Tag: Discernment

Give Yourself

This past week I had the opportunity to hike in the backcountry in the mountains for the first time this year. Hiking is a reflection opportunity for me and at one point in redirecting my wandering mind to His presence and purpose I was drawn to what Paul wrote to Timothy.

14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 1 Timothy 4:14–15 (NKJV)

6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 2 Timothy 1:6 (NKJV)

 While these words were written to Timothy, something else Paul wrote tells me it applies to our lives as well, in this case it is the correction of the direction of thinking and instruction or training in righteousness, right thinking lead to right actions.

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)

Paul obviously thought that Timothy walking in his gifts and calling was important because he addressed it in both of these short letters to Timothy. Equally important to the growth of His body is us walking in our gifts and callings. Obviously, we first need to know what gifting we carry, then we need to heed Paul’s injunction to Timothy. I am focusing on the latter.

In 1 Timothy Paul highlighted three things we can summarize as follows regarding our gift.

  • Pay attention to what we have been given.
  • Meditate, reflect deeply on the use of the gifts we carry.
  • Gives ourselves fully to seeing the gift(s) exercised.

Then in 2 Timothy Paul directed Timothy to ‘stir up’ his gift. Let’s address that aspect. The ESV translates the phrase as ‘fan into flame.’ I don’t know about you, but I like a wood fire, and we have a wood fireplace in our home. In the winter when the fire begins to die down a poker, appropriately named, can be used to poke the coals and look for ones that are still red hot even if the fire is dying. More wood can then be added and a bellows used to direct air onto the hot coals until the added wood bursts into flame. This is what Paul was communicating to Timothy and by extension us. He said a similar thing to Archippus, highlighting the need to pay attention to his calling.

17 And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.” Colossians 4:17 (NKJV)

When I was a child the Doris Day show was popular. If you have never heard of it don’t worry. The show began with Doris singing a song, ‘que sera sera whatever will be will be.’ It is expressed in first Spanish then English. It was very popular; however, it reflects not faith but fatalism. It is akin to the idea, “If God wants me to do X He will make it happen.” That is not what scripture teaches. Paul is telling us that to fulfill our calling and purpose we need to pay attention, focus on it and develop it.

Now to the practical part, some reflective questions.

  • Do you spend time reflecting on and developing the gifts He has given you?
  • Can you envision yourself doing what He has called you to do?
  • Are you taking practical steps to use your gifts to build up the body?

What will be is what we partner with Him to accomplish. Let’s seek to reflect on and be faithful with what He has called us to.

In closing a song from Brian Doerksen who stepped from time into eternity earlier this week. His music touched generations for decades and this song seems appropriate to our calling to partner with Jesus in stewarding well what He has given to us.

Light The Fire Again | Brian Doerksen feat. Marika Siewert | Live Performance

A Threefold Cord

The heading of course comes from Ecclesiastes.

12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NKJV)

We will look at the implications and importance of a New Testament threefold cord in this hour, but first some context. To paraphrase Amos, I am neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet (Amos 7:14). However, I can discern the signs of the times. Historically revivals and awakenings have been preceded by very spiritually dry and dark times. We have been in such a season for some time. We have also had many people prophesying a major move of the Spirit for literally decades now. Are we heading into one? There have been encouraging signs, the Asbury revival/move of the Spirit in recent years being one. I don’t know if a move of the Spirit is imminent, I pray it is, however whether it happens in six months or six years our responsibility is to be ready. That I know. If we want to succeed in passing a the final test in a course we don’t open the textbook for the first time the night before the final exam. So, let’s look at an aspect of preparing for a move of the Spirit.

 A regular part of my prayer life is a prayer for apostolic wisdom, prophetic understanding and teaching knowledge, a threefold cord. Let me explain the source and why it is likely important for you as well. Paul presented it this way.

28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:28 (NKJV)

You may have noticed my pairing of wisdom, understanding and knowledge with the apostolic, prophetic and teaching gifts. Whether or not we believe in these offices for the contemporary church, my prayer is for apostolic wisdom, prophetic understanding and teaching knowledge because of how Paul prioritizes them.

 When it comes to the pairing of wisdom, understanding and knowledge, we see it in two places in Proverbs.

19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens; 20 By His knowledge the depths were broken up, and clouds drop down the dew. Proverbs 3:19–20 (NKJV)

3 Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; 4 By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. Proverbs 24:3–4 (NKJV)

Wisdom is foundational to building, think of the church as His building, not ours. Understanding is necessary to further establish the church, a business undertaking or a marriage/family and knowledge is required to flesh out and sustain an undertaking, again whether it is the church (His people not a building), a business venture or a marriage. Note, these are illustrative not exhaustive and in referencing the need for apostolic wisdom, prophetic understanding and teaching knowledge I am primarily thinking of the church but to use another example, they are equally required for good government.

Let’s break the three down further. I have often said that wisdom is applied knowledge without including understanding. Understanding is comprehending the meaning of knowledge or information. Let’s use a practical illustration. Imagine standing in the middle of an intersection. A large truck is heading straight toward you. Knowledge is knowing or being aware that the truck is coming. Understanding is recognizing the implication, ‘if I don’t move, I will be run over.’ Wisdom, our applied knowledge, is moving.

Now let us use some wisdom and apply this to the church in terms of a move of the Spirit. The term waves or moves of the Spirit has often been used so we will use the wave analogy. If I discern and know that we are in a place of dryness, and have been for some time then I need to consider what that means. From the perspective of teaching, there is a need to recognize that this wave is going to have an impact. Our understanding points us to where the wave is heading to prophetically announce and declare it. Apostolic wisdom would be going to the place where the wave will arrive and gathering the body to meet it.  

If we take this further, imagine the wave has arrived and much is taking place. Teaching knowledge would tell us that things have shifted in the spirit realm and will impact the church. Prophetic understanding would lead us to recognize the need to respond appropriately and apostolic wisdom would be both teaching and directing teachers what to teach and when.

These are some simple examples, and because I believe there is something coming, I want to exercise wisdom and seek His heart for what to study in this season of preparation. Thus, I will continue to pray for apostolic wisdom, prophetic understanding and teaching knowledge as I seek to find my place in what He is doing today. Please join me!

A closing interjection, while we may pray for a move of the Spirit, church history tells us that they are messy, often opposed by the established church and require significant adjustments on our part to follow His leading. Are we ready?

An Indwelling Christ?

Raise your hand if your life feels busy. As a retiree I find it a truism that it is hard to book time with a retired person because they are too busy! We are enculturated to do, not so much to be. In writing this I thought of a line from an old song, ‘Looking for love in all the wrong places.’ In my mind I refocused it to ‘looking for life in all the wrong places.’ Jesus said that for us He is the way, truth and life (John 14:6). Thus, we need to know how to encounter the life that He offers.

This leads me to wonder how aware are we of an indwelling Jesus. In our busy lives we need to experience Him as our source of peace because as Christians we are all called into an ongoing relationship with an indwelling Jesus. This is expressed in a number of places in scripture, some of which I have included below. We start with Ephesians 3.  

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height – 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, Ephesians 3:14–20 (NKJV)

Here Paul expresses his desire for the believers in Ephesus. He wants them to;

  • be strengthened in their inner being,
  • experience Christ dwelling in their hearts through their faith in this reality, and
  • be rooted and grounded in love that they may know the fullness of His love.

This desire is also expressed by Paul in 2 Corinthians.  

18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV)

6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NKJV)

Included in 2 Corinthians is more of the how. Internal transformation and a deepened relationship come about through intentionally beholding Him because we encounter “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” Practically if we put Ephesians 3 together with 2 Corinthians 3 and 4, we start by praying along with Paul that we would be strengthened in our inner being, then by faith we spend time just focusing the gaze of our heart upon Him. One way we can do this is through time alone in His presence. In the gospels Jesus demonstrated a habit of getting alone to seek His Father’s face. We can also train our hearts to behold Him as we go about our daily activities. Whether that is commuting, having a cup of tea or coffee or sitting in a meeting at work, a portion of our attention can be attuned to His presence. This may just be a subtle awareness but it is something we can train our heart to do if we have faith in what the scriptures say about His indwelling.  

Is this easy? Not in my experience. Is it doable and fruitful? Yes, in my experience. I have succeeded at it to varying degrees over the years and am highlighting it again here because I think we are in a season where we need to better know both His heart and His voice. After all, Jesus is waiting for us to avail ourselves of His indwelling presence and purpose.

A song that expresses our desire to know an indwelling Christ is Eagles Wings by Hillsong. Enter into it.

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How’s Your Heart?

I have written about our hearts on more than one occasion, but due to the importance of the subject it is worth revisiting. After all, according to Paul it is the organ of faith.

10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:10 (NKJV)

Paul also noted that our faith is activated by hearing.

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 (NKJV)

Thus, what we hear affects our beliefs. Paul isn’t expressing a formula here; he is echoing what Jesus taught. After all, not everyone who heard Paul preach and teach responded with faith. However, his sharing of the gospel opened the door to an expression of faith. The importance of the heart in this process is why Solomon wrote the following.

23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV)

Due to its importance in our lives we are all called to guard our hearts. The Hebrew word translated as ‘keep’ in the NKJV is translated as ‘watch’ or ‘guard’ in other versions. All three options carry the idea of being alert and paying attention to the condition of our hearts. Jesus pointed to our heart as our ‘vault of values’ our capacity to treasure things, either things of this life or the things of the Spirit.

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21 (NKJV)

Which now leads us to the parable of the sower. It is found in Matthew 14, Mark 4 and Luke 8. In Mark 4:13 Jesus in essence said understanding the principle of sowing and reaping was foundational to understanding His other parables. Now we have the parable both given and explained by Jesus so there is no mystery. The seed is God’s word and the soil is the condition of our heart. Luke recorded it this way.

15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. Luke 8:15

Our fruit bearing capacity is tied to the exercise of patience and having a ‘noble and good heart.’

The obvious need is to understand what having a noble and good heart entails. If we look at how people responded to Jesus, we see Nicodemus coming with questions in John 3. He came with honest questions, a noble and good heart. In John 12 we see Mary coming and anointing Jesus with precious perfume and wiping His feet with her hair, a noble and good heart. In Luke 19 we see Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, repenting of his sins in response to Jesus, a noble and good heart. The commonality among the three stories is a willingness to lay down their agendas and ideas and submit to Jesus’ presence.  

For more specific instructions on how to develop and maintain a noble and good heart we have clear instructions in Proverbs 4.

24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:24–27 (NKJV)

Solomon tells us to walk in integrity, speak the truth, keep focused on the right things and pay attention to the general direction of our life and avoid evil. Given that, how’s your heart?

Partakers?

Most of you who read this, and including myself as the writer, have evangelical roots. Our faith is rooted in Western theological traditions. The title is from 2 Peter 1:4. Here we explore the meaning by starting with the passage.

2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 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 1:2–4 (NKJV)

I referenced our evangelical roots as they are distinct from older Eastern Orthodox traditions. They embrace the concept of ‘theosis.’ The word comes from Greek and means deification or becoming ‘godlike.’ The process is described more fully in the article below from my Logos library

Deification. The process of becoming like God, emphasized primarily in Eastern Orthodoxy, as part of Christian salvation and sanctification. The notion of deification (Greek: theosis) finds biblical precedent in 2 Peter 1:4. Some have also seen the concept present in the writings of the apostle Paul (Blackwell 2011, 129). The language of deification was profuse throughout the patristic writings; the concept may even have been taken for granted, as no formal definition was offered until the sixth century (Russell 2004, 1). It is most famously expressed by Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 296–373): “For he was incarnate that we might be made god” (On the Incarnation 54).

The Eastern Orthodox present theosis as a three stage process. Wikipeadia describe it as follows.

  1. Purgative Way (Katharsis) – purification of mind, body, and soul through repentance, ascetic practices, and moral discipline.
  2. Illuminative Way (Theoria) – spiritual enlightenment and direct experience of God, often cultivated through prayer, contemplation, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Unitive Way (Theosis Proper) – full participation in God’s divine energies, culminating in sanctity and eternal communion with God, especially realized in the resurrection 

I raise this as in recent years more Christians have been moving to Orthodox and similar Roman Catholic beliefs and practices. What is always important to be, no matter who holds or promotes certain beliefs, is whether they align with scripture. To clarify, the teaching on theosis is not that believers become Christ, the Spirit, or the Father but it is that we become ‘godlike.’ To some degree this makes sense in that we receive a new nature at conversion. However, rather than focusing on theosis I will focus on what scripture says and you can decide.

The Greek word that ‘partakers’ is translated from is below.

κοινωνός koinōnos; from 2839; a sharer:—partaker(1), partakers(1), partner(2), partners(2), sharers(4).[1]

If you are familiar with the term koinonia, which we translate as fellowship or communion, you will recognize the similarity because koinonos is the root of koinonia. The idea being that we partake of or participate in something. Peter tells us how we partake in verses 5-7, he says it is through a process of adding virtue (right behaviour to our faith) then knowledge, followed by self control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and finally love. Here love is agape, sacrificial other focused love.

Thus, we are told that partaking of the divine nature comes via the knowledge of Jesus, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” Now, before we conclude that our growth in our relationship with Jesus is based on our good works. I think we need to shelve that idea. It is based on walking with Him in a deep and meaningful way.

I will explain and encourage you to search the scripture. We are told that we are spirit, soul and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 4:12). At conversion our sprit is born again, we receive Jesus’ nature within (2 Corinthians 5:17, 21). As we continue to walk with Jesus and walk through the process Peter described, our soul (mind, will and emotions) begins to be reshaped into Jesus’ image. A process known as sanctification. Which is what Peter says is partaking of the divine nature. We draw closer to Him and begin to know Him in a deeper way. Our minds are renewed as we submit our wills to His as revealed in scripture (Romans 12:1-12).

I think another part of this process, in addition to submitting to scripture, is through spending time with Jesus based on 2 Corinthians 3:18 – beholding Jesus. We do this by simply sitting with Him, by faith beholding Him and worshipping Him.

In doing so we do in fact partake of the divine nature. Not by becoming godlike but by being changed in the presence of a holy God.

[1] Robert L. Thomas, New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries : Updated Edition (Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998).

The Place of Authority

Here we will briefly examine the role of gates in relation to authority in Israel’s history and the actions in Matthew 16 leading up to the Transfiguration and the significance of Jesus statement in Matthew 16. Jesus said that He only did the things He saw the Father doing (John 5:19). In Matthew 16 the Father said it was time, so Jesus asked His famous question of the apostles, “But who do you say that I am? (Matthew 16:15) The timing was connected to geography, they were in northern Israel near Mount Hermon in the region of Caesarea Phillipi, known as Bashan in earlier times. In Moses’ day it was ruled by one of the giants, Og, king of Bashan, Moses defeated Og and his tribe and it became the territory of Manasseh (Numbers 21:33 – 35, Deuteronomy 3:1 – 7, 11, Joshua 13:11 – 12). Mount Hermon was the place where it was historically taught in Israel that the fallen elohim descended from the heavenly realm, took on human flesh, took human wives and produced the giants as offspring (see Genesis 6:1-4). Genesis 6:4 refers to giants being in the land in that time period and afterward. These fallen beings and their offspring so corrupted humanity that is lead to the flood of Noah’s day.

With that background we look at what Jesus said to Peter.

18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18 (NKJV)

As a step in going deeper we take a look at three keywords in this statement, gates, prevail, and church. In Greek the word gates is simply a reference to a gate. The word prevail is a bit more interesting in Greek.

κατισχύω katischuō; from 2596 and 2480; to overpower:—have strength(1), overpower(1), prevail(1).[1]

Thus, we could say the gates of Hades shall not overpower or have strength against the church, which we will define shortly. Yet gates are not active things, they are points of access, which means we need to dig a little deeper into what the term gates historically refers to by looking at OT examples, the cultural framework for the statements Jesus made. There are two below (see also Deuteronomy 21:18-21).

1 Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there; and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz had spoken came by. So Boaz said, “Come aside, friend, sit down here.” So he came aside and sat down. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. Ruth 4:1–2 (NKJV)

23 Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land. Proverbs 31:23 (NKJV)

The city gates were the courthouse of the day where legal transactions took place and matters were adjudicated. In essence the city gates were the authority structures. Once we see this, we can read Matthew 16 a little differently. Jesus went into enemy territory, the centre of ancient rebellion even before Israel existed as a nation, stood at the temple in the area known as The Gate of Hades/Hell and made a pronouncement that His followers would have heard as, “The authority structures of Hades shall not prevail against the church.”

This allows us to make sense of the passage and then act accordingly. First though we look at the word church. This word is critical as it has become popular in charismatic circles to refer to the church by the Greek term ekklesia. Which is fine if it is understood. The problem comes in with how it is often referenced as reflected in The Passion version of the bible. I have deliberately not used the word ‘translation’ as it isn’t. It is frequently an offering of one person’s opinion. Here is the best example, Matthew 16:18 in this version.

I give you the name Peter, a stone. And this rock will be the bedrock foundation on which I will build my church – my legislative assembly, and the power of death will not be able to overpower it!

Notice that this version refers to the church as a ‘legislative assembly’ and that is how many in the charismatic community view the church, as a legislative assembly uttering and enforcing decrees on the Lord’s behalf. The problem is that the idea of a legislative assembly is one aspect of the word. As we see below.  

The understanding of ekklēsia as a secular term of classical Greek is in part linked to its etymology. It is from ek (1523), “from, out from,” and kaleō (2535), “call”; thus the verb ekkaleō meant “to call out, to summon” (by a herald). The noun, therefore, means the resulting “assembly,” “congregation,” or “those summoned.” Normally this summoning was of people, and it was often for political or governmental functions such as a legislative “assembly” or any “assembly of the common people, populus” (Liddell-Scott; Schmidt, “ekklēsia,” Kittel, 3:513; Coenen, “Church,” Colin Brown, 1:291–307).[2]

When we look at the gospels John the Baptist, and Jesus in His earthly ministry, were heralding or calling out people to assemble with a purpose and calling. The subsequent believers who shared the gospel were doing the same thing. That purpose and calling, the reason for the assembly, is most clearly seen in Matthew 28:18-20, The Great Commission. Whenever and wherever the gospel is preached the church is being called to live the gospel and disciple others to do the same.  

Now back to what Jesus meant in Matthew 16. Jesus in essence was saying that the church, the people He would gather, would have spiritual authority over the authority structures of the spiritual opposition against them. Paul understood this, which is why he wrote the following.

6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Corinthians 2:6–8 (NKJV)

While it was religious and political authority structures that carried out Jesus’ crucifixion, Jesus had led them into a trap and set them up for failure, which is Paul’s point. The principalities and powers Paul addresses in Ephesians in his teaching on spiritual warfare were the rulers of this age he referenced in 1 Corinthians 2. Their defeat by Jesus is what enables us to use the spiritual authority He has given us (Matthew 28:18-20) to preach the gospel and set the captives free. The authority structures of hell will never defeat the church. We carry His authority and are commissioned as He was to destroy the works of the devil (Acts 10:36-38).

The issue of authority is important because our use of it is tied to whether or not we believe we have it. I have read more than one account of people involved in witchcraft or the occult who later became Christians and stated that prior to their conversion they could see the authority that Christians carried but didn’t seem to be aware of. The awareness of authority is crucial for our operating in it. I recall a time many decades ago when I was pondering whether or not I had any spiritual authority. Later that evening an older lady (likely younger than I am now!) who had a prophetic/intercessory gifting called me at home and in the course of our conversation suddenly said, without any mention of the issue on my part, “Randy, you have the authority!”  

Thus, I say to you, as a believer, “You have the authority!’ So, let’s walk in the authority He has given knowing that our ultimate victory is assured. Let’s pray and proclaim the truth of the gospel. We may lose some skirmishes in the battle but if we do we need to adjust our armour and get back in the fight and be found faithful knowing the final outcome is assured for us, the called-out ones, His church.  

[1] Robert L. Thomas, New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries : Updated Edition (Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998).

[2] Thoralf Gilbrant, “Ἐκκλησία,” in The New Testament Greek-English Dictionary, The Complete Biblical Library (WORDsearch, 1991).

Carrying a Calling

There is a very interesting verse in Colossians, almost presented as an afterthought by Paul.

17 And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.” Colossians 4:17 (NKJV)

The presentation in the Lexham English Bible is more pointed.

17 And tell Archippus, “Direct your attention to the ministry that you received in the Lord, in order that you may complete it.” Colossians 4:17 (LEB)

Paul is consistent in that he gives a similar encouragement to Timothy.

5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:5 (NKJV)

While on the surface the primary point is the need to direct or give our attention to the ministry we are called to, there is an important subtext. That subtext is that we each have a ministry or calling. However, if we are unaware of what our calling is directing our attention to it is a difficult task. Over the years there have been various tools developed to help us discern the gifts that we carry. While we can fill out and labour over surveys there is another approach we can use. In Matthew 6:21 Jesus told us that our heart follows our treasure. That is, we all value certain things yet Jesus is telling us in the passage to set right priorities and choose to value the right things. This means pursuing His heart through His word, worship and fellowship. When we do this our gifts begin to emerge and it is easier to direct out attention to them.

There are a few lists of gifts in the NT, Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, Ephesians 4:11and 1 Peter. 4:11. Some are viewed as bestowed by the Spirit as needed in the moment and others as inherent motivational gifts, aspects of who and what we are. Paul illustrates some motivational gifts for us in Romans 12. I think they are illustrative rather than exhaustive but the important part is how he encourages us to use them.

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:6–8 (NKJV)

The gifts we carry, commensurate with our calling, need to be developed and their development comes about when we direct our attention to their use. For example, I know my gift is not hospitality. I enjoy spending time with people, I don’t enjoy preparing our home to host people. I do it because I think it is important, yet I know that unlike with me, it comes naturally to many. However, I do carry a desire to help people and I am very willing to help, to teach, to counsel, and similar things. Thus, these are the areas where I direct my attention.

I know the calling of some of you who read this, not all. Yet I also know that as we seek His heart our gifts and callings emerge and most importantly, I know that you carry a calling. Given that, pursue it and direct your attention to it that you may fulfill it. After all, as Paul wrote, we are His workmanship and He has prepared good for us to do.

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)

Walk with Me?

Lately I have been thinking about walking, actually longing for warmer weather and the snow to be gone so I can go and walk freely in the woods. Given my limited walking over the winter with my second knee replacement three months ago this longing seems deeper than usual. Part of this desire is that when I walk in the woods and mountains my heart is drawn to prayer and worship.  

            With my desire for walking in mind I heard something that led me to reflecting on the first mention of anyone walking in scripture. We find it in Genesis 3.

8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8 (NKJV)

Our next example of walking is in Genesis 5.

24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. Genesis 5:24 (NKJV)

Not surprisingly the Hebrew word for walk means, you guessed it, walk or walking.

I have heard people suggest that the language of Yahweh walking is an accommodation to our understanding as God is spirit and doesn’t have a body. I respectfully disagree. The consistent testimony of scripture refutes that view. For example, in Genesis 18 three men visit Abraham. We later discover that two are angels and one speaking to Abraham is Yahweh. In Isaiah 6 Isaiah sees Yahweh on His throne. He has a bodily appearance. The same is true for Ezekiel’s encounters. There are other Old Testament examples as well should you choose to search them out.

My point in raising this is that I believe Yahweh was in the habit of coming to Adam and Eve in the evening in bodily form and walking with them. Something was passed down to Enoch that stirred him to seek out Yahweh and walk with Him. In the walking their relationship became so close that Enoch was taken from earth to heaven.

My experience is that there is something significant about walking with another. Decades ago, working on an adolescent psychiatric unit I found walking and talking with the patients more productive than sitting and talking with them in an office. A friend from church recently shared that in a supervisory role he was in there was an identified problem with an employee, he went to see him and said, “Let’s go for a walk.” After 20 minutes of walking the source of the problem was revealed. I have another friend who regularly gets away to the mountains to ‘walk with Yahweh’ and the fruit is evident in His life. Walking is an openness and intimacy opportunity and we see the pattern of walking with Yahweh further reflected in Genesis.

1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. Genesis 17:1 (NKJV)

40 But he said to me, ‘The LORD, before whom I walk, will send His angel with you and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son from my family and from my father’s house. Genesis 24:40 (NKJV)

15 And he blessed Joseph, and said: “God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has fed me all my life long to this day, Genesis 48:15 (NKJV)

Walking with Yahweh was important both from the perspective of Yahweh and the patriarchs.

            Now, I don’t want to stretch a metaphor beyond its usefulness but I believe there is spiritual truth and opportunity in the idea of walking with Yahweh, in particular outdoors. Research demonstrates that people working on difficult tasks do better when exposed to nature. It makes sense given our original habitation was a massive garden.

There is an expression, ‘Not all who wander are lost.’ It reflects being more than doing. I know that when I sense His drawing to walk and be with Him I become more conscious of His presence with me throughout the day. So, is He asking you to walk with Him? Is that something you will do?  

Bing Videos Kim Walker-Smith Walk with Me

The Main Thing

There was a popular song a few years ago by Matt Redman about the importance of true worship. You likely know the song, The Heart of Worship. It is a beautiful song that reflects a spiritual reality found in the expression, ‘The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.’ A key line in the song is “I’m coming back to the heart of worship.” This leads to some obvious questions, ‘Why do we have to come back? Why did we leave?’ The answer of course lies in scripture.

1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? Hebrews 2:1–4 (NKJV)

The warning is about ‘drifting away’ not intentionally leaving. There have been stories of people over the years who didn’t survive because they were on some small floating device, stopped paying attention to the shore and drifted out to sea. In recent weeks there was the story of the Australian mother and her three children who went out on paddleboards and an inflatable kayak and the weather become rough and they drifted out to sea, even though they were paying attention. Thankfully they were rescued because the 13 year old boy swam four hours in rough seas to reach shore and help for his family.

The story serves as a warning and read carefully; Hebrews is a very sobering book that warns and deeply challenges us. One example above is the author highlighting the danger of drifting away. It is one reason for this famous passage in Hebrews.

24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24–25 (NKJV)

We need one another, we need to be checked and encouraged by one another, ‘lest we drift away.’

Thus, I think it is important that we have a way to assess whether or not we have drifted and need to come back to the heart of worship, our reason for being. As a way of making that assessment let’s go a little deeper into Redman’s song by looking at the initial verses.  

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that’s of worth
That will bless Your heart

I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart, yeah

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You, it’s all about You, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You, it’s all about You, Jesus

In essence Matt is saying that our words are an insufficient assessment tool. We can’t go by surface appearances. Instead, what we need to do is invite Jesus to examine our hearts and see if our focus is truly on Him. If it is our worship and lifestyle will be about Him. After all, true worship is scripturally defined most clearly in Romans 12.

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)

In the passage above the NKJV has ‘reasonable service.’ This is an accurate translation. Paul is saying that it simply makes sense in light of what he has previously written in Romans. Yet some translations, the ESV for example, have these two Greek words as ‘spiritual worship’ because the translators recognize that this level of surrender is at the heart of worship.

So, we can invite Jesus to assess our spiritual condition and whether our hearts have drifted, which I think we all do at times, I know I have more than once gone through the motions without my heart fully engaged and surrendered at that moment. The beautiful thing about walking with Him is that even though I can fail, each time I do I can run not away, but boldly to the throne of grace to ‘obtain mercy and find grace.’

Thus, if you see that you have drifted, simply seek His face and ask Jesus to help you reorient your heart to worship.    

Without Ceasing

I assume that at some point in time you have read or heard Paul’s admonition to ‘pray without ceasing’ and may have even attempted it. Let’s take a look at the context to get at what Paul was telling his readers, and by extension us.

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–22 (NKJV)

What is clear is that Paul cannot be referring to praying 24/7 because he also says, ‘Rejoice always’ and, ‘in everything give thanks.’ Three inclusive commands, leading to the obvious question, “Paul, what is it? Are we to be praying all the time, rejoicing all the time or giving thanks all the time?”

Always, without ceasing and everything are three different words in Greek but they all cover a broad inclusive category. Given that we can do none of them 24/7, let alone all three, let’s seek to understand Paul’s point. Paul’s sharing of the gospel at Thessalonica is recorded in Acts 17:1-9. He began preaching in the synagogue, a number of Jews were converted then a multitude of Gentiles. Meaning the congregation was made up of a mixed multitude but predominantly Gentile in ethnicity.  

The Jewish converts had a background in terms of how to pray, the Gentiles may or may not have had one depending on their cultural roots. They would have all had an idea of a spiritual realm inhabited by God, gods or other spiritual beings. We don’t know specifically what Paul taught them regarding prayer but we can be confident that he taught them something given his command above.

So, how would they have applied Paul’s instructions? Paul began his letter encouraging them, referenced their faithfulness along with suffering and rejection for their newfound faith. He then encouraged them that Christ would return for them at some point in time and told them to comfort and encourage one another. This is the background for his closing thoughts.

In essence Paul addresses two things. The first is an attitude, one characterized by rejoicing, prayer and thankfulness, no matter their circumstances. The second is an exhortation to embrace, discern and test the things of the Spirit, not cynically but with the aforementioned approach, rejoicing, prayer and thankfulness. As far as possible he wanted their first response to be these three things, always.  

For us that means we are called to embrace rejoicing, prayer and thankfulness in all seasons. That doesn’t mean we receive a cancer diagnosis and respond with ‘Praise the Lord.’ It does mean that we view our circumstances in light of both time and eternity. For example, I am just about at ten weeks post op for my second knee replacement. With my first knee I finally slept through the night after seven weeks. Yet as I write this, I have now not had a proper night’s sleep for the past 68 days due to the pain at night. I am not thankful or rejoicing that I cannot sleep properly. I am thankful that I had my knee replaced, confident that I will come through this and praying and seeking His face in relation to my need for better sleep. I know this is a difficult season in time that will have an end and that in the light of eternity is a miniscule moment. That is my present application of Paul’s admonitions. How are you applying them in your life?