Author: scott

Is Anyone Suffering?

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13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. – James 5:13

Wise Guy

The Book of James is often referred to as the Proverbs of the New Testament.  In this short Book, James, the half brother of Jesus, focuses on practical Christian living.  Under the conviction that faith without works is dead (James 2:17), James encourages Christians to live like Christians.  He is not interested in mere words; he desires action.  According to James we must not deceive ourselves.  We must be doers of the Word and not hearers only (James 1:22-23).

For James, if our faith doesn’t result in real life change, it is a worthless faith.  Using very sobering words, James reminds us that even the demons believe in God and shudder (James 2:19), but their “faith” isn’t going to save them.  In fact, he likens such faith to a body without a spirit (James 2:26).  Dead.

James isn’t simply speaking in theoretical terms.  He once walked the path of unbelief.  Before the resurrection of Jesus, James did not believe that his half brother was the Messiah (John 7:6).  In fact, before James’ spiritual eyes were opened, he might have been among those who thought Jesus was “out of His mind” (Mark 3:21).  But James would soon come around!

Wisdom may come in small steps, but it always takes the path of prayer (James 1:5).

Oh Brother

James may not have been a believer during the life of Jesus, but you would have to suspect that living with Him under the same roof for the better part of three decades would have left an impression on him.  While the sinless nature of Christ may have been rather convicting at times, James must have certainly been moved by the humility, selflessness and sincere love of Jesus.

How much of the Angelic encounters and the unique birth of Jesus did Joseph and Mary share with their other children?  Certainly they heard rumors that Jesus was conceived out of wedlock (John 8:41).  How would James reconcile the claims of his parents and the “evidence” offered by the skeptics?

James may not have been a believer during the life of his half brother, but his cynicism was no match for the death and resurrection of Jesus.  After the resurrected Christ appeared to James (1 Cor. 15:7), there was no going back.  James was no longer a doubting half brother; he was forever to be a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ (James 1:1).

Suffering

James addresses his book to the Jews who are dispersed.  The twelve tribes were subjected to great trials, so accordingly, James encourages them to look at the positive aspects of their suffering.  In fact he tells them to count it all joy.

I have written so often about suffering that I was reluctant to do so again.  But unfortunately it is a subject we cannot get away from.  We are surrounded by so many hurting people.  Friends who have lost a baby.  Coworkers who have lost a spouse.  A classmate who was just diagnosed with stage four cancer.  The trials are never ending.  Sadly, for many, the suffering is most intense during the Christmas season.

In A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens reminds us that during the Christmas season, “Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices.” Those that lack are reminded of their lack and those that have will revel in their abundance.  For many, it is hard to be joyous when there is an empty chair at the feast.  The lights lose their glimmer and the music isn’t as uplifting without our loved ones to share them with.  For many that have so long rejoiced in abundance, want is difficult to embrace.

Is anyone among you suffering?  Let him pray.

Prayer

Doesn’t James’ advice seem like an oversimplification? He doesn’t tell the suffering to get counseling.  He doesn’t tell them to take a drug, or in his day grab the wine bottle.  Nor does he tell them to record their feelings in a journal. No mention is made of a self help group or group therapy.  James’ primary concern for the suffering is to go to Heaven’s throne in prayer.

As is evidenced by his epistle, James believed in the power of prayer.  And He modeled what he preached.  Because of his piety, James was often referred to as “James the Just.”  Because of his prayer life, he became known as “The Man with Camel’s Knees.”

As he interceded on behalf of the saints, James would pray on his knees.  Because he spent so much time kneeling in prayer, his knees became calloused like a camel’s.

Why would James spend so much time in prayer?  Why would he encourage those that are suffering to pray?  James understood the test of trials.  He understood that suffering is much greater than an empty chair at the table and it’s corresponding emotions.  Although James has a lot to say about suffering and prayer, we must not lose sight of the bigger picture.  Ultimately, James is concerned about faith.  Real faith.  Faith that perseveres.

Faith

It is easy to celebrate Christmas when all is well.  It is easy to praise God when we are being showered by His blessings.  But how do we respond when we are faced with our first Christmas without a loved one?  How real is our faith when we have to bury a child?  I am not trying to be insensitive. These are tests we have personally faced and are facing now.  This is real life.  This is exactly what James is writing about.

The sharp edges of real life are often used to expose real faith.  Or the lack thereof.

Before he tells the suffering to pray, James warns his audience not to swear.  Not to make oaths.  It appears, in the context, that James is promoting prayer as an alternative to swearing.  Ultimately, our suffering fleshes out our unbelief or our faith.  James understands the spiritual implications.

Because he has seen the resurrected Christ, James encourages us to pray.  Like wisdom, faith often comes in small steps.  But in His wisdom, God grows it by taking it through the fire of suffering, and not around it.

Is anyone among you suffering?  Let him pray.  Not that God would remove the suffering, but that we would have the strength to endure it.  When suffering comes your way don’t shake your fist at God.  Don’t blame Him for being unfair.  Humble yourself and get on your knees and approach His throne in prayer.

Save your fists for clinging to your Faith.  In the final analysis it is the most precious possession you have.  And may you rejoice in your Abundance this Christmas.

As James can testify, that Babe in the manger rose from the dead.  That is the foundation of our Faith.

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. – James 1:12

A Mother’s Prayer

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5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. – 2 Timothy 1:5

Sincere Faith

The Apostle Paul once referred to Satan as the “god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4).  Satan, the father of lies, has spawned a worldview that is leading many people to Hell.  According to Paul, Satan has blinded the unbelieving so that they can not see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ.  Having successfully veiled the Gospel from those who are perishing, he has been embraced by the them as their god.

As Paul writes to Timothy, his spiritual son (1 Timothy 1:2), he commends him for his faith.  A faith that Paul says is sincere.  In Paul’s estimation Timothy’s faith was unfeigned and untainted with hypocrisy.  It was a faith that could withstand testing.  It was a faith that flowed from the wellspring of a regenerated heart.

Although Paul referred to Timothy as his spiritual son, his sincere faith actually came from two Godly women.  Women who did not embrace the god of this world but faithfully embraced the Gospel of the glory of Christ.

Believing Mothers

Today’s text is the only portion of Scripture that mentions the names of Timothy’s grandmother Lois and mother Eunice.  Two Jewish ladies who embraced the Christian faith.  All we are told about Timothy’s biological father is that he was a Greek (Acts 16:1).  In contrast to his wife, Scriptures do not tell us that Timothy’s father believed the Gospel.

Being raised in a home with the guidance of a Jewish grandmother and mother who embraced Christianity and a Greek father who did not must have presented certain challenges. I suspect young Timothy loved each of his parents as well as his grandmother, but how did he reconcile the differences in their teachings and lifestyles?

Thankfully, Lois and Eunice used the Scriptures to pierce Satan’s veil.

 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. – 2 Timothy 3:14-15

I suspect that a feigned faith cannot be passed down since it would most likely produce rebellion.  But how comforting to know that God’s profitable Word, when used for training, yields a sincere faith (2 Timothy 3:16).  And how much more powerful is the training when it is bathed in a mother’s prayers?

History Lessons

People like to remind us that “behind every great man is a great woman”.  Certainly, when we look at the history of the Christian church we will see that behind many of its great men were mothers who were faithful prayer warriors.

When we think of Augustine, we think of him as a Church “Father”, but how different things might have been if not for his mother Monica.  As a teenager, Augustine not only was unsaved, but he lived a life of open rebellion.  He not only fulfilled his lusts, but in time he also become involved with a heretical religious group (Manichaeism).  While Augustine’s father was battling his own demons, his mother was fervently praying for his salvation.

As Augustine pursued his pleasures, he ran from the influence of his mother.  Yet, regardless of how far he ran, he could not outrun Monica’s prayers.  And she was committed to wrestling with God until Augustine was saved.

Eventually, Monica had a dream that Augustine would be saved.  And years later, he was.  By the grace of God, Monica was allowed to live to see him baptized, soon after which she was taken home.  Content.

History is replete with many such accounts.  The biographies of men such as John Newton, Hudson Taylor, Charles Spurgeon, John and Charles Wesley and others give powerful testimonies of the way their lives were shaped because of the influence of their Godly mothers.  Mothers who were selflessly devoted to praying for the souls of their children.

Love Lessons

How powerful is love?  What is more powerful than the perfect love of God?  Heavenly love sent Jesus to earth and Cavalry.  Sincere love for others is the fulfillment of the Law (Romans 13:8).  True love never ends (1 Cor. 13:8).

The Bible certainly has a lot to say about love.  Unfortunately the “god” of this world likes to distort our perception of Biblical love.  But when I compare scriptures with life’s experiences I have to wonder:  This side of heaven is there a better picture of God’s love for us than a mother’s love for her children?

When God wanted to illustrate His love for the Israelites, He posed this question.

15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? – Isaiah 49:15

God understands that humanity recognizes the tender love of a mother for her children.  A love we must never take for granted.

No Quit

Too often we see children dismiss the teachings of their mothers.  We often see disrespect manifested in facial expressions such as rolled eyes or condescending verbal responses.   Like Augustine, children may disregard the admonishments of their mothers, but escaping the reach of their prayers is another matter.

Once, when Jesus tried to get away from the crowds to relax with His disciples, He was barraged by the requests of a mother.  A mother whose child was a victim of one of Satan’s demons.  Her mother’s heart could not bear to see her child suffering.

This woman was Greek, and not Jewish, but a mother’s love for her children is part of her nature irrespective of nationality.  Because of her faith, Jesus eventually granted the mother’s request and healed her daughter (Mark 7:24-30).

Similarly, Jesus taught the importance of persisting in prayer when He told the parable of the widow and the judge in Luke chapter 18.  Although the judge in the parable did not fear God or respect man, he could not endure the persistent requests of the widow and eventually gave her justice.  Always pray and never give up!

Rewards

I am thankful for the special God given love of a mother for her children.  I am convinced that we will never know the extent to which the world has been influenced by Godly mothers until we reach Heaven.  And I am confident of one thing, Hell has been denied a lot of citizens because of the faithful, persistent prayers of believing mothers.  Mothers like Lois, Eunice, Monica, Elizabeth Newton, Amelia Taylor, Eliza Spurgeon, and Susanna Wesley.

Keep the faith.  The world may not know your name, but God remembers your prayers.

I am not trying to diminish the sovereignty of God, but He does use humans to carry out His will.  Accordingly, I am convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt He uses the faithful prayers of His children in bringing lost sheep into the fold.  I am even more convinced, that the most urgent prayers for the lost fall from the lips of mothers.  Lips that pray for their children as Hannah prayed for a son (1 Samuel 1:9-11).

Never give up on your children.  Never stop pleading with God.  Our loving Heavenly Father has a long history of granting the requests of loving Godly mothers.  It was His perfect plan to plant within mothers such a special love in the first place.  How many Saints in Heaven will testify that the father of lies was thwarted by a mother’s prayers?

Spurgeon Quotes

“It was the custom on Sunday evenings, while we were yet little children, for her to stay at home with us, and then we sat round the table, and read verse by verse, and she explained the Scripture to us. After that was done, then came the time of pleading; there was a little piece of Alleine’s Alarm, or of Baxter’s Call to the Unconverted, and this was read with pointed observations made to each of us as we sat round the table; and the question was asked, how long it would be before we would think about our state, how long before we would seek the Lord. Then came a mother’s prayer, and some of the words of that prayer we shall never forget, even when our hair is grey.”  Charles Spurgeon

“Now, Lord, if my children go on in their sins, it will not be from ignorance that they perish, and my soul must bear a swift witness against them at the day of judgment if they lay not hold of Christ.” Eliza Spurgeon

“Never could it be possible for any man to estimate what he owes to a godly mother. Certainly I have not the powers of speech with which to set forth my valuation of the choice blessing which the Lord bestowed on me in making me the son of one who prayed for me, and prayed with me. How can I ever forget her tearful eye when she warned me to escape from the wrath to come?… How can I ever forget when she bowed her knee, and with her arms about my neck, prayed, ‘Oh, that my son might live before Thee!’” – Charles Spurgeon

Taylor Quote

“My beloved, now sainted mother, had come over to Liverpool to see me off. Never shall I forget that day, nor how she went with me into the cabin that was to be my home for nearly six long months. With a mother’s loving hand she smoothed the little bed. She sat by my side and joined in the last hymn we should sing together before parting. We knelt down and she prayed—the last mother’s prayer I was to hear before leaving for China. Then notice was given that we must separate, and we had to say good-bye, never expecting to meet on earth again.

For my sake she restrained her feelings as much as possible. We parted, and she went ashore giving me her blessing. I stood alone on deck, and she followed the ship as we moved toward the dockgates. As we passed through the gates and the separation really commenced, never shall I forget the cry of anguish wrung from that mother’s heart. It went through me like a knife. I never knew so fully, until then, what “God so loved the world” meant. And I am quite sure my precious mother learned more of the love of God for the perishing in that one hour than in all her life before.”  Hudson Taylor

Augustine Quote

“You sent down your help from above and rescued my soul from the depths of this darkness because my mother, your faithful servant, wept to you for me, shedding more tears for my spiritual death than other mothers shed for the bodily death of a son.”  Augustine

Heaven’s Table

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8 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” – Revelation 21:8

Why Worry?

Amazing the ideas that come to our minds when we think of Hell.  When I was a freshman in High School there was this “joke” on the wall in the art room that was placed there by one of the students.  Unfortunately, it very well summarizes the philosophy of too many.  It was simply entitled, “Why Worry”.

Why Worry

There are only two things to worry about:
Either you are well or you are sick.

If you are well, then there is nothing to worry about.

But if you are sick, then there are only two things to worry about:
Either you will get well or you will die.

If you get well, there is nothing to worry about.
But if you die, then there are only two things to worry about:
Either you will go to heaven or hell.

If you go to heaven, there is nothing to worry about.

But if you go to hell,
You’ll be so darn busy shaking hands with friends
You won’t have time to worry!

So why worry?

The world may consider this to be a clever joke, but it is no laughing matter.  We have no right to make light of something the Bible takes so seriously.  Sadly, as evidenced by this twisted philosophy, many people mock what the Bible records about Hell.  People like Ted Turner have gone on record as saying they cannot wait to die and go to Hell.  To people like him Hell will be one big party.  Unfortunately their idea of Hell must come from Satan, the father of lies, because the Bible never paints such a portrait of Hell.

Roll Call

When John has his vision of Heaven as recorded in the Book of Revelation, he records the above words about the lake of fire and the second death spoken by Him who is seated on the throne.  Argument could be made that either this is God the Father or Jesus, regardless, the speaker has more authority on the subject of Hell than anyone else.  Certainly, what He has to say doesn’t line up with the philosophy of the author of “Why Worry” or the likes of Ted Turner.

According to Revelation, Hell will be populated with the likes of the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars.  While I don’t believe this list was by any means meant to be exhaustive, it does give us a “flavor” of what the population of Hell will be like.  Certainly not people I would longingly anticipate shaking hands with and spending eternity with.  Nor would I want to party with these people if I was the partying type.  But I am not Ted Turner.

Jesus had strong words for the cowardly.  Those that denied Him before men He would in turn deny before the Father (Matt. 10:33).  The fate of the faithless was no better as Jesus warned in John 8:24.  Who wants to die in their sins?  Similarly, we could quote Bible verses about the detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, etc.   But the simple question is this:  if these people will forever be banned from the presence of God why would we think we would want to spend eternity with them?

Heaven’s Table

11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven – Matt. 8:11

When Jesus wanted to correct the Sadducees regarding the resurrection, which they did not believe in, He quoted Exodus chapter three verse six in which God tells Moses that He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Since God is not the God of the dead but of the living, these Patriarchs, although physically deceased, must still be alive.  What a hope for the troubled Jews to know that someday they could fellowship at Heaven’s table with such “giants”.

But how about you?  We can cringe at the “worlds” mockery of Hell and the afterlife, but how real are the promises of Heaven to you?  Set aside the streets of gold and the beauty of Heaven for a moment.  Are you looking forward to the companionship that we as believers will have there?

In addition to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob we will be reclining with Moses, Daniel and Paul.  If that doesn’t get you excited how about Spurgeon, Moody and Taylor?  Okay, so we have never met these people, so let’s get personal.  How about your grandparents?  Maybe your father or mother?  Perhaps you have a sibling or a child waiting at Heaven’s table for you to join them.  We have all buried loved ones that we want to see again.

I am not interested in Hell’s roll call.  I want nothing to do with sorcerers, idolaters, liars or any others that Christ deems unworthy to enter His kingdom.  Give me the “society” of Heaven where we will forever enjoy the purest fellowship of the Redeemed, and most importantly, the fellowship of the Redeemer.

With Christ

23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. – Philippians 1:23

The great Apostle Paul, as gifted as he was, and as vital as he was to the church, had no unhealthy attachments to the world.  As much as Paul found joy and fulfillment in serving Christ here on earth, it could not compare with being in His presence in Heaven.  Hence his verdict that to be with Christ is far better.

I am excited that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will be reclining at Heaven’s table.  It intrigues me to think of meeting the giants of the faith that we have read and heard about for years.  Imagine meeting people like Rahab, Ruth and Mary Magdalene.  The testimonies of the power and grace of God would never get old.  Just think of listening to the woman at the well as recorded in John chapter four or the woman caught in adultery as recorded in John chapter eight.  What a thrill it would be to hear them talk about their encounters with Jesus.  Do you take for granted your encounter with Him?

Forgive me for repeating myself, but I cringe when I hear people say that Heaven has become a better place once their loved ones have passed from this life and entered Heaven’s fold.  Heaven is Heaven because it is the perfect home of the Trinity.  The fact that our loved ones are now reclining at Heaven’s table doesn’t make it any better, it just makes this world’s hold on us weaker.  Which is how it should be.

Don’t Worry

Perhaps, like Paul, you are feeling hard pressed.  The pressures you feel may not be the same ones that Paul was experiencing but they are crushing you nonetheless.  Hold onto the Truth, don’t give into the world’s philosophies.  God loves you with a perfect love.  He is all powerful and He is sovereign.  His promises are eternal.

Nothing will ever separate you from His love, and He will work out all things for your good.  In the final analysis there is really only one thing to worry about: dying in your sins and having your portion in the lake of fire which is the second death.

But, if you have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, the abundant life is yours to experience and Heaven is your home.  There are many saints reclining there awaiting your arrival.  But most importantly, Jesus is there waiting for you with open arms.  His scars are His testimony that because of His love, ultimately His children have nothing to worry about.

Enjoy your time at the table.  It will never end.

27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. – Revelation 21:27

Hell

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9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might -2 Thessalonians 1:9

50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. – Matthew 13:50

Time

I’m not sure how long I have been here.  It could be a day, a week, or perhaps years since I was buried and then brought here.  But if I am going to spend all of eternity here what difference does it make how much time has elapsed since I arrived?  All I know is I want relief.

In life, I rejected the abundant living water that Christ offered (John 7:37).  Water that would forever satisfy my spiritual thirst (John 4:13).  Now like the rich man of Jesus’ parable, I long for a drop of water from the tip of Lazarus’ finger for a moments respite from my anguish (Luke 16:24).

My life on earth was truly a vapor as the Bible says.  Death came too quickly.  It always does.  If only I had the sense to redeem the short time I was allotted.  But like too many, I lived each day as if tomorrow was guaranteed.  Now I know that two of the few guarantees for mankind are death and eternity.

The most important question one can address in life is where he will spend eternity.  Oh, why didn’t I see that when my lungs still contained the breath of life?  Why did I chase temporal pleasures?

Passions

In life, I flattered myself with the notion that I made a lot of sacrifices in the name of morality.  In actuality, I was feeding the fire of my lusts and passions.  Just as my tongue will never experience the relief of a drop of water, neither will my passions be assuaged in Hell.

In my worldliness, how much time did I waste developing passions and desires for which there is no gratification in hell?  Did I not understand that the desires we build on earth will follow us to the grave?  No wonder we are told to set our minds (affections) on things above (Col 3:1-2).  But I didn’t heed the Truth.  Accordingly, eternal torment is my lot.  Instead of fulfillment, I will only know frustration.

Now I know why the Bible warns against the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life (1 John 2:16).  Like the Proverb (30:16) says, a fire is never satisfied.  It always wants more to burn.  And such are the passions of men.

Why did I never learn that the flesh is never satisfied?  The harder I ran after my pursuits, the more elusive they became.  Now I know that the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life are just more of Satan’s means of keeping us preoccupied with ungodly things.

Torment

When I was granted the ability to retain my awareness until my burial, I thought I was being done a favor.  Now I recognize that it was just another way of the enemy of my soul to torment me.

He knew that the affection and the kind words that were being shown towards me would only serve as reminders of what I would forever be denied here in Hell.  Never again will I be able to show my love for those so dear to me or enjoy their fellowship.  Hell is no place for relationships.

The awful groaning and cries remind me that others are present, but the thick darkness denies me a sight of the sources.  I know this place is full of other sufferers like myself, but there is no company in this misery.  Despite the foolish caricatures painted about hell among the living, those that occupy it know it is no place for frivolity.  Certainly, it is not a place conducive to parties.

Don’t believe the Devil’s lies.  Hell is real.  The torment is unbearable.  Hope and joy do not abide here.  Nor will you ever find peace here.  Bodily anguish, agonized consciences, and frustrated passions do not produce such fruit.  If only I had recognized the seeds I was casting when I walked the earth.

Eyes

It is said that God is omnipresent.  I have been told that even here in the pit of Hell I cannot escape His presence.  But this is no consolation to me.  In fact, like the memories of my loved ones, it only serves as another form of torment.  In fact, it is the worst torment.

Like all of mankind, I was created to have an intimate relationship with my Creator.  My purpose was to bring Him glory.  Forever.  Instead, I am in Hell’s darkness, forever denied an opportunity to fellowship with my Creator.  To think that His loving eyes are upon me only brings me shame.  He sent His only Son to die for me and I died in unbelief.

I am without excuse.

My sins sent Jesus to the cross.  On the cross, Jesus bore my punishment.  His blood was shed to appease a Righteous God for my sins.  But placing my faith in Him sounded too simple.  Rather than placing my faith in the finished work of Christ, I chose to rely on my own works and good deeds.

Now I realize that God placed before me the choice between life and death (Deut. 30:19).  Because I did not embrace Christ, by default I chose death.  Instead of hearing God tell me, “Well done good and faithful servant”, I will forever suffer the shame of rejecting His love.  Whether His righteous gaze is actually on me in this place is irrelevant.  The shame that I feel is real.  And I will never escape it.

Plea

Don’t share my fate.  Stay away from this place.  Although my fate is set in stone, for you there is still hope.  I am not trying to “scare” you into salvation.  I believe love is a greater motivator than fear, and I am doing the most loving thing that I can; sharing truth with you.  Truth that has eternal consequences.

It is not a cruel man that warns others of impending danger, but a loving man.  Please heed my warning!!

Death and eternity are two guarantees.  And death will come quickly.  It always does.  Tomorrow may not be guaranteed, but your salvation can be.  Now is a favorable time, now is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2).  Stop feeding your worldly passions and set your mind on things above.

It is time to place your treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:19), beginning with your soul.  Place your faith in Christ, and Christ alone.  Don’t die in unbelief as I did.  I have just given you the warning I wish someone would have made more clear to me.  Trust me.  You would rather spend eternity in the presence of God and His saints with praise on your lips than experiencing the weeping and gnashing of teeth in the unbearable heat and loneliness of Hell.

Hell is real.  And only Jesus can keep you from it.

12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” – Acts 4:12

Summer is Ended

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20 “The harvest is past, the summer is ended,
    and we are not saved.” – Jeremiah 8:20

Dirt

Today I was buried.  It is a day I was destined for since I took my first breath but never really thought of as something imminent.  Who wants to go through life thinking about death?

But here I lay.

It is an eerie thing to hear dirt being thrown on your own casket.  But I can hear it.  From the confines of my casket, it is muffled, but I can hear it none the less.  One tender handful at a time the dirt makes its six-foot drop, symbolic of the origin and destiny of every man.

As the dirt bounces off the casket I know my family and friends will disperse and the machinery will come in to finish filling in my grave.  Perhaps I will feel the earth shake as the backhoe finishes this somber task.  Seems like such an impersonal way to lay a person to rest.  But filling in a grave one handful at a time isn’t efficient.

My how I will miss holding those precious hands of my loved ones that are now committing my body back to the earth.  Perhaps they will drop a few flowers to adorn my casket before they leave.  I always had a preference for carnations but a few roses would suffice.

Light

Once my vault is enclosed and my grave is filled it will be time for me to “move on”.  Such was the agreement I made with the light that spoke to me before I took my last earthly breath.

It was such a comforting and understanding light that reassured me as my earthly life was closing.  God knows I needed it.

Knowing my fears, the light promised me I could retain my earthly awareness until my body was laid to rest and my grave completed.  After that, I was promised bliss.

Once I greedily accepted the few extra days I had to laugh at myself.  After all, while I had good health and so much to live for how many days had I foolishly “wasted”?  Oh well, I can’t relive the past, but what I have heard the past three days makes me wish for a do-over.

Voices

As my family was gathered around me for my “passing”, I was moved by the many kind words.  Not only were the words pleasant to my ears, but I was surprised by the humility and openness with which they were expressed.

Tears flowed with no shame.  Hugs were plentiful.  My family made sure that there was always someone on “duty” to hold my hands.  Love was shown with no reservation.

What it is about human pride, I had to wonder, that too often prevents us from expressing our love for others.  Seems ironic to me that too often we don’t truly show how much we love someone until they are unable to hear us or reciprocate our love.

I went through life not knowing the depth to which I was truly loved.  Why didn’t they say these kind words and shower me with such affections while I was alive and coherent?

Probably for the same reason I didn’t do so with them.

Pride is a powerful enemy.  If we were really granted a do-over would we be any better in our battle against it?  At least the light gave me the assurance that I would see my loved ones again in the afterlife.  Certainly, there we will do better at expressing our love!

Refuge

Well, the grave is filling up.  I can definitely “feel” the backhoe doing its job.  Soon I will be rewarded for my good works.  Rightly so.  I made a lot of sacrifices to live a good life.

Once I enter into eternal bliss I won’t regret all the good times and pleasures I had to forego to please God.  But some of my friends might be in for a surprise.  Some people sure do live with no restraint!!

There is no doubt that when God looks at my life He will be impressed with how much my good outweighed my bad.  Unquestionably, I have been a lot better of a person than many I know.  Some people say that is irrelevant, but the light assured me it was important to God.  And nobody ever spoke to me with the confidence that the light did.

Now I can say I am thankful I was raised a moral, or perhaps I could go so far as to say a religious person.  I make no claims of being perfect, but certainly, I am confident I am good enough to be accepted by a loving God.

Summer

Finally, I see the light approaching me again.  Good thing, I’m starting to get a little cold.  It is not quite as warm down here as it was under the lights in the funeral home.

As the light gets brighter I see my past.  All at once and in no specific order I have flashbacks of people I’ve known, places I’ve been, experiences shared and memories made.

Grandparents, Easter, beaches, pets, parents, Thanksgiving, lakes, graduations, siblings, Christmas, toys, children, waterfalls, weddings, grandchildren, New Years, campfires, friends, reunions, trees…

The rapidity of the scenes is overwhelming.  I feel like I’m buried with a strobe light.

Instantly it stops.

A cold wind is blowing.  All the leaves have fallen.  Another summer is ended.

It will be my last.

Unsaved

The dirt has been turned over.  Seeds have been sown.  The rains have germinated the seeds.  Now the harvest is past.

As I travel with the light, I begin to feel intense heat.  I wanted a little warmth but this is becoming more than I can bear.

As the heat increases the light begins to take on a different appearance and his reassuring voice becomes unnerving.  Never before have I seen anything so grotesque or heard a voice so grating.

Why the fire?  I didn’t expect to feel such pain!  Where are all of my loved ones?  How can there be such an intense fire and yet complete darkness?  Why are my memories accusing me and my mind tormenting me?  How long must I endure this?  This isn’t what the light promised me!

Is it possible I have been deceived and will have to suffer eternally for it?  I would have rather remained in the grave than be cast into hell.

If only I could go back and warn my loved ones.  Pointing them to a saving faith in Christ, the True Light, is the most loving thing a person can do.

Knowing what I know now, how can I make sure they are saved before the harvest is past and the summer is ended?

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. – 1 John 5:13

14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. – 2 Corinthians 11:14-15

Pedagogue, Paracletes, and Paideia

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 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. – John 14:26

Don’t Stop

I remember the sense of relief I felt once I graduated college and passed the CPA exam.  I felt like I could finally set the books aside and get on with real life.  After all, isn’t the only reason we read and study is to satisfy our teachers and prove what we know?  Or at least what we can retain and regurgitate for a short period of time?  I seemed to think so.  But I was quickly challenged to do some rethinking!

I can still clearly remember the day a dear friend challenged my attitude towards learning.  It was only appropriate that I was standing over my gas grill at the time.  Although I thought I was grilling him dinner, in actuality he was grilling me.  As he was asking me questions about life direction now that I had my CPA license, I distinctly remember sharing with him how I was happy to be freed from the books and the boredom of study.  At the time I didn’t really care to look at another book.  Books meant work and I had a job now.  So who needs books?  We all do.  And my dear friend was wise to challenge me and convict me on the importance of continuing to read and learn.  I accepted his challenge and have never regretted it.

Books and Authors

It is amazing how our perspectives are influenced by our attitudes.  When I was a student, my textbooks seemed somewhat tyrannical.  For the most part, they were cold and sterile vaults filled with facts.  I read them because I was forced to if I wanted to get a passing grade.  Unfortunately, enjoyment is too seldom derived from obligatory acts.

By way of contrast, I now read because I want to.  No longer obligated to read, I find a sense of enjoyment in books and view them much more like friends than tyrants.  As they take me to times and places that I otherwise could not experience I often wonder what it would be like to spend time with the authors if they were still alive.

What would it be like to discuss Hamlet with Shakespeare himself?  Wouldn’t it be a privilege to interview Dickens and allow him to share his inspiration for some of his colorful characters?  How about sitting down with Tolstoy or Dostoevsky to have them elaborate on some of their web-like plots?  How much more would a good book come alive if we were able to share it with the author himself?  Because of the Holy Spirit, such is the case when it comes to the Bible.

Paideia

The authors of the New Testament lived during a time in which the view of education could be described by the Greek word paideia.  Paideia comes from a Greek word relating to children and it refers to the process of developing children into mature adults through education.  However, it is more than teaching or disseminating facts.  Under paideia, the goal of education is to train and develop the whole person – body, mind, and soul, in bringing them to maturity.

Instead of producing parrots who merely repeat facts, “paideia is consciously shaping the young to understand and appreciate the beautiful and the good, always pursuing excellence or virtue.  The end goal of whole-person education is understood as the satisfied life of flourishing that the mature alone can experience.”  This state of perfection is often referred to in the Bible as “perfection”.

As is evidenced in the Scriptures, such education is concerned with investing in people not simply informing them.  To be effective, an educator not only provides information but facilitates transformation.  This takes great commitment.  Thankfully, God is the most committed paideia educator.

Pedagogue

When Adam and Eve walked in the Garden of Eden, God joined them in their fellowship.  Who knows what kind of wisdom the all-knowing Creator shared with His creation in the cool of the day.  As much as they completed each other, they were dependent upon the teaching of God.

When Israel broke the bonds of Egypt and entered the Promised land, they too were accompanied by the presence of God.  Like Adam and Eve, God’s chosen people were dependent upon his guidance.  Moving from childhood to adulthood is not an easy task.  We need God’s help to arrive at perfection.

Because of our sin nature, God has shown his mercy by leaving us help.  In the form of the Law, God gave us a form of teacher.  Specifically, Galatians 3:24 tells us that the Law served as a guardian (pedagogue) until Christ came.  Paul tells us that the role of the Law was to hold us captive and imprison us until Christ set us free.

As our temporary pedagogue, the Law was responsible for “teaching” us God’s moral will for us and convicting us of our sins.  Although the Law could open our eyes to our shortcomings, it could not transform us or bring us to perfection.  We needed more than a teacher, we needed an educator.

Paracletes

Once great teachers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle dominated Greece with their teaching.  As they “practiced” paideia, these men influenced their students not only with words but by their actions as well.  Although there would be times of formal teaching, much of what was gleaned from these men was done by extended periods of interaction.  These philosophers and their students shared many life experiences together, much like Christ and His disciples.

Jesus, our first Paraclete, didn’t “just” come to impart wisdom and knowledge, He came to sacrifice His life for us.  But before He did, He completely invested His life into His followers.  During His short life, Jesus lived out Deuteronomy 6:7.  Regardless if He was sitting in Matthews home or walking through Samaria, Jesus was constantly teaching about the Kingdom of God.  In the upper room before His death and on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection, Jesus was practicing paideia as He was transforming His followers.

Jesus is now at the Father’s right hand until He returns for His bride.  But we have another Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, to assist His bride to perfection until He returns to bring us home.

Teaching and Reminding

Until the 20th Century, paideia drove educational philosophy through most of Western civilization’s history.  We can only speculate how differently our society might be if we hadn’t abandoned it.  But unfortunately, we did.  However, God never will.  He knows we are sinful creatures in need of transformation.  We need to be brought to maturity; body, mind, and soul.

With the Holy Spirit indwelling us, we have the Bible’s author residing with us full time.  As helpful as they may be, we are not dependent upon the church or any man to teach us.  As we open the Word in prayer and humility, the Holy Spirit is willing to open our eyes to Truth.  The most important requirement for understanding the Bible is not the knowledge of Hebrew or Greek, but having the Spirit as our divine educator.

The Holy Spirit not only teaches us Biblical Truth, but as we need it He reminds us of Christ’s teachings.  Perhaps it will be an encouraging parable like the prodigal son when the enemy is trying to discourage us.  Or maybe it will be a stern warning about worldly temptation when the enemy is trying to allure us with his lies.  Whatever circumstances we might face, we will not face them alone.  The Holy Spirit is our faithful Helper, who will never give up on us or stop working on us.  God loves us too much to leave us as we are.  He loves us too much to leave us alone.  Never stop reading His Word.  The greatest Author wrote it with you in mind.

Convicted

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 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. – John 16:8-10

Who Me?

Getting a drunk to admit he drinks is not difficult.  Getting a drunk to admit he is a drunk can often be next to impossible.  We look at the description of a drunkard in Proverbs twenty-three and laugh at his foolishness.  Despite the blurred vision, confused thoughts and utter disorientation, the drunk doesn’t seek relief.  Instead his only thought seems to be where he can find another drink (vs. 33-35).  He is no match for the red wine sparkling in the cup (v.31).  Despite its snake-like bite (v. 32), it goes down smoothly.  And that is all the drunkard seems to care about.

The writer of Proverbs twenty-three tells us that the drunkard has woes, sorrows, strife, complaints, needless bruises and bloodshot eyes (v. 29), but it lacks one attribute.  Company.  And plenty of it.  While you and I might not have a drinking problem, we do have a sin problem.  And like the foolish drunkard described in Proverbs twenty-three, we are very good at deceiving ourselves.

Oh, it is easy for us to admit that we commit acts of sins.  However, like the drunkard, it is impossible (humanly speaking) to get a sinner (that’s us) to admit he is a sinner.  The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick (Jeremiah 17:9).  This deceitfulness is too often on full display in our distorted estimation of ourselves.  With our vision blurred by sin, we will never understand our deceitful hearts.  Why should we care about the viper’s poison when the red wine’s sparkle is enticing us (Proverbs 23:31-32)?  When will I wake up so I can find another drink (Prov. 23:35b)?

Yah, You!

Do we comprehend the seriousness of our problem?  After all, what harm is a simple “white” lie (as if painting them white makes them better)?  Who really cares if I cheat just this once?  How harmful can a little gossip be?  How wrong can it be if everyone else is doing it?  If you haven’t used the rationalizations you have certainly heard them by now.  Unwilling and unable to stop the acts of sin, we resort to downplaying them or even justifying them.  But God is not deceived.

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God – Romans 3:23

As has been said so often, our sins don’t make us sinners.  Rather we sin because we are sinners.  It is our nature.  Let’s be honest with ourselves; our actions expose our deceitful and desperately wicked hearts.  Like the drunk, it is best to admit we have a problem we cannot control.  Unlike the drunk, we may not have needless bruises and bloodshot eyes, but we share his woes, sorrows, strife, and complaints!

But what match are we for the drink that promises to go down so smoothly?

He Will Convict

Thank God, we are not left alone.  Thank God we are not left to ourselves.  Before His departure, Jesus promised another Helper.  Amazingly, Jesus promised that it would be advantageous for His disciples when He departed and sent the Holy Spirit.  How could this be advantageous?  The Holy Spirit would bring conviction.  Without His conviction, a sinner has no hope.  The red wine will win every time.  But the wine’s sparkle is no match for the Holy Spirit.

I am not sure how He does it, but the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit alone, can do a mighty work on our desperately wicked and deceitful hearts.  Hearts that have been prayed for and preached at for years with no avail can be changed in an instant by the work of the Holy Spirit.  Hearts that have remained stone cold and obstinate despite years of pleading can be easily melted by the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

While I don’t understand how He does it, I believe the first tool the Holy Spirit uses when He transforms our hearts of stone to hearts of flesh is conviction.  When He causes us to see the perfect attributes of our Heavenly Father, specifically His Holiness, He opens our eyes to the ugliness of our sin.  What right do we have to rationalize our sins when they are so abhorrent in the eyes of God?

Concerning Sin

No matter how we try to dismiss it, sin is sin.  We can rename it, calling our disobedience “mistakes”.  Or, we can justify it by playing the victim card, “My circumstances made me do it”.  We can even try to sweep it under the rug.  But like Adam and Eve, we cannot hide.  We will be exposed for what we are.  Sinners.

Like God appearing in the cool of the evening, the Holy Spirit shows up to convict us.  And the most serious sin He is going to convict us of is the sin of unbelief (John 16:9).  The most “damning” of sins that so many are proud of and flaunt with an air of superiority.  Yet how quickly they are made to realize that what they deemed to be intelligence is actually ignorance once the Holy Spirit reveals to them the person and works of Christ.

Jesus didn’t just take on flesh and blood to leave us wise teachings and an exemplary lifestyle.  Not at all.  Jesus was God in the flesh living out a perfect life and fulfilling the Law.  His death on the cross was substitutionary for us (i.e. our sins).

Our salvation is to be found only in the sacrificial death of Christ.  When He was nailed to Cavalry’s cross our sins were nailed to it with Him (Colossians 2:14).  We need to be convicted of our sins that sent Christ to the cross.  Once the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin of unbelief and we turn to Christ in faith, He can convict us of our “lifestyle” sins in His timing.

Concerning Righteousness

While the world may preach relativism, God has an absolute standard of righteousness.  And Christ is it.  Only Jesus lived a perfect life in the flesh.  He alone is the exact representation of the Father (Hebrews 1:3).  Only Jesus has ascended to the Father to sit at His right hand.

While our Righteous Savior intercedes for us, the world denies Him.  And they will go on denying His righteousness until they are convicted by the Holy Spirit.  By the grace of God, there is hope that the deceived will have their spiritual eyes opened to the reality of the Righteousness of the One who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  Only the Holy Spirit can enable us to recognize the righteousness that God, not man, has attributed to Christ.

Jesus, Righteousness personified, has gone back to the Father as He said He would, but He has left us a standard by which we may be judged.  And a means by which we may be made Righteous.  But conviction must precede imputation.

Concerning Judgment

Sin brings judgment.  Because God is Holy, Righteous, and Just, sin must be judged.  And although it was the body of Jesus that hung on the cross, as we see in today’s passage from John 16, it was Satan and not Jesus who was judged.  Although Satan may have thought that Cavalry was a victory for him, the empty tomb served noticed that he was defeated.

31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. – John 12:31

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil – Hebrews 2:14

Satan is a defeated foe.  Christ is a Righteous Savior.  For those who have been convicted by the Holy Spirit and placed their faith in Him, Heaven awaits.  For those who continue to reject Christ and live in unbelief, judgment awaits.  Along with Satan, the “ruler of this world”, they will be condemned.  Such were we, until the Holy Spirit convicted us!

7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. – John 16:7

Breath of Life

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22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” – John 20:22

Life Breath

From all outward appearances the future of the church looked bleak.  Perhaps hopeless would be more descriptive.  The leader of the Way was publicly mocked and crucified.  Despite His claims and the miracles He performed, He was no match for the established religious order or the Roman government.  The religious leaders wanted to protect their authority and Pilate wanted to preserve the peace.  As a result, Jesus’ dead body was laid in a tomb to rot.

While Jesus’ body was (presumably) lying in the tomb, His followers were hiding behind closed doors.  For three years they followed Jesus, and now they were left without their leader.  Accordingly, they locked themselves away in fear of the Jews.  They did not want to meet the same fate that Jesus did.  But their fear of death stopped them from truly living.  Although technically alive, they had created their own tomb.  Such is the power of fear.

Imagine their surprise when their resurrected Leader entered their “tomb” unannounced and alleviated their fears with the simple words, “Peace be with you” (John 20:19).  But Jesus didn’t “just” speak these reassuring words, He did something much more significant, He breathed life onto them in the form of the Holy Spirit.

Life Begins

Theologians debate whether Jesus actually imparted the Holy Spirit on His followers at this time or if this wasn’t just some “prelude” to Pentecost.  I will leave that argument to those with greater credentials.  My concern is simply this, life comes from the breath of God.  So it was with Adam (Gen. 2:7), so it is with the church.  Life is a direct volition of the Creator upon His creation.  Chance is not involved.

If God had not breathed life into the nostrils of Adam, he would have forever remained nothing more than dust from the ground.  If Jesus had not breathed life into the church…, well there would not be a church.  A group of fearful men would have probably lived out their lives until the oxygen ran out of their “tomb”.

But Jesus kept His promise.  He promised His disciples He would send another Helper after He had ascended to the Father.  And so He did.  The same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the grave released the Disciples from fear and locked doors.  When Jesus breathed life into them, He forever set them free.

Stirring Winds

As we know from the exchange between Jesus and Nicodemus in John chapter three, the work of the Holy Spirit can be a mysterious thing.  After telling Nicodemus that he must be born again to enter the kingdom of God, Jesus then compares the Holy Spirit with the wind which is natural since the literal translation of “The Spirit” is “Breath” or “Wind”.

7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” – John 3:7-8

Nicodemus may have had great pedigree.  He most likely had great wealth.  Certainly, he was well educated.  But he did not have the Holy Spirit.  The life giving breath of God had not yet come upon him.  Although he was not living behind closed doors, Nicodemus may have also lived in fear.  Regardless, this important religious leader holds a night meeting with Jesus.  Even though Nicodemus possesses so much, he is missing what is most important; the breath of life.  What good is orthodoxy without it?

Although he did not understand it, the sovereign, although invisible Spirit was stirring in the soul of Nicodemus.  Like a mighty storm He can level the strongholds of the enemy in our hearts and replace them with the breath of life.  Nicodemus, you do not have to enter your mother’s womb a second time to be born again.  God can bring to life dead bones if He needs to.

Dry Bones

As Jesus was teaching Nicodemus about the necessity of the work of the Holy Spirit in his life, I wonder if his mind reflected on Ezekiel’s vision as recorded in Ezekiel chapter thirty-seven. In the Spirit of the LORD, Ezekiel was carried out to the middle of a valley.  A valley full of bones.  According to the Prophet, the valley was full of a great quantity of bones and they were very dry.  In the midst of death and despair can there be any hope?  There is as long as God has breath in Him.  Such is the lesson Ezekiel was to learn.

As God has Ezekiel overlook the valley full of dry bones He asks him one simple question, “Son of man, can these bones live” (v.3)?  And Ezekiel responds to God wisely, stating that certainly God knows whether these bones can live again.  Interestingly, God involves Ezekiel in the “rebirth” and in doing so givies us a very good lesson to remember.

God has Ezekiel first prophesy to the bones.  As Ezekiel speaks the Word to the valley of bones he begins to hear a noise.  Specifically he hears the bones rattling as they came together.  But the bones didn’t just become complete skeletons, they proceeded to develop taking on sinews and flesh and skin.  But they were still not living.  Like the disciples and Nicodemus, they needed the breath of God.

9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. – Ezekiel 37:9-10

Fresh Wind

As we continue to look at the person of the Holy Spirit, it is so important to be reminded that all life in the individual believer and the Church is a work of the mysterious “wind” that is the Holy Spirit.  Every teacher and preacher is dependent upon the Holy Spirit without exception if the Kingdom is going to be advanced.

As we see from Ezekiel’s vision and as we are reminded time and again in the New Testament, the Word of God needs the work of the Spirit to be effective.  Ezekiel’s prophesying may have caused the bones to reconnect and put on sinew, flesh and skin, but they still did not have life until the “life breath” came upon them.  May we never think we can do the work of the Spirit or deny it.

Further, I am thankful that the story of the woman at the well follows immediately after Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus in John’s Gospel.  As we have looked at previously, the Samaritan woman was the polar opposite of Nicodemus.  While he was a wealthy, respected, educated man of status, she was an outcast among outcasts.  But thankfully, the wind blows where it wishes!!  The eternal life that was offered to Nicodemus was offered to the woman at the well.  When the wind blows, we don’t know where it comes from or where it is going to go, but it can reach anybody.

Perhaps you know a Nicodemus or a Samaritan woman.  People you may think unlikely “candidates” for the Kingdom.  Never give up on them, the Spirit can reach them.

Maybe you feel like you are living in a valley full of dry bones.  Death and sin have been so rampant for so long that the bones are very dry.  Like Nebuchadnezzar, the world has wreaked havoc and left a valley full of bones in it’s wake.  Very dry bones.  Is there any hope?  There is as long as God has breath!

Praise God for the Holy Spirit.  Thank God for the breath of life.  Our leader is not in the grave.  We don’t need to hide behind locked doors.  Nor do we need to despair dry bones or even dead orthodoxy.  The wind of God is still at work.

 63 It is the Spirit who gives life – John 6:63

True Power

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8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” – Acts 1:8

The Holy Spirit & Jesus

In His humanity, there seems to have been a “dependency” of Jesus upon the Holy Spirit.  From the very beginning, this dependency was evident.  It was a result of the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon the virgin Mary that enabled her to conceive the Christ Child (Luke 1:35).  When He was baptized by His cousin John the Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove as the Father proclaimed His pleasure (Luke 3:22).

It was the Holy Spirit that guided Jesus into the wilderness where He was tempted by the devil (Luke 4:1), and after being tempted Jesus began His ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:14).   Jesus, Himself, testified that it was a result of being anointed by the Holy Spirit that He was to preach to the poor.  Likewise, it was the Spirit that sent Jesus to heal the brokenhearted, preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind and to set at liberty those who are oppressed (Luke 4:18).

After casting out a demon, Jesus announced His miraculous work was done through the Holy Spirit (Mat. 12:28).  It was through the Holy Spirit that Jesus offered Himself without blemish to God as a sacrifice for our sins (Heb. 9:14).  After His death, it was the power of the Holy Spirit that resurrected Jesus (Romans 8:11).

From His conception to His resurrection, we see a vital relationship between Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit & The Church

If Jesus as God in the flesh “needed” the Holy Spirit, how much more do we?  Consider these words of Charles Spurgeon.  “If there is this day any power of God in the Church of God, it is because the Holy Spirit is in the midst of her!  If she is able to work any spiritual miracles, it is through the might of His indwelling; if there is any light in her instruction; if there is any life in her ministry; if there is any glory gotten to God; if there is any good worked among the sons of men, it is entirely because the Holy Spirit is still with her!  The entire weight of influence of the church as a whole, and every Christian in particular, comes from the abiding presence of the sacred Paraclete!” (emphasis mine)

Charles Spurgeon had no disillusionment about his or the church’s dependency upon the Holy Spirit.  Nor did Christ.  Hence His promise of asking the Father to send us the Spirit to help us and be with us forever (John 14:15-17).

Do you recognize your need of the Holy Spirit?  As you go through each day how cognizant are you of your dependency upon the Holy Spirit?  Consider for a moment the last sentence quoted from Charles Spurgeon.  “The entire weight of influence of the church as a whole, and every Christian in particular, comes from the abiding presence of the sacred Paraclete!”  This quote makes me wonder, to what degree is the church as a whole and we as individual Christians influential “lightweights” because of our disconnect from the Holy Spirit?  Or, to what degree is our influence limited by our lack of recognition of our dependency upon the Holy Spirit?

Power Pleas

So often when we think of the power of the Holy Spirit we desire to see it manifested in mighty supernatural displays.  These sincere desires may be manifested in urgent pleas for the Spirit’s power to be unleashed.

Perhaps we pray for a second Pentecost complete with the sound of a mighty wind and tongues of flames.  Maybe we pray for miraculous healings where the blind receive their sight or cripples are made whole.

It is possible that we desire the power of the Holy Spirit to manifest itself in the exorcism of demons; real or imagined.  And if Lazarus could be raised from the dead perhaps we can witness the same miracle today.

As intriguing and exciting as such occurrences might be, what if the power of the Holy Spirit is unleashed not when we plead for it but rather when we submit to Him?

Submitters Wanted

I believe that if we want to experience the true power of the Holy Spirit, we need to learn the importance of submission.  As we have discussed previously, we need to rid our minds of the notion that the Holy Spirit is a commodity.  Some mysterious and mighty power that we seek to use for our desires and according to our whims.  That is not how Jesus viewed Him.

When Jesus walked the earth He emphasized the fact that He did not do His own will but the will of the Father.  In so doing He taught us the importance of submission and surrender to our all wise and all loving Father.  Our Father who has sent the Holy Spirit to live within us.  The same Spirit that empowered Jesus.  The same Spirit that Jesus submitted to.

Like our Savior, we need to submit to the Holy Spirit.  We need to surrender ourselves to Him.  We have been bought at a price.  As R. A. Torrey has said, “Christian life is not to be lived in the realm of natural temperament but in the realm of the Spirit.  And Christian work is not to be done in the power of natural endowment but in the power of the Spirit.  The Holy Spirit eagerly desires to do His whole work for each of us.  He will do for us everything we will let Him do.”

True Power

While it is exciting to ponder the truth that the same power that raised Jesus from the grave resides within us, I wonder how that power is most effectively displayed in the life of Believers.  While performing supernatural miracles sounds exciting, I am not convinced it is the best way to advance the Kingdom of God.  It may draw a crowd, but in time they will become bored and return to their routines.

In our last devotion we looked at a couple of passages which referred to the love of the Spirit (Rom. 15:30) and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 13:14).  As I have thought about these passages I have become convinced that they may hold the key to the greatest “power” of the Holy Spirit.

If you look closely at today’s passage, Jesus says that we will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us and then He states that we will be His witnesses.  What if we, as the church, truly lived in and exemplified the love of the Spirit?  How contagious would our lives and church services be if we truly participated in and displayed the fellowship of the Holy Spirit?

Is there a greater power than the love of God (1 Cor. 13)?  Is there a higher calling than intimate fellowship with our Creator?  We live in a dark and desperate world that is divided by hatred.  No amount of “Christians” living in the “realm of natural temperament” while pleading for the power of the Spirit is going to effectively witness to them.  The church has gone down that path far too long.

Weighty Influence

As Spurgeon has reminded us, the entire weight of the influence of the church comes from the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus has already prayed for Him.  The Father has already sent Him.  Now it is up to us to surrender to Him and enjoy His fellowship and allow His love to flow through us.

There is no greater power.

There is no greater witness.

Do you want to experience the power of the Holy Spirit?

“They will never get possession of the power they seek until they come to recognize that there is not some divine power for them to get hold of and use in their blindness and ignorance, but that there is a Person, infinitely wise as well as infinitely mighty, who is willing to take possession of them and use them according to His own perfect will.”  R.A. Torrey

Love & Fellowship

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15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. – John 14:15-17

Meetings

I don’t know about you but I am no fan of meetings.  I know they have their place (at least theoretically), but most of the time I would rather be anyplace but in one.

Maybe it is just me but it seems like keeping focused in a meeting is next to impossible.  Even with an agenda it often feels like every meeting is deja vu all over again.  The same topics are brought up (even if not on the agenda), the same complaints are expressed (always without solicitation), and the same actions are taken.  None.

OK, so maybe I’m exaggerating (just a little), since the Continental Congress did produce the Declaration of Independence as a result of their meetings, but personally I often found them as productive as flogging a dead horse.  No matter how much flogging is done, the outcome is determined.  In other words, if nothing is going to change why waste the time?

Time for Change

Whether or not you agree with my assessment of the value of meetings, I hope you will agree with me on one thing.  For most of us that call ourselves Evangelical, our way of thinking about the Person of the Holy Spirit needs to change.  Rather than flogging a dead horse, I believe it is time for a paradigm shift for many of us when it comes to our thought (or lack thereof) regarding the Holy Spirit.

Everything we as individuals and collectively as a Church hope to accomplish in this fallen world can only happen by the enablement of the Holy Spirit.  Without Him our wisdom is folly and our strength is a stumbling block.

We need to come to grips with the fact that we are completely dependent on the Holy Spirit.  But before we get to the work of the Holy Spirit, I want to spend one last study with you about our need for a vital, living relationship with Him.

Thrice Loved

As Christians we often talk about the love of God the Father quoting John 3:16 as our favorite proof text.  In the same manner we like to take comfort in the love of Christ that manifested itself in His sacrifice of His own life for us while we were His enemies (John 15:13, Eph. 5:2).  In contrast, how often do we talk about the love of the Holy Spirit?  Don’t we owe our salvation to the love of the Holy Spirit as much as we do to the love of the Father or Son?

Listen to Paul’s words to the Romans.

30 “I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf” – Romans 15:30

Have you ever seriously pondered the love of the Spirit?  Scholars are not in complete agreement as to whether Paul is referring in this passage to the Spirit’s love towards Believers or the love He instills in us, but regardless of how you may interpret this passage the fact remains:  As a child of God you are loved by the Holy Spirit.

Further, Paul tells us that it is through the Holy Spirit that God’s love is poured into our hearts (Romans 5:5), and Love is the foremost fruit of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Believer (Gal. 5:22).  The Holy Spirit is a Spirit of divine love.  A love that is relentless.

Heaven’s Hound

In 1893, Francis Thompson published a poem entitled, The Hound of Heaven.  Using an analogy of a hound hunting a hare, Thompson illustrated the persistence of God chasing after a fleeing soul.  No matter how fast or far the hare may run, or the efforts he may take to hide, the hound never gives up on his pursuit.  Divine grace will not be thwarted.

When you were running away from God blinded by your sins, do you know who was pursuing you?  The Holy Spirit.  Time was irrelevant in His pursuit.  Days and months and years passed but the Holy Spirit never gave up on you.  Despite the sinful paths you ran down, the Holy Spirit kept up the pursuit regardless of the grief your sinned caused Him.  Like a friend who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24) He would not give up on you.

When you came to the end of yourself, it was the Holy Spirit that revealed your true condition.  It was the love of the Spirit that opened your spiritual eyes to expose you as a sinner.  It was the Person of the Holy Spirit that enabled you to place your faith in Christ.  If not for the love of the Spirit manifested in His patient relentless pursuit, you would still be condemned for an eternity in Hell.

Let me ask you again.  How often do you consider the love of the Spirit?  Perhaps we would all be wise to meditate on it and then thank the Holy Spirit for His love and what He has done for us.

Sweet Fellowship

As humbling as it is to consider what the Holy Spirit has done in regards to our salvation, there is more to consider.  Listen to what Paul wrote to the church at Corinth.

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. – 2 Corinthians 13:14

When was the last time you heard a sermon on the fellowship of the Holy Spirit?  Do you know what it is like to have daily communion with the Spirit that dwells within you?  It is the privilege of having eternal life.

Forgive me for repeating myself.  I don’t like flogging a dead horse.  But as I have so often said, it is imperative for our lives as individual Christians and collectively as a Church that we have a proper understanding of the Person of the Holy Spirit.  He is not just a commodity.  He is much more than a power.  He is God living within us loving us with a perfect divine love and desiring fellowship with us.  Every moment of every day.

God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all love us with an everlasting love.  They decided to make man in their image.  Each of them had a role in our salvation.  All of them want their love reciprocated.  Don’t waste your time, surrender it to the Spirit and enjoy His fellowship.  It is why He tirelessly pursued you.

I’m putting the whip down.  Meeting adjourned!