?
I have, and I know I have, and I have been stricken to find it true (both of which have testaments to such as truth...which will remain standing in this present forum which is given as a testament to His redemptive work and revelations). And I've cried out for deliverance and help to not go in that way, again, and must trust that He will keep me from that fleshly tendency to denounce others, lovelessly.
Even thereby so many distinctions arise.
But the core of it all is this:
What was at heart of the king's decision to allow the servant to go free, despite the debt?
And what was lacking when the servant then neglected to show the same mercies?
What was at the heart of all Christ's teachings, except love and devotion to God?--such love for the Father as even entails love for all those whom He has created (even in His own image!--incomprehensible honor!)...thus, an encompassing love for those being discipled, chided, and even strongly rebuked...
Love, though.
Love.
Love, my friends.
This really is the core.
And my own heart is still so regrettably devoid, in so many instances which are utterly empty except that the Lord fully direct. Unto love.
Two commandments, y'all. The sum of the law and the prophets, He has told us.
Two.
Which, really...are summed by the first of them, given that the second one flows only out of abundance of the first.
Not vice-versa.
Let's break this down, very briefly (and awkwardly, maybe)...
...God is love, in the sense that true love has its ultimate source only in and from and of Him. Just that, even as He is truly holy, then His love is also holy. Pure. Untainted by any of the falterings of the flesh unto self-indulgences. He has no equivalent to human "self-indulgence," as He is wholly replete, fully composed always, utterly and truly whole and well, lacking nothing in Himself--and that which He does, of His own pleasure, according to His perfect will...benefits those who are His creatures, as is thus all the more to His glory...that in glorifying Himself unto us, we are lavished with graces beyond comprehension, we are given much good. Such that He even took on flesh, coming to walk among us--enduring much suffering, while here, for the sake of saving many from the destruction we had wrought and brought upon ourselves for ever acting against His perfect rule.
Breaking away from perfection doesn't result in perfection. Deviation from perfection can only be unto imperfection. Brokenness. Compounding.
So, in love...He came. He so loves the world that He sent His only begotten Son, so that whoever would believe on Him, trust in Him, and turn to Him for sanctuary (thus turning away from self-indulgence and deviance against God's perfection)...would have eternal life.
A good teacher recently pointed out, in terms of those attributes which we're told to strive after...
...are only as a striving unto Christlikeness. So to be more like Him. Like God.
So, the fruit of the Holy Spirit?...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? These are the fruit of the Holy Spirit, as these are reflections of God's character, made evident in us who spend more and ongoing time with Him. In His Presence. In His Word. In fellowship with Him. All these things, which are individually distinct even as pointedly conjoined, in essence.
And of all those which we were absolutely admonished to seek after, of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the gifts of Christ unto us?...weren't we also told that they were utterly and totally empty and meaningless...unless they were all sourced in, founded upon, and enacted of love?
So, what is love?
Look to Christ, for an example.
He endured shame, mockery, absolute torture--physical and mental and emotional...for love.
Without a word to His own defense.
Without a twinge of indignation against us, whom He loved.
He went meek to the slaughter.
And slaughter Him, we did.
Mercilessly.
God walked among us. Capable of destroying us in an instant.
And allowed us, instead, to torment Him. To mete out our hatred, in person.
Violently.
He endured silently.
In love.
Without anger.
Without resentment.
Without bitterness.
Only love.
Perhaps even more poignantly felt, for the sheer ballast of utter hatred which was given vent upon Him, all the more unrestrainedly for witness of such unreserved graciousness as sincere love.
He endured.
Without the benefit of dulled senses.
He endured.
For love.
So, how quick are we to judge? ...how quick are we to turn an edge to tone, out of discomfort or disinterest or even apathy?
How quick are we to think we can plan for the needs of another, and had ought do so, thinking we know better what their needs are than even they?
...rather than turning to the One who gave all, who knows without a shadow of uncertainty, precisely what most need be said and done, unto healing and salvation?
He was denounced for being familiar and gracious to those who were considered the most heinous of sinners. And we are not nearly so charitable of spirit as He is, but yet are we kept distant not by a desire to obey Him so much as a desire to refrain from being "tarnished?"
...this isn't to say that wisdom isn't necessary, in terms of being subject always to His leading--not wandering into any and all situations indiscriminately, thinking self-sacrifice will yield the salvation of others. Christ is the only sacrifice necessary, to that end. We aren't called to the same. Even as service to Him sometimes leads unto death, then it's not something self-directed or determined, but part of pursuit of Him, obedience to Him. Not self-willed and determined.
Although He is so gracious and loving and kind even as to turn our most wayward attempts at obedience oft unto His glory, regardless how misshapen and strangely conceived the efforts might have been. Often, at least.
Thing is, there's not a minute-by-minute checklist, in terms of methodology. There's not a checklist at all, really, given that self-sacrifice unto Christ means walking in obedience to His leading. Moment by moment. And even as there are so, so many guidelines for general practice which can be wholly cherished in and of and from Scripture...it's only as He gives a moment by moment interpretation unto practice that any of those would truly be lived. Not as a mental practice, but as one enacted out of love.
That's not something thought can muster.
He, alone, can do it. And it's His will to do so. Ask Him.
He wrote about it. There are many records of His will to lead, even as recorded as the utterances of those such as David who were led by His Spirit even to cry out for such guidance. Such a desire is prompted by God, given that the fallen nature would have none of it, would not dredge up something so blatantly counter to otherwise intentions and directives.
He works to will and to do. Both.
And so it goes for love, too. I've asked Him again and again, each time He's revealed to me how cold and lifeless my heart is (even still) in a minute and infinitesimal contrast to His own (which is beyond comprehension, even as momentarily glimpsed). Thinking to love, then finding that even what otherwise seems all consuming...is absolutely empty, totally devoid of life...in comparison.
Unto a desire to be changed, then, to further embody and evidence and give light to that love which is truly all-consuming.
He can do this. He will do this. He said it through so many of His prophets in Israel, that He would give a new heart, breathe life, make it flesh as to feel. And even through Paul, that we will be transformed, from image to image, glory to glory, unto the likeness of Christ.
Attempting to pre-empt that in some desultory fashion does no one any favors, though. Having all knowledge but lacking a simultaneous all-encompassing love--empty, meaningless. Having all authority, but lacking that love? Malicious. To act in His authority, then, according even to His word's precepts--but without a more encompassing love for the people being taught and admonished than desire for engendering righteousness in them?
Yeah. No. Righteousness apart from love is empty.
Look to the Pharisees of Jesus' earthly day...they attempted righteousness. He said the outside did have an appearance of goodness, even, as calling them whitewashed sepulchres. With how much love did He speak such words, longing for their repentance?
Even as mother hen, longing to draw her chicks into a loving, protective embrace.
How deep is such a love? As not only unto all suffering and death, but even so powerful as to overthrow death.
Is your love sufficient to rebuke death?
Is your love sufficient to free the oppressed from demonic possession?
I have been told in increasingly explicit terms that love is not negotiable, in such matters.
Otherwise, the cautionary tale told of those in Acts...who found themselves stripped and beaten...is much to be taken to heart.
Although, the tack taken by the offensive these days...
...why would they even bother to openly announce themselves?
They have almost free reign, given that even those who profess to know Christ, to serve Him...
...refuse to acknowledge spiritual realities, given the certain mockery to be endured for so doing, in this religious age of "scientific reason" which denounces all things beyond its machinations as utterly vapid.
So, how many millions in the Western civilization now believe there's no such thing as a spiritual reality, because it's beyond the explicit reach of scientific inquiry (in much the same way as is philosophy, as it were)? Metaphysics.
So, why would they announce themselves? And yet, is the warfare any less pronounced, for being less obviously notable?
Oh, no.
All the more pernicious, rather. All the more insidious, for the dual-front attack from both within and without, as there's the external pressure to deny the reality of the attack from within.
How much more dire is the need for love, then, in the midst of such a strange war as would warp all thought, if it were able? Love covers a multitude of sins, as it were.
The bind that we're in is so much...stranger than is superficially apparent. And it's something that's been worked over centuries. Excesses on one end lead to excessive restriction in response. And on and on, until reality becomes a finitely manufactured process, refusing all things which seem incongruous for lack of ability to comprehend. Rejecting the unknowable, thinking such a rejection provides safety in the "known," when it effectively does nothing except restrict awareness of implicit and explicit dangers.
Where fear rules, freedom is forsaken.
But He didn't give us a Spirit of fear. No, indeed. He has given us His own Spirit--of love, power, and a sound mind.
And as loosely written as this all is, I pray that in between the lines and in the midst the all, certain matters becoming known might be shared. There's so much more, and it's all in His Word. Scripture has what truth we need, given interpretation by the Spirit, who does bring all things to remembrance. And guides into all truth.
One step at a time.
We need to love. As He loves.
To be free the chains of self-preserving tendencies and of judgmentalism, of self-righteousness and hypocrisy. Love, as we're loved. He has to do this work in us, though, or it won't be done.
But He will as we ask, and continue asking.
Ask Him.
One who owed far more than could ever be paid, brought before the king to answer for debts. And cleared, given freedom. Rather than losing life and family and all things, truly as would have been fully understood within realm of the king's prerogative and power...he was shown compassion and forgiven the debt, effectively, being freed.
Was he any less indebted to the king at that point, though? Seriously? Having been effectively forgiven (as it was effectively being overlooked as debt, for him to have been released), is he not at that point all the more exceedingly indebted to the king--no longer only indebted for what provisions had been accrued, unpaid, but then also for freedom to live unfettered?
Indebted, at that point, for freedom despite the truth of all debt. Doubly indebted, then. All the more owed to the king, for provision and for life.
But what did he do? Was he humbled by the knowledge of how great was the mercy shown him? Was he grateful to such an extent as to be truly given to service on behalf of the king, for receiving such grace as compassion? Was he given to walk with a deeper expression of compassion, humbled to have received so far beyond what could have been ever expected or warranted?
No, he wasn't. He acted in opposition the grace shown him.
The king allowed him his freedom, despite massive debt. And he turned around, gaining freedom, to then act on pretense of superiority. He exalted himself, as though he had authority like the king's, by calling a fellow servant to task for debt outstanding...
...yet without exercising mercy.
He lorded over his fellow servant, without mercy.
He saw the offenses of another and decried them as unacceptable, denouncing the person's right to freedom and casting them into chains. For even a far lesser debt, ultimately, than he had ever been forgiven.
Totally oblivious, though.
Completely oblivious to the inherent contradiction of such a way of acting.
And as a result, he found himself enslaved to his prior debts, as the king brought him to answer for the things which he had ever done.
It's a very cautionary tale for those who have been forgiven by the Lord.
Specifically, for those who do know Him and call Him Lord.
Which all the more is why it's so very much a cautionary tale.
Because...how many of us do that very same thing?
I have, and I know I have, and I have been stricken to find it true (both of which have testaments to such as truth...which will remain standing in this present forum which is given as a testament to His redemptive work and revelations). And I've cried out for deliverance and help to not go in that way, again, and must trust that He will keep me from that fleshly tendency to denounce others, lovelessly.
Even thereby so many distinctions arise.
But the core of it all is this:
What was at heart of the king's decision to allow the servant to go free, despite the debt?
And what was lacking when the servant then neglected to show the same mercies?
What was at the heart of all Christ's teachings, except love and devotion to God?--such love for the Father as even entails love for all those whom He has created (even in His own image!--incomprehensible honor!)...thus, an encompassing love for those being discipled, chided, and even strongly rebuked...
Love, though.
Love.
Love, my friends.
This really is the core.
And my own heart is still so regrettably devoid, in so many instances which are utterly empty except that the Lord fully direct. Unto love.
Two commandments, y'all. The sum of the law and the prophets, He has told us.
Two.
Which, really...are summed by the first of them, given that the second one flows only out of abundance of the first.
Not vice-versa.
Let's break this down, very briefly (and awkwardly, maybe)...
...God is love, in the sense that true love has its ultimate source only in and from and of Him. Just that, even as He is truly holy, then His love is also holy. Pure. Untainted by any of the falterings of the flesh unto self-indulgences. He has no equivalent to human "self-indulgence," as He is wholly replete, fully composed always, utterly and truly whole and well, lacking nothing in Himself--and that which He does, of His own pleasure, according to His perfect will...benefits those who are His creatures, as is thus all the more to His glory...that in glorifying Himself unto us, we are lavished with graces beyond comprehension, we are given much good. Such that He even took on flesh, coming to walk among us--enduring much suffering, while here, for the sake of saving many from the destruction we had wrought and brought upon ourselves for ever acting against His perfect rule.
Breaking away from perfection doesn't result in perfection. Deviation from perfection can only be unto imperfection. Brokenness. Compounding.
So, in love...He came. He so loves the world that He sent His only begotten Son, so that whoever would believe on Him, trust in Him, and turn to Him for sanctuary (thus turning away from self-indulgence and deviance against God's perfection)...would have eternal life.
A good teacher recently pointed out, in terms of those attributes which we're told to strive after...
...are only as a striving unto Christlikeness. So to be more like Him. Like God.
So, the fruit of the Holy Spirit?...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? These are the fruit of the Holy Spirit, as these are reflections of God's character, made evident in us who spend more and ongoing time with Him. In His Presence. In His Word. In fellowship with Him. All these things, which are individually distinct even as pointedly conjoined, in essence.
And of all those which we were absolutely admonished to seek after, of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the gifts of Christ unto us?...weren't we also told that they were utterly and totally empty and meaningless...unless they were all sourced in, founded upon, and enacted of love?
So, what is love?
Look to Christ, for an example.
He endured shame, mockery, absolute torture--physical and mental and emotional...for love.
Without a word to His own defense.
Without a twinge of indignation against us, whom He loved.
He went meek to the slaughter.
And slaughter Him, we did.
Mercilessly.
God walked among us. Capable of destroying us in an instant.
And allowed us, instead, to torment Him. To mete out our hatred, in person.
Violently.
He endured silently.
In love.
Without anger.
Without resentment.
Without bitterness.
Only love.
Perhaps even more poignantly felt, for the sheer ballast of utter hatred which was given vent upon Him, all the more unrestrainedly for witness of such unreserved graciousness as sincere love.
He endured.
Without the benefit of dulled senses.
He endured.
For love.
So, how quick are we to judge? ...how quick are we to turn an edge to tone, out of discomfort or disinterest or even apathy?
How quick are we to think we can plan for the needs of another, and had ought do so, thinking we know better what their needs are than even they?
...rather than turning to the One who gave all, who knows without a shadow of uncertainty, precisely what most need be said and done, unto healing and salvation?
He was denounced for being familiar and gracious to those who were considered the most heinous of sinners. And we are not nearly so charitable of spirit as He is, but yet are we kept distant not by a desire to obey Him so much as a desire to refrain from being "tarnished?"
...this isn't to say that wisdom isn't necessary, in terms of being subject always to His leading--not wandering into any and all situations indiscriminately, thinking self-sacrifice will yield the salvation of others. Christ is the only sacrifice necessary, to that end. We aren't called to the same. Even as service to Him sometimes leads unto death, then it's not something self-directed or determined, but part of pursuit of Him, obedience to Him. Not self-willed and determined.
Although He is so gracious and loving and kind even as to turn our most wayward attempts at obedience oft unto His glory, regardless how misshapen and strangely conceived the efforts might have been. Often, at least.
Thing is, there's not a minute-by-minute checklist, in terms of methodology. There's not a checklist at all, really, given that self-sacrifice unto Christ means walking in obedience to His leading. Moment by moment. And even as there are so, so many guidelines for general practice which can be wholly cherished in and of and from Scripture...it's only as He gives a moment by moment interpretation unto practice that any of those would truly be lived. Not as a mental practice, but as one enacted out of love.
That's not something thought can muster.
He, alone, can do it. And it's His will to do so. Ask Him.
He wrote about it. There are many records of His will to lead, even as recorded as the utterances of those such as David who were led by His Spirit even to cry out for such guidance. Such a desire is prompted by God, given that the fallen nature would have none of it, would not dredge up something so blatantly counter to otherwise intentions and directives.
He works to will and to do. Both.
And so it goes for love, too. I've asked Him again and again, each time He's revealed to me how cold and lifeless my heart is (even still) in a minute and infinitesimal contrast to His own (which is beyond comprehension, even as momentarily glimpsed). Thinking to love, then finding that even what otherwise seems all consuming...is absolutely empty, totally devoid of life...in comparison.
Unto a desire to be changed, then, to further embody and evidence and give light to that love which is truly all-consuming.
He can do this. He will do this. He said it through so many of His prophets in Israel, that He would give a new heart, breathe life, make it flesh as to feel. And even through Paul, that we will be transformed, from image to image, glory to glory, unto the likeness of Christ.
Attempting to pre-empt that in some desultory fashion does no one any favors, though. Having all knowledge but lacking a simultaneous all-encompassing love--empty, meaningless. Having all authority, but lacking that love? Malicious. To act in His authority, then, according even to His word's precepts--but without a more encompassing love for the people being taught and admonished than desire for engendering righteousness in them?
Yeah. No. Righteousness apart from love is empty.
Look to the Pharisees of Jesus' earthly day...they attempted righteousness. He said the outside did have an appearance of goodness, even, as calling them whitewashed sepulchres. With how much love did He speak such words, longing for their repentance?
Even as mother hen, longing to draw her chicks into a loving, protective embrace.
How deep is such a love? As not only unto all suffering and death, but even so powerful as to overthrow death.
Is your love sufficient to rebuke death?
Is your love sufficient to free the oppressed from demonic possession?
I have been told in increasingly explicit terms that love is not negotiable, in such matters.
Otherwise, the cautionary tale told of those in Acts...who found themselves stripped and beaten...is much to be taken to heart.
Although, the tack taken by the offensive these days...
...why would they even bother to openly announce themselves?
They have almost free reign, given that even those who profess to know Christ, to serve Him...
...refuse to acknowledge spiritual realities, given the certain mockery to be endured for so doing, in this religious age of "scientific reason" which denounces all things beyond its machinations as utterly vapid.
So, how many millions in the Western civilization now believe there's no such thing as a spiritual reality, because it's beyond the explicit reach of scientific inquiry (in much the same way as is philosophy, as it were)? Metaphysics.
So, why would they announce themselves? And yet, is the warfare any less pronounced, for being less obviously notable?
Oh, no.
All the more pernicious, rather. All the more insidious, for the dual-front attack from both within and without, as there's the external pressure to deny the reality of the attack from within.
How much more dire is the need for love, then, in the midst of such a strange war as would warp all thought, if it were able? Love covers a multitude of sins, as it were.
The bind that we're in is so much...stranger than is superficially apparent. And it's something that's been worked over centuries. Excesses on one end lead to excessive restriction in response. And on and on, until reality becomes a finitely manufactured process, refusing all things which seem incongruous for lack of ability to comprehend. Rejecting the unknowable, thinking such a rejection provides safety in the "known," when it effectively does nothing except restrict awareness of implicit and explicit dangers.
Where fear rules, freedom is forsaken.
But He didn't give us a Spirit of fear. No, indeed. He has given us His own Spirit--of love, power, and a sound mind.
And as loosely written as this all is, I pray that in between the lines and in the midst the all, certain matters becoming known might be shared. There's so much more, and it's all in His Word. Scripture has what truth we need, given interpretation by the Spirit, who does bring all things to remembrance. And guides into all truth.
One step at a time.
We need to love. As He loves.
To be free the chains of self-preserving tendencies and of judgmentalism, of self-righteousness and hypocrisy. Love, as we're loved. He has to do this work in us, though, or it won't be done.
But He will as we ask, and continue asking.
Ask Him.
Sunday, January 10, 2016
No Other Way
So many times, this past year (beginning roughly or perhaps precisely a year ago, to date), the only prayer that's kept me through circumstances is one of unrelenting desperation: "Lord, I can't do this. I can't do this. I can't do this," with either hands physically upraised in surrender or all my soul raised in utmost desperation.
In each of those moments, His response was sure. Not given words. Not given as a sense of certainty (as sometimes is otherwise the case). Not given as a sense of directive unto action or steadfastness, even. But given, nonetheless...a pervasive peace which inexplicably suffused to such an extent as to dwell even more deeply within than whatever sheer-terror or utter-despair or abject-grief or debilitating-pain as otherwise sought to overwhelm my heart.
Peace in the midst of these storms, though. The storm not quelled--those sensations remained, but superficial. His voice not heard, even. But His Presence more deeply felt than even the very tremors of what could be considered tumultuous quakings permeating all which otherwise comprised then-present reality.
Still accompanied by the oft silent, yet incessant plea, "Lord, I can't do this. I can't do this. (Help me!)"
And the moments passed. The storm didn't shake me off my foundation. And no matter how deeply devastating circumstances might otherwise have seemed...His love increasingly has become all the more real. Blessedly so. The truth of who He is has become all the more evident, increasing desire for further revelation.
Not as to desire more such events, no, but ever inspiring a desire for a more encompassing, more vastly transformative experience of His love--so pure, uplifting, and utterly replete with good as to put all else beyond remembrance, beyond consideration... ...so, ever inspiring a deeper desire to know Him more completely, no matter the cost, just as to walk more fully and consciously in the absolute truth of such a blessed reality.
No matter the cost, knowing that only by His grace would any further trials be survived--same as with those which have passed. Knowing the cost is entirely worthwhile, even as He is the one who actually paid, and my part is only to surrender.
Such as throughout the all of prior trials, the only cry of my heart was one of desperation--more fully realizing my absolute inability to so much as survive...yet, even this cry was surrender unto Him.
So, as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego once attested, I wholeheartedly proclaim--even if He had chosen not to deliver me from earthly circumstances, He alone is God, thus worthy of all praise and fully capable of enacting total deliverance should He so desire and will. By His will, not mine. However things were to go--only according to His will, and thus to my good, regardless.
Knowing death could come. But only as He would allow it.
Knowing suffering, physically or otherwise, could come. But only as He permits and directs.
Knowing that all manner of hell could again mount attacks against me. But only if He would give permission, and then certainly to ends of further good.
Just as I was warned, multiple times, against following Christ--against seeking Him, in spirit and truth: I was told that all manner of hell would mount an attack. That I would lose everything.
And same as then, again now--yet with deeper assurance and a greater degree of reverence--I can declare that whatever comes, I will not halt nor falter, because He is my God. Not because of any good in me, but because of who Christ is. Because He keeps me. I don't hold onto Him, except that He keeps me.
I can't keep myself. I can't deliver myself. The mere idea is laughable: I'm incapable of even managing to cook a meal without burning it or destroying cookware, apart from praying throughout. How in the world could I even begin to think I could maneuver against "spiritual wickedness?"
How would I begin to hope to manage to survive any assault, on any front? Especially given that prior to Christ, I'd given myself to death so many times. I gave up on life before coming to know Christ. My approach to temptation was Oscar Wilde's even--the only way to get rid of it was to give into it. I was utterly incapable, on so many levels.
Even though I considered myself well, I wasn't. I considered myself capable, but I wasn't. I fell apart at the drop of a hat.
So, now seeing the truth of all that, why would realizing my incapacity within context of knowing Christ--power and goodness incarnate!--suddenly give some sense of self-sufficient bravado?
Ludicrous.
Rather, awareness still increases regarding how utterly incapable I am of managing even the simplest tasks, except that He keeps me. (A couple months ago, I briefly questioned whether He'd keep me aware of my need for Him sufficiently to prevent arrogant self-reliance from returning...and immediately aspirated enough a boiled egg as was problematic except for "accompanying calm" as reminded to inhale very gently and slowly. After then forcibly exhaling the egg, realization arose that--yeah, I can't eat nor breathe without effecting death, apart from His intervention. So...He's effectively got things well in hand, on the whole. He's God of all. At all times.)
And that--such mercy as even to be made more aware of my actual inability--is far more than is deserved. Far more than could be earned (if such a thing were even remotely possible). Far more than could ever have even been hoped, truthfully.
But not only does He "keep" me, as such...He is my joy. And He is my strength and my sufficiency.
And no matter how far my eyes have ever wandered, He's faithful to gently and insistently bring me back. Unto an increasing desire to not wander.
He is my shepherd, though.
And my best friend, always with me, and always listening--even when I am sincerely wrong...and He always redirects me so gently, but insistently, to ever greater truth. Always listening.
My constant companion.
And I can't conceive of surviving without Him; but so much of the world remains caught up in attempting to, blindly.
So, as He leads, there must be outreach (for He knows how to reach people).
As He directs, there must be speech (for He knows what words are necessary).
And when speech isn't given, then prayer must be all the more fervent (because He can move mountains).
We are in a battle for souls, my friends--our own and those of all who are around us.
We wage war against the very darkness which attempts to consume the world--as it ever has sought, enraged against Him.
The darkness rages to no effect, ultimately, in terms of His sovereignty.
And yet the stakes are high for those of us still engaged in the turmoil.
So, as Jesus sits enthroned, we have been given to be His ambassadors, acting on His behalf.
Are we truly doing so? Do we remaining sufficiently emboldened by the Spirit of His word, even as to walk steadfast and bold in those, our directives?
Are we sufficiently grounded in the truth of who He is?
Are we continually dependent upon His Spirit, which is His power in us?
Put another way:
If we carry only the letter of the law but lack the necessary authority to enact it, what may we actually effect?
Jesus Christ is the one with authority--attempting to act apart from Him is effectively acting upon our own authority, which is void.
Consider the use, even still, of government seals...certain Great Seals may be used to denote the authority of a letter or laws, dictated. Such a seal is evidence of the authenticity of the bearing document, thus established and implemented upon authority of the office which wields power.
Amongst many things, a seal is a mark of authority, though. Not evidence of authority inherent a bearer, as though contents could possess authority apart from officiating power. Documents don't possess authority apart from that of the seal owner--whosoever as actually possesses power so to enforce and uphold.
So as it has been, then so it is.
So, do we bear and continue as marked by the blatant Seal of His Authority?
Even as the Holy Spirit comes unto and as evidence of our salvation, then He also gives power to walk according to God's ways.
For we are really, truly incapable. But God is capable of all things.
So, we must ask without ceasing, as so it shall be given. And seek Him as our utmost necessity, so He will be found by us. We must knock relentlessly and the Gate will be opened to us.
Let us pray these things for one another, then, too.
In each of those moments, His response was sure. Not given words. Not given as a sense of certainty (as sometimes is otherwise the case). Not given as a sense of directive unto action or steadfastness, even. But given, nonetheless...a pervasive peace which inexplicably suffused to such an extent as to dwell even more deeply within than whatever sheer-terror or utter-despair or abject-grief or debilitating-pain as otherwise sought to overwhelm my heart.
Peace in the midst of these storms, though. The storm not quelled--those sensations remained, but superficial. His voice not heard, even. But His Presence more deeply felt than even the very tremors of what could be considered tumultuous quakings permeating all which otherwise comprised then-present reality.
Still accompanied by the oft silent, yet incessant plea, "Lord, I can't do this. I can't do this. (Help me!)"
And the moments passed. The storm didn't shake me off my foundation. And no matter how deeply devastating circumstances might otherwise have seemed...His love increasingly has become all the more real. Blessedly so. The truth of who He is has become all the more evident, increasing desire for further revelation.
Not as to desire more such events, no, but ever inspiring a desire for a more encompassing, more vastly transformative experience of His love--so pure, uplifting, and utterly replete with good as to put all else beyond remembrance, beyond consideration... ...so, ever inspiring a deeper desire to know Him more completely, no matter the cost, just as to walk more fully and consciously in the absolute truth of such a blessed reality.
No matter the cost, knowing that only by His grace would any further trials be survived--same as with those which have passed. Knowing the cost is entirely worthwhile, even as He is the one who actually paid, and my part is only to surrender.
Such as throughout the all of prior trials, the only cry of my heart was one of desperation--more fully realizing my absolute inability to so much as survive...yet, even this cry was surrender unto Him.
So, as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego once attested, I wholeheartedly proclaim--even if He had chosen not to deliver me from earthly circumstances, He alone is God, thus worthy of all praise and fully capable of enacting total deliverance should He so desire and will. By His will, not mine. However things were to go--only according to His will, and thus to my good, regardless.
Knowing death could come. But only as He would allow it.
Knowing suffering, physically or otherwise, could come. But only as He permits and directs.
Knowing that all manner of hell could again mount attacks against me. But only if He would give permission, and then certainly to ends of further good.
Just as I was warned, multiple times, against following Christ--against seeking Him, in spirit and truth: I was told that all manner of hell would mount an attack. That I would lose everything.
And same as then, again now--yet with deeper assurance and a greater degree of reverence--I can declare that whatever comes, I will not halt nor falter, because He is my God. Not because of any good in me, but because of who Christ is. Because He keeps me. I don't hold onto Him, except that He keeps me.
I can't keep myself. I can't deliver myself. The mere idea is laughable: I'm incapable of even managing to cook a meal without burning it or destroying cookware, apart from praying throughout. How in the world could I even begin to think I could maneuver against "spiritual wickedness?"
How would I begin to hope to manage to survive any assault, on any front? Especially given that prior to Christ, I'd given myself to death so many times. I gave up on life before coming to know Christ. My approach to temptation was Oscar Wilde's even--the only way to get rid of it was to give into it. I was utterly incapable, on so many levels.
Even though I considered myself well, I wasn't. I considered myself capable, but I wasn't. I fell apart at the drop of a hat.
So, now seeing the truth of all that, why would realizing my incapacity within context of knowing Christ--power and goodness incarnate!--suddenly give some sense of self-sufficient bravado?
Ludicrous.
Rather, awareness still increases regarding how utterly incapable I am of managing even the simplest tasks, except that He keeps me. (A couple months ago, I briefly questioned whether He'd keep me aware of my need for Him sufficiently to prevent arrogant self-reliance from returning...and immediately aspirated enough a boiled egg as was problematic except for "accompanying calm" as reminded to inhale very gently and slowly. After then forcibly exhaling the egg, realization arose that--yeah, I can't eat nor breathe without effecting death, apart from His intervention. So...He's effectively got things well in hand, on the whole. He's God of all. At all times.)
And that--such mercy as even to be made more aware of my actual inability--is far more than is deserved. Far more than could be earned (if such a thing were even remotely possible). Far more than could ever have even been hoped, truthfully.
But not only does He "keep" me, as such...He is my joy. And He is my strength and my sufficiency.
And no matter how far my eyes have ever wandered, He's faithful to gently and insistently bring me back. Unto an increasing desire to not wander.
He is my shepherd, though.
And my best friend, always with me, and always listening--even when I am sincerely wrong...and He always redirects me so gently, but insistently, to ever greater truth. Always listening.
My constant companion.
And I can't conceive of surviving without Him; but so much of the world remains caught up in attempting to, blindly.
So, as He leads, there must be outreach (for He knows how to reach people).
As He directs, there must be speech (for He knows what words are necessary).
And when speech isn't given, then prayer must be all the more fervent (because He can move mountains).
We are in a battle for souls, my friends--our own and those of all who are around us.
We wage war against the very darkness which attempts to consume the world--as it ever has sought, enraged against Him.
The darkness rages to no effect, ultimately, in terms of His sovereignty.
And yet the stakes are high for those of us still engaged in the turmoil.
So, as Jesus sits enthroned, we have been given to be His ambassadors, acting on His behalf.
Are we truly doing so? Do we remaining sufficiently emboldened by the Spirit of His word, even as to walk steadfast and bold in those, our directives?
Are we sufficiently grounded in the truth of who He is?
Are we continually dependent upon His Spirit, which is His power in us?
Put another way:
If we carry only the letter of the law but lack the necessary authority to enact it, what may we actually effect?
Jesus Christ is the one with authority--attempting to act apart from Him is effectively acting upon our own authority, which is void.
Consider the use, even still, of government seals...certain Great Seals may be used to denote the authority of a letter or laws, dictated. Such a seal is evidence of the authenticity of the bearing document, thus established and implemented upon authority of the office which wields power.
Amongst many things, a seal is a mark of authority, though. Not evidence of authority inherent a bearer, as though contents could possess authority apart from officiating power. Documents don't possess authority apart from that of the seal owner--whosoever as actually possesses power so to enforce and uphold.
So as it has been, then so it is.
So, do we bear and continue as marked by the blatant Seal of His Authority?
Even as the Holy Spirit comes unto and as evidence of our salvation, then He also gives power to walk according to God's ways.
For we are really, truly incapable. But God is capable of all things.
So, we must ask without ceasing, as so it shall be given. And seek Him as our utmost necessity, so He will be found by us. We must knock relentlessly and the Gate will be opened to us.
Let us pray these things for one another, then, too.
Friday, January 8, 2016
Zac Poonen: Repent of Worldliness - and Be Baptized in the Holy Spirit
(From a message given at a Pentecostal church in February 2012)
God's promises and His commandments are like the two legs that we must stand on and walk with. If you try to live only by the promises, it will be like walking with just one leg. You won't experience all the promises and you will live in self-deception. On the other hand, if you try to live only by the commandments you won't be able to obey them without the promises - and you will get depressed and discouraged. So we need both the commandments and the promises.
But you can never know what God's promises and commandments are unless you study the Scriptures carefully. If you listen only to pastors and TV preachers, you won't know God's Word, because they don't often quote God's Word exactly or teach His commandments exactly. So you must study God's Word yourself. If you are a Christian you should know the Bible better than any other book in the world. If you are too lazy to study the Bible, your Christian life will be perpetually shallow. You may even think you are born again, when you are not. And you may imagine that you are filled with the Holy Spirit - when all that you had was a counterfeit experience. But you will never be deceived if you study the word of God.
Those who don't study the word of God deserve to be deceived - because they are saying to God, "I know You wrote a book for man, but I don't have the time to read it. I have many more important things to do like watching Television and surfing the Internet. So I can only give you a little time on Sunday morning." If that is your attitude towards God's Word, then you are probably not even born again. All healthy babies cry for milk every day. And all born-again Christians will long for the milk of the Word daily (1 Pet.2:2). I have to tell you the truth about this, because I don't want you blaming me on the day of judgment, for not telling you the truth. Many years ago the Lord told me that if I loved people, I would tell them the truth, even if they didn't want to accept it.
There are many wonderful promises in God's Word. The New Testament has even more wonderful promises than the Old Testament. They are called "precious and magnificent promises" (2 Peter 1:4). If you knew that a precious treasure was hidden under the ground, in a corner of your property, what a lot of time you would spend searching for that treasure. When you realize that God's promises are worth more than any earthly treasure, you will dig into the Word of God until you find those promises.
I gave my life completely to Christ in July 1959. I spent the next seven years after that studying God's Word thoroughly. I didn't go to a Bible-school. I was working in the Navy during those 7 years. Whenever I was off duty, I would sit in my cabin and study God's Word. That changed the direction of my life. I discovered many wonderful promises in the Bible - and as I claimed them, they brought the spirit of heaven into my life.
When I was married, God's Word brought the spirit of heaven into my home as well. Later, my wife and I claimed God'spromises for our four children as well. We also taught them His commandments. As a result, all of them are following the Lord today. God wants us to live by His promises exactly like we live with the money we have in our bank accounts. If the company you are working for, offered you a bonus wouldn't you accept it? If they then tell you that they have credited the money to your bank account won't you check your account to see that the money is there? Most Christians check their bank accounts more eagerly than they claim God's promises - and that's why their lives are so shallow.
It is God's commandments and His promises together that can make us spiritually rich. If we really believed that, we would seek with all our hearts to discover all of them. We all have only one life to live and so we must have a clear aim in our lives. If our aim is only to go to heaven when we die, then we will have a lot of regret when we stand before the Lord one day.
Let me tell you what my aim in my life is. This is my prayer: "Lord, before I leave this earth, I want to obey every single commandment You have given for new-covenant Christians. I am not concerned with the commandments You gave the Israelites. But every commandment You have given for born-again Christians, I want to obey all of them before I leave this earth. And I also want to claim every promise that you have given for new-covenant Christians before I leave this earth."
That is just like my wanting my children to complete all their courses in college. I wouldn't be satisfied if any of my sons completed only half of their courses. In the same way, I want to complete every course in my spiritual education on earth too.
The great tragedy in the world today is that believers who are supposed to be heavenly-minded are mostly earthly-minded - and there is no difference between those who claim to be Spirit-filled and the others. Both are earthly minded. Both love money and both love the honor of men. God is now speaking to those who claim to be"Spirit-filled"Christians, saying, "Repent of your earthly mindedness".
John the Baptist, as the forerunner of the Lord Jesus Christ, asked people to prepare the way of the Lord. And when we invite Christ into our lives, we too must first obey the message of John the Baptist, which was,"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matt. 3:2). Only thus can we "prepare the way" for Christ to be Lord of our lives.
What was John actually saying there? He was saying to the Israelites, "For the last 1,500 years, from the days of Moses, you have been occupied with earthly things. Every promise you have in your Bible is about earthly things. FromGenesis to Malachi there is not a single promise of a heavenly blessing for you. Every promise is only of earthly blessings - that you will become materially rich, that your farms and businesses will be blessed, that you will be healed of your sicknesses, that your earthly enemies will be defeated and that your children will be blessed like you. Now repent - turn around. Turn around from seeking after those earthly blessings, because the kingdom of heaven is coming. Someone has come from heaven Who will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and bring heaven into your heart. But He can do that, only if you turn around from your pursuit of earthly things" That is essentially what John was preaching. And that is the message that we need to respond to, as well, before we can be baptized in the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit has come from heaven to bring the atmosphere of heaven into our hearts. The primary mark of a truly Spirit-filled Christian is that he is heavenly-minded and not earthly-minded. He will have the aroma of heaven about him. Can someone who loses his temper and shouts at his spouse say that he is filled with the Holy Spirit? Such anger comes from another spirit and not from the Holy Spirit. In heaven, no-one loses his temper.
I know what happened in my own life when God filled me with the Holy Spirit. Even after I was born again, the nature of Adam (what the Bible calls "the flesh") had power over me. When the Spirit of Christ filled me however, He began a process of transforming me little by little into the likeness of Christ. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of the Spirit-filled Man. And God wants to make us totally like Him.
John the Baptist said, "This Lamb of God will first take away all your sins". In other words He will clean up your cup first. But He won't leave your cup empty. He will fill your cup. He will cleanse your heart so that He can fill you with His Spirit, and then rivers of living water will flow out from your innermost being.
People were "filled with the Holy Spirit" in the Old Testament too. But that was not like the new-covenant filling. The Bible says in(John 7:39) that the Holy Spirit could not be given in this "new-covenant" way until Jesus was glorified.
Let me explain the difference. If you keep a cup upside down and keep pouring water on it, the water will flow endlessly over the cup in many directions. That is a picture of how God poured His Spirit on His servants under the old covenant and blessed thousands through them. The Spirit of God came upon Gideon and Samson and Saul and David - and they were used by God to deliver the Israelites from their enemies. But if you looked inside their hearts (their cups), they were sinful and dirty. The cups were upside down. They had adultery and idolatry inside their hearts. When the Spirit of God came upon Gideon (Judg.6:34) he delivered Israel from the Midianites. But after God used him so mightily, he went and made idols and began to worship them (Judg.8:24-27). The inside of his cup was dirty. The hearts of Saul and David were also dirty - in other ways.
But on the day of Pentecost, God turned the cup right side up and poured the Spirit into the cup (heart) and cleaned it inside first and then filled it. Then the water began to flow from the "innermost being" (Jn.7:38). Until that day, as the Lord told them, the Holy Spirit was only "with them". But from that day onwards, He was "IN them" ( John 14:17). That is the difference between the old covenant experience of the Holy Spirit and the new covenant experience of the Holy Spirit.
So if a preacher today, after being used mightily by God, falls into adultery, it would prove that he was not a new-covenant servant of God at all. He was just an old-covenant preacher who had the Spirit flowing over him, but not from his innermost being - because his heart was still lusting after women. A money-loving preacher has a dirty heart too - for the Spirit of Christ does not love money. One who loves money cannot be a Spirit-filled man. God may use such preachers. But it will be like water flowing over the top of their cups, while their inside remains unchanged. Such preachers are the ones Jesus said would come to Him in the last day and boast about their accomplishments in their ministry. But He would still send them to hell (Matt.7:22, 23) .
What are you looking for when you ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit? Do you want God to use you or do you want Him to cleanse you first? If you only want to be used by God to prophesy or to heal the sick, etc., you are actually going back to the old covenant.
After David had sinned with Bathsheba, he wrote a psalm acknowledging his sin. But there is a little expression inPsalm 51 that shows his longing for something more than forgiveness - something that he did not have. God had used him in many ways. But he says, "Lord, I know that first of all You desire truth in the innermost being" ( Psa.51:6) . Truth here means reality! David knew that God wanted his inner life to be transparent and real. But it was not so with him. He longed for such a life but he could not have it under the old covenant. Do you long for such a life yourself? When a person's outer life is pure but his inner life is not, he is a hypocrite. He is living under the old covenant.
Jesus said in John 7:38 that those who receive the Holy Spirit in the new covenant would have rivers of living waters flowing "from their innermost being." The important thing here is not the rivers but the place from which they flow - the innermost being. This was the expression that David used in Psalm 51. The innermost being is the inside of the cup. David had only experienced the blessing of God flowing outside of him.
Is it like that in your life too? Do you have an old-covenant experience of the Holy Spirit or a new-covenant one? You get what you really long for! What you ask for, you will receive. If your only prayer is, "God use me", He may use you. But you will be like an upside-down cup, with your heart remaining perpetually sinful and dirty. He may fulfil a great ministry through you - but you will be like Samson, full of sinful lust in your heart. Is that what you want? That is not the new-covenant fulness of the Holy Spirit.
If you live in the old covenant, you cannot have reality in your innermost being. I know that from my own experience. After I was born again, I prayed that God would give me power to preach and use me. And God did use me. But as time went on, I found that the inside of my cup was dirty.
I could have continued like David and Samson all my life, because the water was flowing over me and blessing others. Many thousands of people were being blessed through my preaching at conferences in many parts of the world and through my radio-programs and books. But my own heart was dirty and I had no victory over sin. I was a hypocrite. And I cried out like David, "Oh Lord, You desire truth in my innermost being, but I don't have that". I was not at all happy with my condition. I longed for a new-covenant experience of the Holy Spirit. Finally, I decided to quit preaching, because I was a hypocrite. That is when God in His great mercy and compassion towards a sinner like me, met with me and baptized me in the Holy Spirit and fire.
What does fire do? It purifies. John the Baptist told the Israelites, "I can only baptize you in water. But Jesus can baptize you in fire ." And that fire will purify your life like nothing else can do.
When people come and ask me to lay my hands on them to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. I tell them, "If I place my empty hands on your head, nothing is going to happen. You will still remain as empty as ever. There is Another mightier than me. He alone can baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire. Go to Jesus."
It was Jesus Who baptized me in the Holy Spirit and fire. It was He who turned my cup right side up, 16 years after I was converted, and filled me in my innermost being and made the rivers flow from there. He can do the same for you too. There is no partiality with God. So go to Him today.
But as we have already seen, John the Baptist told people to turn away from the kingdom of earth first (Matt.3:2). This Jesus, Who baptizes in the Holy Spirit and fire wants to bring the kingdom of heaven into our lives. The word"repent" is like the military command "About Turn" (or "About Face" ). It means to turn around 180 degrees and to face the opposite direction. We must turn around from seeking after earthly blessings and earnestly seek forheavenly blessings, if we want the genuine fulness of the Holy Spirit.
The problem with many who are seeking for the baptism in the Holy Spirit today is that they are still seeking for earthly blessings. The devil will give such people a counterfeit experience that looks like the baptism in the Spirit. There are people of many religions who speak in tongues! How then can we distinguish the true from the counterfeit? Only if we turn away from the earthly and seek the heavenly.
Every gift of the Holy Spirit has been counterfeited. That only proves that the genuine gifts of the Spirit must be very valuable. Nobody counterfeits worthless stuff like brown paper and newspaper? People counterfeit only what is valuable, like diamonds, gold or currency notes. Genuine tongues and prophecy and healing must therefore be very valuable! That is why Satan has counterfeited these.
If you want to buy diamonds but don't know anything about diamonds, you know you can be cheated easily. So you will take someone with you who knows all about diamonds. In earthly things like that, you are very careful. Shouldn't you be more careful when it comes to heavenly gifts - to ensure that you are not deceived by Satan with some cheap counterfeit? Did you receive the genuine baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire? The gifts that you have - are they allgenuine gifts of the Holy Spirit? These are important questions that you must ask yourself.
I remember when I first sought for the baptism of the Spirit. I went to a church that was preaching it - and I heard many people there making a lot of noise. It was chaotic. And the pastors there were more interested in getting my money, because they knew I was a naval officer. I returned to my room disappointed and prayed saying, "Lord, I don't want what those people have. I don't want a spirit that teaches me how to make a lot of noise but leaves me enslaved to the love of money. I want what Peter, James and John got on the day of Pentecost - that freed them from this world and empowered them to be flaming witnesses for You. I don't want a cheap counterfeit. And if it takes me 10 years to get the real thing, I will wait 10 years."
Think of how an ambitious kindergarten child is willing to wait even 20 years to get a PhD. Isn't the power of the Holy Spirit more important than getting a PhD? The Holy Spirit's power won't get you more money like a PhD will, but will make you more useful to God.
I want to ask all of you born-again Christians a straight question: "Are you interested only in going to heaven or in following Jesus Christ here on earth before going to heaven?"
When the Lord filled me with the Holy Spirit, I decided that I would not go around India looking for people who wanted to go to heaven, but rather for people who wanted to follow Jesus on earth. There are more than a billion people in India who would like to go to heaven. I have never met anyone who wants to go to hell! You are not spiritual just because you want to go to heaven. Every human being wants to go to heaven.
I am looking for people who want to follow Jesus Christ on earth and live for Him completely before they go to heaven. I know that there are very few people like that - but those are the ones I have spent the last 37 years looking for in many parts of the world. I am not looking for Christians who are seeking for a kingdom on earth and still wanting to be filled with the Holy Spirit. No. I am looking for those who want to obey John the Baptist's call to turn 180 degrees around from earthly things and seek for heavenly things. I am looking for Christians who desire purity more than money.
How many of you can stand before God today and say, "Lord, I realize that I need money to live here on this earth. But I need purity to get into Your presence. So Lord, I am more interested in purity today than in money. I am more interested in the fire of God in my life than all the honor and wealth of this world."
If you pray in sincerity like that, I assure you that you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit very soon.
I remember a man telling me once that he had been praying for 40 years for the baptism in the Holy Spirit, but had not received it. My answer to that is: If you keep seeking after the things of earth, then you won't get the genuine baptism of the Spirit even in 100 years. You may get some cheap counterfeit in a meeting and go away satisfied with that, but you won't get the genuine baptism. For the real baptism you have to pay a price.
There are many wonderful promises that God has given us in His Word. As I said, they are called "precious and magnificent promises" (2 Peter 1:4). But the promises all have conditions attached to them. When you apply for a job you have to fulfil certain conditions first. In some cases you have to be a college graduate, or have a certain number of years of experience. If you go for the job-interview without fulfilling those conditions, the interviewers will ask you, "Why did you waste your time coming here? Didn't you read the qualifications required? Go home."
So if you come to Jesus, and say "Lord, baptize me in the Holy Spirit and fire - as John the Baptist said You would," He will say, "Did you read the conditions that John the Baptist mentioned? Have you turned around completely from seeking for earthly things? Are you seeking for heavenly things now?" Otherwise, the Lord will tell you to go home and come back when you have fulfilled the conditions. I am convinced from what I have seen, that most Christians who claim to be filled with the Holy Spirit have had a counterfeit experience - because I see neither holiness nor power in their lives.
Jesus had only 11 disciples. That was a really small church. But when they were filled with the Holy Spirit they became radical disciples of Christ and made many thousands of others into disciples. Today we have mega churches with thousands of people claiming to be filled with the Holy Spirit. But they are defeated by sin and lovers of money and powerless. That's because their experience was a counterfeit. It was not genuine.
I heard a story once of a female rabbit talking to a lioness and saying "Last year I gave birth to 24 baby-rabbits. How many babies did you have last year?" The lioness said, "I gave birth to only one - but it was a lion!" I think of that story whenever I hear people talking about the large number of people attending their church and the number of people who were "baptized in the Holy Spirit" (as they claim). One disciple like those early apostles would be far more useful to God than thousands of today's shallow "tongue-speaking" Christians.
I am not devaluing the gift of speaking in tongues. But how can you know whether what you have is the genuine gift of tongues?
I have been speaking in tongues for 37 years now and I can tell you what it did for me. I was a born-again Christian for 16 years before I spoke in tongues. And in all those years I was frequently discouraged, depressed, angry and having seasons of bad moods. I would sometimes be on the mountain top rejoicing but most of the time down in the valley of depression. I was just like most "born-again" Christians!! Then I read in1 Corinthians 14:4 that "he who speaks in a tongue edifies himself". Well, I certainly wanted to edify myself. To edify means "to build up". If somebody put a bomb in this building it would be blown to pieces. Then if somebody built it up again, it would become a beautiful "edifice"- meaning a building with a beautiful, imposing appearance. So "to edify" is to build up an edifice. "He who speaks in a tongue builds himself up into something beautiful". I like that translation.
So I asked the Lord, "Lord can You really rebuild this blown-up, backslidden life of mine? I am born again but I often have bad moods. I can't control my tongue and when I get angry I speak like the devil himself. Can You really give me a heavenly tongue? Can You really build me up into something beautiful? If so, I want You to do that in me - at any cost." I was desperate.
God then filled me with His Spirit and turned my life around completely. He not only gave me the gift of speaking in other tongues but also empowered me to control my mother-tongue! That is how I knew that the gift I had received was genuine. If you claim to have the gift of speaking in an unknown tongue but cannot control your known tongue, then your gift may not be from the Holy Spirit at all.
I also found then that I could overcome discouragement and bad moods - and "rejoice in the Lord always". I am still tempted to be discouraged. But I resist it and keep speaking in tongues until the temptation goes away. Thus the gift of speaking in tongues keeps me fresh at all times and prevents me from becoming dry, so that I can always have the anointing of the Spirit in my ministry to others. And so I find that even this gift, like every other gift of the Spirit, is given primarily to make us a blessing to others.
But above all, the presence of Jesus became real to me, since I was filled with the Spirit. I know now that the One living in me is more powerful than Satan. Earlier, I was scared of encountering demon-possessed people. But now I can help such people, by casting the demons out of them. Once I was afraid of the devil. Now the devil is afraid of me.
I am not anyone special. But I got real, genuine Christianity when God filled me with the Holy Spirit. I have given my all to Jesus and now I have no ambition on earth, but to do the will of God every day until I see my Lord, face to face one day.
When I look at the lives of most Christians around me, who say they are born again, I see them in exactly the same state that I was in during the first 16 years after I was born-again. I do not despise such Christians nor do I criticize them. How can I? I too was exactly like them once. I only tell them, "God has something better for you. Turn around from seeking after earthly things and seek for the heavenly. Then Jesus will fill you with His Spirit. The new covenant life is a million times better than the old covenant life."
Jesus did not come to make us rich with earthly wealth, Neither did He come to give us honor - either in this world or in the church, He came to make us like Himself - loving, humble and holy. At the same time, He will allow us to be despised and rejected by men, as He Himself was. He may allow us to be poor in material things, but spiritually rich.
The God who made Abraham rich, and Job and David and Solomon rich with earthly wealth, could easily have made Jesus and Peter and Paul also rich with earthly wealth, if He wanted to. But He did not - because Jesus came to open the kingdom of heaven to man and to give him heavenly wealth. And so Paul describes his state in (2 Corinthians 6:10)like this: "As poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things". That is true new-covenant, Spirit-filled Christianity.
Do you hear a voice coming to you from heaven today? It is a very loving voice. The Lord says, "My son, my daughter come up higher. I don't want you to continue living at the low level that you are living at right now. Don't be happy that you are better than other Christians around you. Don't boast in your knowledge, or your experiences, or in the good opinion that others have of you, or in how spiritual you think you are. Don't even rejoice in how much you have been used by Me in the past. Come up higher."
God wants to fill you with His Holy Spirit. Will you say to Him, "Lord I want the genuine power of the Holy Spirit. I have lived long enough with a counterfeit."
Let me tell you one more thing: You don't have to wait. If there is a waiting period, it is because God is waiting for youto yield everything to Him - all your life and all your ambitions, etc., Perhaps there is something in your life that you still have not yielded to Him, some door in your heart that you still have not opened to the Lord, some habit that you are still not willing to give up. Are you willing to give it up now?
Are you willing to throw away those movie-DVDs that you have that you cannot let Jesus watch along with you? Are you willing to throw away those rock-music-CDs that Jesus would never listen to? Are you willing to throw away those pictures and magazines that you have, that you would be ashamed to let Jesus see? Are you willing to let Jesus examine your financial affairs and tell you how to use your money? Are you willing to let Jesus always be between you and your wife so that every time you speak to her, you will be speaking with Jesus standing in front of you?. And the other way around, if you are a wife?
If that is the life you are longing for, I can tell you, that you can be filled with the Holy Spirit today.
But if you are still seeking for the things of earth and asking Jesus for a better house and a better car and other things like that, then I have to tell you that the Lord has nothing to give you, until you repent and turn around.
May the Lord help you to see that and be wise!
Amen.
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The above sermon excerpt seems particularly relevant. It is largely consistent with my own experience of Baptism in the Holy Spirit, although the way the Lord led me was much less consciously reflective upon my actual state--moreso, surrender had been absolutely given as an unequivocal necessity, upon conversion...and circumstances which followed in the immediately subsequent six months were increasingly pressing as to bring to bear a near-desperation for His Baptism.
I had increasingly found myself utterly powerless against circumstances, but constantly overwhelmed by anger, rage, bitterness, and all manner of other wretchedness--all of which, at the end, were intentionally provoked. I had no means of defending myself except to fall to my knees in prayer, in the middle of verbal assault. And, looking back, there've been times when that particular course has been questioned as...was it too much, was it too extreme? But my desperation was such that I was willing to endure the mockery, I was willing to endure the increased scorn, and I was so overwhelmed by desperation to find shelter in the Lord that it never occurred to me during the process that it might be something which others would find offensive or odd. There was only desperation not to be consumed with the same spirit in which I was being attacked, and this desperation was taken again and again to the Lord, collapsing before Him in prayer.
So, similar to Bro. Poonen's account, in terms of crying out for deliverance from sin. Which...I lament what remains, still, continuing to cry out for further deliverance. For His is the power.
More to my shame, really, that I don't practice what Bro. Poonen mentions, constantly, now that circumstances have so changed--speaking in tongues as a constant means of combatting temptation, the default, natural course, become utterly habitual to submit to God rather than contemplate temptation.
I've been praying for help on that account, lately, because it does certainly help so very significantly to do so. He'll help with this, too.
Point being of the all, though--we need Baptism in the Holy Spirit. And this is something which occurred separately from salvation/regeneration.
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