"Oh No!" I sinned, but I didn't intend to!

Part of my reading for this morning was Hebrews 9. It's a lengthy chapter and - to be honest - I fell asleep four or five times while reading it. Needless to say, it is NOT an exciting chapter. It compares the 'Old Covenant' to the 'New Covenant', comparing their similarities and noting their significant differences. Don't get me wrong, it's essential truth and vital for the established believer to understand; however, it is not action-oriented or memorable.

HOWEVER, there is always something new to be observed or learned - right?

While talking about the 'Old Covenant' the author writes:

But only the high priest could go into the second room, and he did that only once a year. He could never enter the inner room without taking blood with him, which he offered to God for himself and for sins the people did without knowing they did them. 

[All quotes from the NCV unless otherwise noted.]

Did you catch it?

The high priest entered the inner room [the Holy Place] only once a year and when he did so, he offered God blood to cover his own sins and the sins the people did without knowing they did them.

God had covered all of the bases - even in the 'Old Covenant'.  

God knew the weaknesses of humanity. He knew that people would end up sinning inadvertently. He knew that they would mindlessly, without thinking, unintentionally, while distracted and on automatic-pilot - say, do or think things that would be displeasing to Him!

So - once-a-year, God provided for a way to cover sins that fell in this category! Imagine the general feeling of relief felt by the people on the Day of Atonement! A clean slate!

_______________________________________

But, what about those of us who live under the 'New Covenant'?

Have similar provisions been made for our unintentional, mindless sins?

There is much that could be said on this topic, but let me try to distill some basic truth.

1. First and foremost is the reality of the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life!

In John 16:8-11, Jesus teaches that part of the Holy Spirit’s role is to convict the world of sin.

I Corinthians 3:16 says, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” [NKJV].  Therefore, believers have the Holy Spirit living within them!

So, when we sin inadvertently, the Holy Spirit – living within us – is able to immediately make us aware that we have violated God’s holy ways.

That’s when we fall back on the believer’s bar of soap:

I John 1:9 [NIV]

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins

and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

This describes what many Christ-followers have come to refer to as ‘walking with God’! He is always with us – no matter where we are! His grace is available to us 24/7!!!!!!

But, theologians believe there is even more…

2.    They use a theological term to describe it – Prevenient Grace!

It has been put forward by many noted theologians, but has become a hallmark of Wesleyan theology. Simply put, it is considered the grace that goes before!

I have friends that would be far abler to describe this in deep terms, but I’ll try to give a simple explanation:

It represents a firm belief in the prevalence of God’s grace!  Consequently, His grace is so persistent that it even goes before us!

One example would be the discussion about the age of accountability. At what point does a child become responsible for his/her sin? And, if there is an age when they do become accountable for their sin, what about the sins they commit before they reach that age?

I don’t care to discuss these questions here, but simply use them to give us a basis for understanding prevenient grace!

The grace that goes before [prevenient grace] is a way of understanding how God can accept a child who sins without knowing fully or understanding fully that it is displeasing to God!  It is a manifold expression of the goodness and kindness of God! 

If we can accept this plausible situation, then it is also a small step for us to believe that God’s marvelous grace also may go before us in cases of inadvertent sins! 

These might be represented as times when our guard is down, when we’re overly weary and depleted, when we’re depressed, when we’re remarkably stressed, etc., etc..

Is it so hard to believe that our amazing God would care so much for us that He would create a special provision for those who follow Him closely and seriously?

Is it a stretch to think that – out of His great love for us – He would create a caveat of grace that would go before us to secure our commitment of faithfulness to Him?

The fourth verse of the most famous hymn of all time [Amazing Grace] seems to speak of this kind of grace:

The Lord has promised good to me,
his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.

It seems perfectly fitting to me that the depths of His measureless grace are so designed to go ahead of His most committed and faithful followers to protect them from the effects of incidental sins.

If He made provision for them in His ‘Old Covenant’, wouldn’t He likewise make provision for them in His ‘New Covenant’?

_______________________________ 

Kind and Gracious God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

Thank You for manifesting Your amazing, marvelous, generous, free, abundant, prevenient, wonderful, matchless grace!

How like You to make such a provision for us!

We don’t want to take advantage of Your grace!

However, we are SO THANKFUL for it!

Where would we be without it?

We don’t deserve it – we’re well aware of that!

It is clearly a gift You provide for us as a result of Your benevolence and love!

Our part seems to be two-fold:

First to be grateful for Your provision!

Second, to not take unhealthy advantage of Your provision!

Help us in both of these areas, Gracious God –

That we might honor Your purposes and enter into Your eternal rewards!

AMEN.

PENTECOST!

Compared to Christmas and Easter, only a very small portion of people will recognize today as a holy day of celebration.  I haven’t seen any flyers for ‘Pentecost Sales’. I haven’t noticed any ‘doves’ or ‘flames of fire’ hanging from the trees of my neighbors. The stores and restaurants haven’t been any more crowded than normal.

Let’s face it, for the majority of people – Christian or not Christian – this is just another Sunday.

Some churches will call attention to this day and the 2^nd chapter of Acts. Others may not.

So, what does this day represent? Why is it important?

It signaled the arrival of the new leader of the Church! The Third Person of the Trinity – the Holy Spirit – arrived with a grand demonstration of His power and presence!

Make no mistake, this is the same God who led Israel through the trials of the Old Testament! This was the same Jesus who arrived in a manger, grew up to become a great Teacher, performed miracles, healed people, preached messages, raised the dead, and laid His life down as the perfect sacrifice for our sin!

Pentecost triggers the full realization of a triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit! It took the New Testament Church four hundred years to sort this all out and understand it. They were kind enough to pass it along to us – and all generations!

God exists in three Persons that are equal, completely unified, have all existed for eternity. Once they came to more fully understand these truths, they passed them on to us in the form of a confession we know as The Apostle’s Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
      creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

      who was conceived by the Holy Spirit

      and born of the virgin Mary.

      He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

      was crucified, died, and was buried;

      he descended to hell.

      The third day he rose again from the dead.

      He ascended to heaven

      and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

      From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

      the holy catholic* church,

      the communion of saints,

      the forgiveness of sins,

      the resurrection of the body,

      and the life everlasting. Amen.

*that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places

On this day – in the 1^st century – after days of prayer with around 120 people in an upper room in obedience to the clear instructions of Jesus before He ascended into Heaven, something dynamic happened!!!!!!!!

The Holy Spirit showed up – just as Jesus had promised!

On this occasion, He revealed His presence with flames of fire that settled over the heads of those who had been praying together. They ALL heard the sound of a mighty rushing wind, yet there was no wind! They were immediately filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages “by the power the Holy Spirit was giving them.” [Acts 2:4 All quotes from the NCV unless otherwise noted]

They burst out of the room and hit the crowded streets of Jerusalem where they began proclaiming the Gospel to the crowds gathered to celebrate the harvest festival or Feast of Weeks!

At least one very large gathering took place as a result of Peter standing in a prominent place and preaching. His message was clear and simple: “Change your hearts and lives and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” [Acts 2:38]

“About three thousand people were added to the number of believers that day.” [Acts 2:41]

_________________________________

So, what does this day mean to us as followers of Christ?

SOME SUGGESTIONS:

·         We are still and have always been under the direction of a triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

·         We live in the age of the Spirit! It is the Holy Spirit of God that is directing the affairs of the Church today! We might be wise to be praying to Him and seeking His direction in our lives and in our churches!

·         The Holy Spirit is still filling people today!!! When He comes into a person, there is a rejuvenating of that person that awakens them spiritually and charges them with passion for the spiritually lost!

·         The Book of Acts makes it clear that the sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit - in a person’s life and in the Church - is passion for the lost and growth in the Church! 

_____________________________________________

    Holy Spirit Thou art welcome in this place
Holy Spirit Thou art welcome in this place
Omnipotent Father of Mercy and Grace
Thou art welcome in this place!

EXPERIENCING THE PRESENCE OF GOD - 6 [FINAL]

If you’ve followed these blogs about experiencing the presence of God, then you will have realized that this has been an experiential response to the subject and not a biblical or theological attempt to understand it. 

For most people, experiencing God’s presence is not a biblical or theological issue.  It’s experiential!  It’s closer to a sensing, feeling or awareness.  It’s noticeable and memorable!  It’s difficult to describe – yet you realize that it was real!  Frequently – when in a group – others with spiritual sensitivities will also sense it!  Comments will be made:

•         “Wow! The Spirit of God was really here tonight!”
•         “Whew! God drew near today, I could feel His presence!”
•         “The power of God was so real today, you could feel it!”
•         “What a blessed service! God came down!”
•         “I’m glad I didn’t miss this service! The presence of God was amazing!”

My personal experiences of God’s presence certainly aren’t limited to those described in the previous blog articles.

• i’ve experienced His presence many times at Family Camp!
• In the 1980’s and 1990’s I attended a lot of worship conferences where God became real to us!
• Minister’s Conferences were frequently visited by God’s holy presence!
• I’ve participated in small group gatherings where His presence became tangible!
• On my many retreats, I felt His presence and was left in awe!
• While viewing vistas during hikes, I’ve become overwhelmed with awe for God and felt His presence! 

I don’t believe there are limitations to when or where He might make Himself known!  It probably has a great deal to do with our openness and sensitivity! 

When I was very young, I paid particular attention to these times of God’s nearness while I was growing up.  I actually made an acute observation that I’ve never shared before.  I simply noticed that God often drew near when we sang the hymn, “When Peace Like A River”, by Horatio B. Stafford in 1873.  I observed outbreaks of shouting praises to God, humble weeping that prevented people from singing, and raised hands during the singing of this hymn.  To read the remarkable story behind this hymn, follow the link:  

https://steemit.com/steemchurch/@maycoded/when-peace-like-a-river-hymn-amazing-story-behind-the-hymn-you-don-t-wanna-miss-this

God dearly loves us!  He wants to bless His children!  He will make His presence known, if we will simply tune in and yield to the tender work of His Holy Spirit!

May you experience His presence soon and often! 

A SPIRITUAL MRI

Matthew 23:2-3 [The Voice Bible]

“The Pharisees and the scribes occupy the seat of Moses.  So you should do the things they tell you to do – but don’t do the things they do.”

Comment in The Voice Bible:

“Jesus - with the Pharisees listening - uses them as an example of the pious but truly unrighteous.  He calls the people to mind the Pharisee’s words, not their examples, because they talk about righteousness and faithfulness, but they are a faithless and unrighteous crew.”

Some of the most significant evangelical scholars advise us to pay special attention to Jesus’ words to the Pharisees since we – the Church – are likely the ones He would condemn today! 

Ouch!  That hurts!

Do we talk about a way that we do not personally live out or express?  Are we guilty of emphasizing qualities that we don’t actually display through our lives?   Are we the pious but truly unrighteous of our day?  Do we talk the talk, without walking the walk? 

Is this why the American church is in decline and anemic?  Are we posers? 

If there’s any veracity to these hints, we can only correct our posture by aligning our behavior and attitudes with our belief system.  That will likely involve deconstruction! 

It will involve an MRI of our heart, mind and soul!  When and where did we begin to step off the path?  When did we begin to pose?  Where did our path diverge from His path?  When did the desire for affirmation and praise from people displace the desire for the nod of God? 

This kind of introspection can only be made effective through the direction of the Holy Spirit!  The Spirit is the divine detector!  His work in our lives is effortless because it is done from within!  Given the open door to work in our lives, He is like a magnet and will pull all impurities, imperfections, illusions, facades, untruthfulness and pretensions to the surface where they can be confessed, forgiven and eradicated! 

This will not be a pain free process!  We have been far more dependent on these structures than we realize!  They have propped us up and enabled us to survive!  Granted, this was our contrivance to survive and thrive as a respected and revered godly person!  But it was of our own making and not His!  It was a poor substitute for truly living a godly, god-dependent, Spirit-filled life! 

We can do better!  We can live wholer and wholly dependent on Him!  We can avoid self-salvation!  We can – enabled by His Spirit – live dependent on God and truly represent His concerns and purposes! 

And as a result, we can experience peace!  His peace!  The peace that passes understanding!  The peace that rests even in a storm!  The peace that depends fully and completely on God!  Self-abandonment!  Think about that…

OK, GOD, I HEARD YOU!

Do you recognize God's voice when He speaks?

This has been a chronic problem for many people throughout the history of humanity.  

God called Moses up onto the mountain where He then spoke to him like a man speaks with another man.  

And GOD spoke with Moses face-to-face, as neighbors speak to one another.

Exodus 33:11 (TM)

 According to Genesis 17:1 (NIV),

"When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said to Abram, 'I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless.'" 

But by David's time, God had begun speaking through the 'Urim and Thummim' which were gemstones embedded on the priest's garments that allowed David to receive answers from God.   

OK, Hal, that's all well-and-good, but how does God speak today in the 21st century?

Well, there are a number of answers, foremost among them would be through His Word (the Bible).  

But the purpose of this blog is not to address the full subject of the question.  Rather, I'd like to address the inner voice of the Holy Spirit.

We typically think of three ages of revelation of the triune God:

1. The Old Testament period was predominated by God the Father.
2. The Gospels represent a period when Jesus [God Incarnate] came to teach and prepare for the future.
3. The rest of the New Testament explains and illustrates the work/age of the Holy Spirit!

We live in the age of the Holy Spirit!  He directs the work of the Church in accord with the Word of God!

Christ-followers have the capacity of hearing directly from the Holy Spirit because at our salvation, He takes up residence within us!  

But believers have to cultivate the ability to hear the voice of the Spirit!  

This can happen while we're listening to our pastor bring a message on Sunday.  It can also happen when we read from God's Word and suddenly find ourselves sensing the Spirit's direction as we read.  It can happen virtually at any time and in any place if we are open to God and repeatedly obedient when we sense His attempts to direct us.

I know this is a vague subject and especially challenging for newer believers.  

I'm sure that at one time or another, you've looked at a picture of a group - perhaps a large group of people.  As your eyes roll across the scene, you rather quickly pick out people you know.

When we got our dog, Gabe, I trained him to come to my sharp, shrill whistle.  [Please don't be angry with me because of this illustration - it isn't something I do very often.]  One day - in a crowded space - I needed to get Debbie's attention.  So, I gave my Gabe-whistle.  She immediately turned and caught my eye!  :-)  We still laugh about this.  She also recognized my whistle!

The point: As we grow our familiarity with the voice of the Holy Spirit, we will more easily recognize those times when He is trying to get our attention!

Let me illustrate.

Just yesterday I wrote a blog article that had to do with integrity.  I worked on it for several hours before publishing it.  As usual, I re-read it repeatedly to make corrections and improvements.  I felt good about the product.

Today, after writing another blog article and publishing it, I worked on my message for The Foundery this coming Sunday.  Having a good five hours in, I loaded up Gabe in the truck and we went for a ride as a bit of a break [Deb works at Bethel Church library all morning on Wednesdays].

We ran some local, country roads with the windows down.  Gabe - as all dogs do - had his head out the window the whole time.  I simply enjoyed the pastoral views and the warm weather.

Although it's difficult to explain, as I drove, I suddenly heard the voice of the Holy Spirit!  It was crystal clear to me!  He was reminding me of the blog article I had written about integrity.  He took me to a specific area of my life and then simply said, "What about this?  Does this come in line with your understanding of modeling integrity?"  

This illustration is private, however, the area He laid His finger on was not a sin.   It was simply an area where I needed to do some thinking and evaluating.  I knew He was making an attempt to cultivate in me a greater measure of holiness, consistency and witness.  

The last ten minutes of our ride was a deliberation.  

• Did I just hear the voice of the Holy Spirit?
• Is He trying to cultivate a deeper obedience in my life?
• Am I willing to adapt my life in the way He seems to be directing?
• Will this increase my integrity?
• Will making adaptations open me to the greater works of God?

The answer to all the above was 'Yes'.  I knew it!  

And now comes the obedience - the conforming to the will of God for my life!  

___________________________

Can you identify with this?

Have you cultivated the ability to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit?

Are you soft in His hands?

Have you heard from the Holy Spirit lately?  If not, is it because He's not speaking to you?  Or is it because you are not listening carefully?

One of my favorite hymns - written by Adelaide A. Pollard in 1906:

Have thine own way, Lord!

Have thine own way!

Thou art the potter,

I am the clay.

Mold me and make me

after thy will,

while I am waiting,

yielded and still.

Have thine own way, Lord!

Have thine own way!

Hold o'er my being

absolute sway.

Fill with thy Spirit

till all shall see

Christ only, always,

living in me!

IT HAPPENS FROM THE INSIDE OUT!!!!

Luke 3 begins by mentioning the names of seven of the world’s most powerful and influential leaders – including the emperor of the Roman Empire.  Then, the chapter proceeds by announcing that a message from God was received, not by any of these global rulers, but by a man named John.  He was the only son of an elderly couple – a nobody! 

God is full of surprises!  Have you noticed that He never works in the ways we might expect Him to? 

This man, John, began preaching up and down the Jordan River valley to anyone who would listen.  He must have been compelling, because before long crowds began making the journey from the cities and villages into the wilderness to hear his radical message. 

He told them that a dunking in the Jordan didn’t really make any difference.  No!  They had to change their lives!  He debunked their tendency to believe that they were safe because they were descendants of Abraham.  He said:  “What counts is your life.  Is it green and blossoming?  Because if it’s deadwood, it goes on the fire.”  [v.8]

Puzzled, the people asked, “Then what are we supposed to do?”

John responded, “If you have two coats, give one away.  Do the same with your food.”

To the tax collectors, he said:  “No more extortion – collect only what is required by law.”

To soldiers, he said:  “No shakedowns, no blackmail – and be content with your rations.”

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­________________________________

John’s simple, straightforward message hasn’t changed in 2,100 years! 

Choosing to be a God-follower changes your life!  When Jesus is your Lord, your priorities change – RADICALLY! 

Hoarding is replaced by generosity!

Corruption gives way to integrity!

Abusive practices yield to contentment! 

The transformation that takes place in your life is so noticeable that others observe it!  You may be asked, “What’s happened to you?  You’re SO DIFFERENT than you used to be!”  That’s an open door for us to tell them about the way God has changed us.

John actually explains this to his crowds as he makes it clear that he is NOT the Messiah: 

“The main character in this drama, to whom I’m a mere stagehand, will ignite the kingdom life, a fire, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. He’s going to clean house—make a clean sweep of your lives. He’ll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he’ll put out with the trash to be burned.”  [vs.16-17]

Notice that the change that takes place in us is not external;  it is not a result of personal discipline!  Rather, it is a change that is ignited as a result of the Holy Spirit’s work WITHIN US!  It is the power of God through His Holy Spirit that enacts the changes in us – not a regimen of following rules or adhering to a list of laws! 

Our metamorphosis is the direct result of a RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT!  That’s what empowers our new life! 

John had it right and Jesus later reinforced the same truth!  Don’t be deceived by traditions and false messages that come along – even sometimes through the church.  Focus on your relationship with God through His Holy Spirit!  He’s a resource you can trust!   

GET UNDER THEIR UMBRELLA

There's a relatively minor incident recorded in Genesis 26 that needs to be unpacked.  

Isaac was living among the Philistines and had led them to believe that Rebekah was his sister (a blatant lie designed to protect him).  During his time here, God was prospering Isaac.  

But one day Abimelech [a Philistine term that equates with the Egyptian term 'Pharaoh'] saw him being affectionate with Rebekah and figured out that they were married.  He was not happy with Isaac.  

What is this you have done to us?  One of the men might well have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.  [v.10]

Abimelech gave orders:

Anyone who molests this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.  [v.11]

So Isaac and Rebekah remained in the land in safety with the respect of all the people.  And God prospered them significantly!  That same year, they reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him.  [v.12]

Eventually, Isaac became so wealthy that he made himself a threat to the Philistines.  He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him.  [v.14]

As a result, Abimelech said to him, Move away from us;  you have become too powerful for us.  [v.16]

Isaac moved to the Valley of Gerar - where his father, Abraham had previously lived - and settled there.

During this time, God renewed His covenant with Isaac - the same covenant He had made with Abraham:  I am with you;  I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants...  [v.24]

Meanwhile, one day Abimelech showed up along with his personal advisor and the commander of his forces.  He spoke to Isaac:  

We saw clearly that the LORD was with you;  so we said, 'There ought to be a sworn agreement between us - between us and you.  Let us make a treaty with you that you will do us no harm, just as we did not molest you but always treated you well and sent you away in peace.  And now you are blessed by the LORD.'  [vs.28-29]

 After a feast, they made their agreement:  Isaac sent them on their way, and they left him in peace.  [v.31]

______________________________________

I believe this incidental story sends a message:  If and when you find someone who is experiencing the blessing of God - get under their umbrella!

Isaac was clearly experiencing the blessing of God!  Abimelech was enough of a man of faith to recognize that what was happening to Isaac was supernatural.  Abimelech was smart enough to figure it out and act accordingly.  His thinking was:  "I don't want this man as an enemy!  God is clearly favoring him!  I want this man as a friend!"  Then he made a long journey and sought out a treaty to insure that they were in a good relationship.  He realized that he had potentially offended Isaac by asking him to leave.  Smart leader - good-thinking man.

We see illustrations of this principle throughout the scriptures:

• Joshua aligned himself with Moses and learned from him!
• Jonathan saw God's blessing on David and entered into a covenant friendship with David as a result!
• Elisha recognized the Spirit of God at work in Elijah and decided to follow him and eventually to succeed him as a prophet of God.
• Twelve men (and a small group of women) saw something divine in Jesus and gave up everything to be with Him.  
• A long list of men (and some women) noticed the deep commitment of the Apostle Paul and how God was with him and consequently travelled with him.

While I attended seminary at Asbury Theological, I felt like I was walking among spiritual giants.  I spent as much time as I could with leaders like:  Dr. Don Demaray, Dr. Don Joy, Pastor Clyde Van Valin, Dr. Gilbert James and many others.  I watched them.  I learned from them.  I imitated them.  I soaked up some of the blessing that was so evident in their lives.  

Later in life, God moved me to Akron, Ohio, where I aligned myself with Pastor Brenda Young for nearly six years.  I watched her.  I listened carefully to everything she said.  I followed her lead and example.  And I grew as a result!  I stayed under her umbrella until she and God nudged me out into new territory.  :-)

It's a solid principle!  When God brings you into the purview of someone He is blessing - STAY THERE UNTIL HE MOVES YOU ON!

Watch!  Listen!  Submit!  Learn!  Soak in the blessing that has settled on this person!  Let God grow you through their influence and experience.  

VERY IMPORTANT!  Don't worship them!  Worship the God who is blessing them!  God has a plan for your life and He's brought you to this person/place for a reason.  Don't resist or thwart His providential leadership!  Maximize your opportunity.  Stay soft in His hands and let Him work out His perfect will in your life!  FOR HIS GLORY!  AMEN!

HOLY SPIRIT

In I Corinthians 2, the Apostle Paul presents a brief but powerful theology of the Holy Spirit.  The Trinity is one of the most complex parts of our faith to grasp and understand.  Paul does his level best to clarify some issues.  For the record, the Athanasian Creed makes clear what we believe as Christians:

"...we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Essence. For there is one Person of the Father; another of the Son; and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is; such is the Son; and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreated; the Son uncreated; and the Holy Ghost uncreated. The Father unlimited; the Son unlimited; and the Holy Ghost unlimited. The Father eternal; the Son eternal; and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three eternals; but one eternal."

I know, kind of hard to read, having been written in the late fifth century.  But, if you read it, you likely got the idea.  We believe in One God who presents God's self in three Persons:  Father, Son and Holy Spirit!  These three Persons are One!  They are equal!  They had no beginning - wrap your mind around THAT!  They enjoy perfect unity and fellowship.  

Now, here's what Paul clarifies in this chapter:

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

Let me try to put that in 21st century language:

When we speak of our spirit, we are speaking of the essence of ourselves including our inner thoughts that are rarely revealed to others.   God also has a Spirit - part of the Trinity - and this Spirit knows the inner thoughts of God!  Upon our salvation, God makes His Holy Spirit available to us!  How cool is THAT?  This Spirit helps us understand God's Word and how God works in our lives and in His world.  If you don't have this Spirit, you can't possibly understand the things of God!  

I've noticed over the years that people have a penchant for calling on God as "Our Heavenly Father" or "Lord Jesus" and many other similar forms.  But I rarely hear anyone call on the Holy Spirit directly.  Yet, this Spirit of Jesus is the Person of the Trinity who lives and resides within us!  It's not wrong to use the former addresses for God.  However, many of us may be guilty of neglecting the third member of the Trinity.  The One, who in some sense, is closest to us!  Hmmm....

Holy Spirit,

Forgive us for ignoring Your Holy Presence in our hearts and lives!  For whatever reasons, we are guilty of having ignored You, and we never meant to do that!  You are co-eternal with the Father and with Jesus!  You are the third Person of the Trinity!  If we have claimed Christ as our Lord, then You reside within us!  Hallelujah!  Glory to God!  Thank You for coming at Pentecost!  Thank You for the gifts You bring!  Thank You for Your constant presence and protection and guidance!  We love You and want the fullness of Your work to be made manifest in our lives!  Thank You for revealing God to us in such intimate ways!  Thank You for Your faithfulness!  

Help us to call on You and recognize Your work more consistently.  How could we ever live without Your power!  We give You a giant WOO HOO for all that You do for us day in and day out!  

In the name of the Father, Son and HOLY SPIRIT, we pray...Amen.

WHY I’M AMBIVALENT ABOUT LITURGY - Part 1

Part 1 implies that there will be a Part 2.  Be sure to check in tomorrow to hear a contesting of my own thoughts and seek some resolution to the issues raised here today. 

__________________________________________

First, some background.  I was raised in the Free Methodist Church during the fifties and sixties.  No worship teams – unless the pianist, organist and song leader counts as one.  We enjoyed the ‘song service’ and then came the preaching and invitation.  It was simple;  freestyle.

I attended Asbury Theological Seminary for three years (1973-76 but did not graduate).  It was dominated by United Methodists (although they had a Free Methodist president for a spell).  I began to become acquainted with a more liturgical form of worship.  It was ‘comfortable’ and ‘reasonable’.  I enjoyed it and found that it had potential to add meaning and value to worship.

After a few years in the ministry, I saw the need to complete my seminary education.  Going back to ATS with my family was not a viable option.  Instead, I enrolled at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and attended for the next eight years completing my Master of Divinity degree.  These years the seminary was definitively split between four theological perspectives:  feminist theology (my classes usually had more females than males), liberation theology, process theology and Calvinistic theology.  It was like being in a free-fall before opening one’s parachute.  I told my superintendent at the time not to let just any FM candidate attend this liberal school. 

I encountered a newer level of liturgy in worship at PTS.  I experimented with it in the FM church I was leading at that time.  I found no strong backlash – people generally accepted the forms as I offered them. 

From 1990 – 1992, I attended the Franciscan University of Steubenville where I attained my M.A. Counseling.  Liturgy took a new leap in this charismatic Catholic environment!  I worshiped in this community every day that I attended classes (Noon Mass).  I became comfortable with the scriptures, responses and prayers.  My classmates seemed to enjoy seeing my responses to a different way of doing things. 

In 1997, through a turn of events too complicated to explain here, I ended up on staff at the Cornerstone Church (formerly FM) in Akron, OH.  This congregation was growing extremely fast under new (female leadership).  She estimated that 75% of the congregants were first-time-believers;  UNHEARD OF!  I would describe it as respectful chaos.  These people were new to church life and didn’t know how they were supposed to behave and respond.  Baptisms were met with hoots and hollering and exuberant applause and shouts.  People stepped into the aisles during the worship time to move to the music and express their joy!  Pastor Brenda Young’s messages were riveting and instructional!  Liturgy was not a word that anyone there would recognize.  It was COMMON. 

I deliberately tried to replicate this when I went to the New Middletown FMC.  The church grew and prospered with very little liturgy – although I did use some (especially regarding Holy Communion).  Worship was vibrant;  the church was nearly always full;  new converts were coming to faith! 

To finish the story, I’m now worshiping in an Evangelical Presbyterian congregation.  Sunday worship is TOTALLY predictable!  It reminds me of going to my daughter's new church in Connecticut.  As we took our seats and the worship team went to the front, my grandson leaned toward me and said:  “Poppy, there’ll be three songs, a prayer, the offering and announcements and the message.”  He nailed it!

There’s a creative gene somewhere in my DNA.  I like to keep people guessing.  I love to change things up.  There were a number of times that I opened the service of worship by preaching and then brought the worship team up to lead us.  Back in the days of Sunday night services, Martha Anderson once said to me:  “You know what I like about you, pastor?  When we come to church on Sunday nights, we never know where you’re going to have us meet!” 

I just read an incredible story in Jim Cymbala’s book, FRESH FAITH:  What Happens when Real Faith Ignites God’s People, (chapter five).  He speaks of enjoying the ministry of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, when suddenly he felt an impulse to get up and give his message.  He thought:  “…maybe I’m just getting a little emotional.  Or maybe Satan was tempting me into some kind of weird behavior.”  “Then I thought, my goodness we haven’t even taken the offering yet!  This isn’t the time to preach and give an invitation;  that comes at the end of a meeting, not this early.” 

Shortly after, he states:  “ I felt that if I did not respond I would be grieving the Holy Spirit.  I silently prayed, ‘God, I don’t want to fail You by not doing Your will.  I’m going up there at the end of this song.  Somehow stop me if I’m wrong.”

The choir and director (his wife, Carol) were obviously surprised when he stepped into the pulpit.  He gave a ten minute message and an invitation.  Dozens responded from across the auditorium.  The sound of weeping could be heard as people repented of their sins and embraced Christ.  After they prayed with every person, they simply resumed their worship where it had been interrupted. 

That week, a man called the church office asking for sheet music for a song the choir had sung on Sunday.  After a discussion with Jim’s daughter, he asked her to give Jim a message:

My family and I were just on a visit to New York for the weekend.  We have a nineteen-year-old son who has totally hardened to the things of the Lord.  We brought him up to be a Christian, but he has drifted away…

On this trip, we invited him to come with us.  I promised him we would enjoy the city together, but our real plan was to bring him to your church in hopes that God would somehow reach him.

On Sunday, as we took a cab to your church for the afternoon service, I checked our tickets and realized I’d made a terrible mistake.  We wouldn’t be able to stay for the whole thing.

But then early in the service your dad walked up to the platform and started to share the gospel.  Suddenly my son was standing up with the others and heading for the altar!  He broke down before the Lord, calling out to God for forgiveness.  When he came back to his seat, he was a different person.

This has been the most incredible transformation that you could ever imagine.

I know;  this could have just as easily happened in a liturgical church.  I get that.  But, I feel it would be less likely to occur in a liturgical church.  The liturgy tends to dominate.  We depend on it instead of the Holy Spirit to direct us to God. 

Don’t get me wrong;  I’m not anti-liturgical.  I’ve tried to clarify that above.  Given my personality, my love for creativity and my affection for unpredictability – I get bored pretty quickly with the same old format repeated  every week. 

OK, now let’s talk about something else – like saying the Lord’s Prayer together in worship.  😉   No, no, no, you’ve had enough of my opinions for one day…

THE CONTINUITY OF GOD'S WORD

I love the continuity of God's Word!  

Let me cite two examples from where I'm reading today in Matthew 16-17.

In verses 13-20, Jesus asked His disciples Who do people say the Son of Man is?  [v.13]

They give Him several answers:  John the Baptist (raised from the dead), Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.

Then He asks:  Who do you say that I am?  [v.15]

No gap, no hesitation.  Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  [v.16]

Jesus is very pleased with Peter's answer and gives him a huge Atta-boy!  

In the scripture, the very next thing to happen is for Jesus to announce for the very first time:  that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.  [v.21]

No gap, no hesitation.  Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.  "Never, Lord!"  he said.  "This shall never happen to you!"  [v.22]

Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan!  You are a stumbling block to me;  [v.23]  In the New English Bible He continues by saying, "You think as men think, not as God thinks."  

So much for the atta-boy!

Can you believe the progression of these events as recorded by Matthew?  

This passage illustrates why so many people identify with Peter so strongly.  He's brash, impulsive, outspoken, bold, courageous, and frequently in trouble.  All of this makes him one of our favorite New Testament characters.

______________________________

Jesus follows his correction of Peter with a brief monologue that is filled with powerful images and teaching!  Few have genuinely explored the depth of meaning and impact of His words here:  [vs.24-27]

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Let's focus on that last (underlined) verse.  It ends chapter 16.  Do you remember what opens chapter 17?  The story of Jesus taking Peter, James and John up a high mountain by themselves.  [v.1]

There he was transfigured before them.  His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.  Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.   [vs.2-3]

Remember, He had just previously (in scripture) said that some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.

Six days later (but immediately in the scripture) three of those who were standing there that day got to see Jesus in all His glory on the Mount of Transfiguration!  You gotta love it!

_______________________________

These are just two examples of the continuity of God's Word.  There are MANY more!  The Word is God's love gift to His people!  We are to treasure it in our hearts the same way that Mary treasured things in her heart [Luke 2:19].  There are daily delights tucked away in this book for us!  The same Holy Spirit who inspired the original writers is in you (if you love and serve Jesus).  This Holy Spirit will open the Word of God to you personally and inspire and instruct you!  Do you believe it?  Give Him a chance by opening the Word today!