Tag: Spiritual insight

In my last writing I referenced the importance of recognizing where we are located and the importance of ‘staying’ there. This is explicit in the passage below.

¹ If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. ³ For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Colossians 3:1–4 (NKJV)

What we now need to do is look at how we practically apply this spiritual reality because we are spiritually with Him, not there in physical substance. Doing this will of course address the saying, “You are so heavenly minded you are no earthly good” and establish that being heavenly minded is what enables us to truly be of earthly good. After all, as the tagline I came up with for my blog says, “An Eternal Perspective: Living in time, preparing for eternity.” It is what we do in time that determines both our eternal destiny and our role in eternity.

            Now to the solution to our apparent problem. We find it in a verse in Isaiah that we will dig into.

³ You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)

The words perfect and peace are shalom in Hebrew, it is translated as ‘perfect peace’ to convey the importance via repetition but in Hebrew it is shalom shalom. Isaiah is telling us up front that this perfect peace, a heart at rest, is the result of an activity. That activity is keeping our minds set on Him (This may be the verse Paul had in mind when he wrote Colossians 3:2). We also see in what Isaiah wrote that we can only keep our mind fixed on Yahweh if we trust Him.

            To go a little deeper the Hebrew word translated as mind is yester and it refers to how something is framed or formed and includes the idea of intention. The word stayed is the Hebrew samak and refers to leaning, resting or laying. In a number of places in scripture it is used to refer to a priest laying (resting) their hands on an animal before it is sacrificed. We can then see that when our intention is resting in and on Him we experience His peace and rest.  

That is the background and in terms of our daily practice it means constantly looking to Him. Let me give you an example, one of my cousins recently shared a sermon with me. Bob, who is one of the pastors at a church in St. Albert, was preaching in a smaller community outside of Edmonton that my cousin attends. In his message Bob frequently referenced being in situations where he would inquire as to what the Father wanted him to do in that situation. He shared one story which had quite an impact on my cousin, and subsequently on me. Bob, was converted as a teenager from a lifestyle of drugs and partying in a small town in Northern Alberta. Not long after he attended a party to share the gospel. There he felt the Father leading him to share with two young men in their late teens who subsequently both acknowledged they wanted to change their lives and give their hearts to the Lord, which they did. Within two weeks they both died in a car accident.

One of those young men was my cousin’s brother and I was one of the pall bearers at the funeral forty-four years ago. It was only recently that the family learned through this sermon that he had given His heart to Jesus prior to his death.

The significance of these events is tied into how Bob lives his life. He is constantly looking to the Father for direction. His life is a pattern of how we are to live. We really have two options. We can live from earth toward heaven, or from heaven toward earth. Which is what Isaiah and Paul both described. When we live from heaven toward earth our hearts are at rest and we have no anxiety because we are assured of the ultimate outcome of our faith.

An example from my life took place over twenty-four years ago. I followed what I believed was His leading in applying for a different role at work. Logically it made no sense to me as I had just moved offices to be closer to home, thought I was to be in this particular office, and the new job was way across the city far from my home. I went through about four weeks of internal wrestling and anxiety because I tried to follow what seemed to be His leading but the logical outcome appeared to contradict His leading. It seemed that the Spirit’s leading to change offices and the Spirit’s leading to apply for the new role were contradictory!

In this situation if I had kept my mind set on Him, I could have gone through that time period with no anxiety. However, my vacillation between living from heaven toward earth and then seeking to live from earth toward heaven created a great deal of stress in my life. In the end it was needless. The position I had applied for was to be the manager of an office and it was offered to me – in the office I had transferred to! The current manager was transferred to the office I had applied to manage and I remained in the office I thought I was supposed to be in and in the role I sensed He had led me apply for. It worked out.

In the examples above, Bob had learned to consistently live from heaven toward earth. I had vacillated. I still do at times but the majority of the time I am at rest because I trust Him and seek His perspective on a daily basis. The choice is before all of us. We can live in and out of rest in Him or we can trust in our own wisdom. I prefer the former, what about you?

An additional thought. One of the places I have been reading in scripture is through Numbers. Recently in my reading I came across what has to be the funniest group of people in the bible. Who knew it would be found in Numbers! If you are curious read Numbers 26:23 in a more literal version like the NKJV, ESV or NASB.

            In my last post I focused mainly on the way gifts can be used, drawing primarily on the Old Testament (OT). Now we turn to the New Testament (NT) and the use of gifts in building the body of Christ, the church. The parallel is that in the OT there were gifts given to the craftsmen to build the tabernacle, Yahweh’s earthly dwelling place and to establish worship in and before it (Exodus 31:1-5, 2 Chronicles 7:6, 29:25–27). Bezalel was the main artisan gifted by Yahweh to build the tabernacle and David was the worshipper who created musical instruments to bring forth worship.

Bezalel means ‘in the shadow of El’ which carries the idea of protection as in Psalm 91:1, our protection being found in abiding in His shadow. The shadow idea is fascinating as we know from Colossians 2:17 and Hebrews 10:1 that the OT rituals were shadows pointing to the reality found in Jesus.

In the NT the primary gifts given to build His dwelling place and bring forth worship are listed in Ephesians 4. Gifts given to move us from shadow to substance. Here we have Paul referencing apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers given to the body to build, not build their ministries, as is sadly the focus for so many today in the Western church, but to build His body. Paul is clear on Jesus’ purpose for giving the gifts and the outcome Jesus desires to see.

¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, Ephesians 4:12 (NKJV)

¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:16 (NKJV)

These ministries gifts are given to equip all of us to build the body and the body is built when it is rightly joined and knit in community and every joint, every relationship between parts, works effectively. Then the church, His body, grows. This is Jesus plan for building His church.  

            This means that we as His body as a whole need to understand our part. The focus of the leadership gifts from Ephesians 4:11 is dualistic. The apostolic and prophetic gifts are described as foundational. They are to lay the foundation of Christ in the life the church. The evangelistic gift is given to bring others into the body, the pastoral gift given to shepherd and tend the body and the teaching gift given to establish the body on and in truth. This is their first responsibility. Secondly, they are also to raise up and release others into their gifts and callings.

            I am well aware that this is not what happens in most fellowships as the majority of us function as an audience not participants. Whether by design or default that doesn’t take away from what Jesus has called us to, which means we each need to labour to see the church built into what Jesus desires, not what we are familiar with. If we embrace His call our labour will include sharing, intercession and active involvement. In essence we are called to be that which we wish to see. If we wish to see the church grow into what Jesus envisioned, we need to embrace His desire and follow Him in being and doing.    

            In this first post in this series, I provided a brief overview and sampling of gifts and their use, while noting that scripture has much to say about the subject. I concluded that we need to both discern and use the gifts we have been given. Now we look a little further into what scripture has to say, beginning with the Old Testament (OT). The clearest example is gifts given for the building of the Tabernacle of Moses in the wilderness.

¹ Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ² “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. ³ And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, ⁴ to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, ⁵ in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship. Exodus 31:1–5 (NKJV)

The passage goes on to name others but the main point is the gifts came from the Spirit and were commensurate with the task. Nothing suggests that these abilities were removed from Bezalel, merely that they were given for a specific task. I say this to note that whatever gifts we have, they can be used wisely, carelessly, or misused. We don’t who made the golden calf in Exodus 32 beyond ‘they’ (Exodus 32:20). Aaron’s assertions that he threw gold into the fire and the calf came out is far less than plausible (Exodus 32:22-24). In a similar manner gifted speakers can persuade us to embrace right or wrong ideas but the gift is the same.

            An example of gifts used for a godly purpose is David’s development of musical instruments. David, the ‘man after God’s own heart’ (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22) was a worshipper and due to his heart desire and at Yahweh’s command, created musical instruments to be used in worship.

⁶ And the priests attended to their services; the Levites also with instruments of the music of the Lord, which King David had made to praise the Lord, saying, “For His mercy endures forever,” whenever David offered praise by their ministry. The priests sounded trumpets opposite them, while all Israel stood. 2 Chronicles 7:6 (NKJV) See also 2 Chronicles 29:25–27 (NKJV)

            The gifts we have been given are meant to be used to glorify God. Bezalel and David both did that with their gifts. Another gift Yahweh gave in the OT is prophecy. Jacob/Israel had it. We see it in operation in Genesis 49:1-28. The chapter begins with a declaration.

¹ And Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days: Genesis 49:1 (NKJV)

Jacob then goes on to prophetically tell each of his sons what will happen to them as a tribe of Israel in the future.

           Yahweh gives gifts but we need to choose what to do with them. An example is Balaam in Numbers 22-24. Balaam had a genuine prophetic gift and was hired to curse Israel but instead declared blessing over them. His heart was corrupt, his prophecies were true. Balaam didn’t misuse his prophetic gift, instead he misused the influence he acquired through his gift. He couldn’t violate what Yahweh told him to speak prophetically so he sought to overthrow the fruit of his own gifting by counselling the king of Moab on how to entice the Israelite’s into sexual sin.

¹ Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. Numbers 25:1 (NKJV)

The reason we know this came from Balaam is from what Jesus said in Revelation.

¹⁴ But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Revelation 2:14 (NKJV)

It is clear that gifts can be used or misused so now we can draw some conclusions. As noted in my last article, gifts are given to be used. In using them we are called to use them wisely, and of course the wisest thing we can do with our gifts is glorify God. Jesus noted that even if we give a cup of cold water in His name, we will not lose our reward (Matthew 10:42). Compassion and empathy is a wise use of a gift. Given that what counts in the end is how we use the gifts we have been given, it is best to use them wisely and look forward to hearing on that great day the words from Matthew 25:23, “Well done good and faithful servant.”

When someone plans a house, the architect develops the plans and blueprints. The architect can envision the whole project before the hole is even dug for the basement. Then those from the various trades who actually build the house need to follow the blueprints as they not only provide the broad overview, they also provide the details. I will share an example.

When we first got married my wife and I had a house built. The blueprints were in place for a purpose. I would drop in to see how things were progressing. One day I showed up and went into the master bedroom to look at the wiring. A young man, that I assume was an apprentice electrician, was installing the electrical boxes for the outlets. When I looked at what he was doing I asked him if he was aware that he was installing the plug ins in the closet – he wasn’t because he wasn’t following the blueprints.  

We had a couple of additional issues. We designed the lighting in the kitchen to have one light near the sink and one over the table at the eating area. Someone decided the room wasn’t that big so put one light in the centre of the room. They had to change it because they chose not to follow the blueprints. We had also designed a small storage area at the back door and arrived one day to find it had not been put in, there was wall there. Someone decided we didn’t need it because there was a small closet back there. Another change was required because, you guessed it, they weren’t following the blueprints!  

            Scripturally, the Father is the architect and Jesus is the overseer of the project called the church, which He said He would build (Matthew 16:18). We are each a part of the building; Peter refers to us as ‘living stones’ being built into a ‘spiritual house’ (1 Peter 2:5).

In 1 Corinthians Paul described himself as a wise master builder. In fact, the Greek word for ‘master builder’ is architektōn. I am sure you recognize the word architect in it. Paul is obviously not the architect in the same sense as the Father, but he is a junior architect building the church. In this capacity he provided blueprints he received from Jesus that we are expected to follow.

¹⁰ According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. ¹¹ For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 (NKJV)

An architect or master builder designs proper structures. Based on the things revealed to him by Jesus, Paul laid Jesus as the foundation in the lives of the Corinthian converts. Now he exhorts them, and by extension us, to be careful with what we build on this foundation.  

            Knowing the what is important, we know we need to build something, the how is another matter. If we are to build on Christ, we need some idea of how, which Paul provided. One place is Ephesians 4:17-32. Paul told us the behaviours we are to demonstrate and says it is accomplished by ‘putting off’ the old man and ‘putting on’ the new man.

²² that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ²³ and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22–24 (NKJV)

Paul says that the way we accomplish this lifestyle change is by being ‘renewed in the spirit of your mind.’ This renewing of our mind is the fruit of intimacy with Jesus, not the fruit of gritting our teeth and exercising our willpower. When we spend time in His presence we are changed by Him. Paul presents this reality in Philippians.

¹⁰ that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, Philippians 3:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] Philippians 3:10 (AMP)

I added the Amplified bible as it brings out the nuances. If we pursue a deep intimate relationship with Jesus’ we will find that we are following the blueprint provided by the architect and others will see the fruit of it in our lives. Let’s follow the blueprint and if we put the lights or plugins in the wrong place, He will let us know as we sit with Him, and we can go back to the blueprint.