Month: January 2019

         I sometimes reflect on the eternal realm, the place of His dwelling. In seeking to understand the concept of spiritual intimacy I think there is an important aspect to reflect on – the most important part of us is not from here! Think about it. When we surrendered our hearts and lives to Jesus He recreated our spirit in His image with His nature.

³  Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” ⁴  Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” ⁵  Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” John 3:3-5 (NKJV)

¹⁷  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:1

²³  having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 1 Peter 1:23 (NKJV)

         The moment we surrendered our hearts to Jesus a transaction took place in the spiritual realm and Jesus life was released in our spirits. At the moment we received the capacity to interact with the eternal spiritual realm in a way we could not before being born again. Spiritual intimacy with the Father, Son and Spirit requires the development of this capacity. We can see or be aware of the kingdom of God, we then need to learn to enter and live in it (Jn. 3:3, 5).

         In the context of dealing with suffering and persecution Peter, who knew Jesus well, exhorted us to encounter this eternal realm, to know Jesus.

¹⁸  but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18 (NKJV)

A further context is that Peter opened this letter with a call to know Jesus in a deeper way and 3:18 is simply reinforcing that message.

³  as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, ⁴  by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:3-4 (NKJV)

So, the way to be intimate with Jesus, is to experience Him, that is the meaning of the Greek word translated as ‘knowledge’ in verse 3. Knowledge not about Jesus but of Jesus, experiencing His presence. In my next post I will delve further into how we walk this path of knowing, experiencing Jesus, the Intimate One.  

My motivation for writing this is a song. It won’t be one you know, it isn’t sung at large worship gatherings or played on the radio. A number of years ago a few of us were worshipping (we met weekly for prayer and worship). As the worship leader shifted to beautiful and spontaneous instrumental playing on the piano words came to me that I sang along with the playing and a song emerged. Some of the words were,

I am here to worship, Intimate One

You are all I worship, Intimate One

In my life this release of words and worship has happened a few times over the decades. Some I wrote down, some I never did. My point is that something happens inside of us when we engage with Jesus at a deeper place. In recent months He gave me the beginning of another song, which emerged as I was just sitting and worshipping Him in the morning. I think it portends what is coming in reality to His body. These are the words,

It’s the beauty of the King

It’s the glory of the lamb

The King of all creation

Has visited us again

As we bow before Him now

We know Him deep within

The glory of the Lamb

Cleansing all our sin

I believe that Jesus is calling us as His body to a deeper place, a place of deeper intimacy with Him. I know many of us agree with this and pray for a fresh move of the Holy Spirit among us. What I don’t know is how much we prepare for a move of the Holy Spirit. After all the scriptures say,

¹  “Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the LORD of hosts. ²  “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire And like launderer’s soap. ³  He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness. Malachi 3:1-3 (NKJV)

Malachi’s message is clear, the One, even the One in whom we delight, when He manifests His presence will release a purifying and purging. Think of the early church and the combination of joy, passion and fear that fell upon the body. Let us pray for His coming, a greater manifestation of Jesus among us, but let us prepare our hearts, for He is coming not to bless our plans and agendas but to more fully unveil His!

Are we ready?   

Version of Worthy of It All by the Burning Ones

A key aspect to walking in humility is agreeing with His word. An area that is easy to miss is agreeing with what His word says about us once we are converted. As believers we are called to function with renewed minds, a new way of thinking and seeing.

¹  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ²  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)

Our transformation comes from seeing God and ourselves through the lens of His word, from thinking differently about both. So let me share a brief story. I do a few mediations per month for matters in small claims court. Recently walking into the downtown office building where they take place I was conscious of the security guards at the front and aware that when I arrived I would be given an access card to go places where the general public could not. There is a sense of authority and privilege that comes with ‘access.’

Reflecting on this I wondered how many of us as believers place the correct importance on the authority and privilege we have in our access to the Throne of Grace (Heb. 4:16). No matter what takes place in the halls of power anywhere in or on the earth, we have access to an audience with the creator and ruler of the universe and the opportunity to partner with Him in His strategic purposes in the earth.

Are we humbly submitting to what He says and using our access card?

        

         If we are to walk humbly with God we need a clear understanding of humility. As always, context is important and in the case of Micah humility is presented in the context of first demonstrating justice and loving mercy.

⁸  He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 (NKJV)

         Practically, humility means that we submit our ideas of justice and mercy, and everything else to God’s ideas. We recognize that we are not in charge, He is. This is humility. I think in general your average Christian believes in submitting to God in theory, just not so much in practice. I made a real commitment to Jesus when I was 25 (a long time ago now). At the time I struggled to accept Christianity, though I had been raised with it, because I didn’t like some of what the Bible said, and honestly I still don’t. However, what I have learned is that I need to bow my knee to His wisdom and sovereignty.

There is a reason I am not in charge of the universe and part of humility is choosing to obey and submit my will to the scriptures because they are an expression of Yahweh’s views.

The Bible communicates His will to us. Where we have significant issues now in evangelical Christianity in the US and Canada is that we have in many ways abandoned a humble submission to His word. It is one thing to debate over the main theological positons of Calvinism or Arminianism because both positons can be defended from scripture. What cannot be defended is the shifting positon of many on social issues. The scriptures are not ambiguous here, and while we may not recognize it, when we seek to reinterpret them in our image we are playing God and refusing to humble ourselves.

If we want true justice and mercy then we need to humbly hold our ideas up to the lens of scripture and change our views where we see conflict. Let’s take a look!.

As we enter a new year we often reflect on what it holds or what we should do, which is a good thing. Yet we have our way of doing things and God has His way, often contrary to our way. My sense as we enter this season is that there is a real need to embrace humility.  

         We do not know what awaits us. 2018 was tumultuous in many ways; politics, natural weather calamities and the like. We have come through the year and as we enter this one we need to prepare. Yet what preparation can we make for the unknown? When I go backpacking I take extra supplies and plan and prepare for the unexpected, yet that is within generally known parameters. In the current natural, political and economic climate the parameters are unknown. There are some practical things we can do. Economically we can get rid of debt, live within or below our means. Politically we can become informed on the issues, support godly candidates in the coming elections and become involved. In terms of the natural climate we can have some emergency supplies on hand.

         The most important preparation however is spiritual. The safest place to be, no matter what is happening, is being found walking with Jesus and drawing near to His heart. Hence my plea for humility. To know Jesus heart and His way requires acknowledging our need. Moses prayed one of the great prayers in scripture and encountered Yahweh’s glory.  

¹³  “Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.” Exodus 33:13 (NKJV emphasis mine)

         David informed us of the value of humility, Jesus becomes our teacher and guide.

⁹  The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way. ¹⁰  All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. ¹¹  For Your name’s sake, O LORD, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great. ¹²  Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. Psalm 25:9-12 (NKJV emphasis mine)

         Micah gave us a summary of it all.

⁸  He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 (NKJV)

So this year, above all, let’s heed the scriptures and embrace living out of a humble dependence on the Godhead.

¹⁴  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NKJV)