Don't Succumb to Selective Obedience

"Speak to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, saying: 'I will shake heaven and earth.  I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms.'"  (Haggai 2:21, 22a--from today's Minor Prophets reading)

Those folks who are called intercessors are also those who are easily overwhelmed, that is, if they are also true watchmen and not "instructors" of the Lord Jesus Himself.  Today's text tells us, "I will shake heaven and earth."  I don't know what the means.  O, I have thought I did, as have so many others, but................ 

Yes, we are to ask, seek, knock, but not with the presumption that we know exactly what is going on in the world, and, have just the right request which Jesus needs to answer.  No matter for whom or for what I pray, there is always the sense that there is so much more here than I understand.  This is a great reason for walking in the reality of 1 Corinthians 14.

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is not a nice option for you and me, some "add-on" religious experience which is just for the "Pentecostal-type."  The Church needs to get beyond this embracing only that which one prefers and accepts, what is popularly accepted, the surrender to "seeker friendly" church.  We have a clear command from our Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 24, "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."  Have you?!?

Praying as 1 Corinthians 14 says, "with the spirit," or, "pray in a tongue," was obviously central to the Early Church, but by the end of the First Century it had already succumbed to "intellectual church."  Groups such as the Montanists attempted to revive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and accompanying gifts as the Book of Acts and I Corinthians describes, but soon disappeared.  Don't let it happen to you.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray for great conviction if I ever engage in selective obedience.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"The Things of The Spirit...Are Spirituall Discerned"

"For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries."  1 Corinthians 14:2)

"....in the spirit he speaks mysteries."  Or, could we say that I don't have do understand everything about praying?  Maybe this is the reason I have been "camped" with you in 1 Corinthians 14.  

The Gospels reveal that Jesus could never be anticipated in any given situation as to either what He would say or what He would do.  Just about the time you think you know how Jesus would respond to certain individuals whom He encountered, He did or said something else.  There is just so very much of "life in the Spirit," the, "Abide in Me," life in Jesus which can only be defined as, "mysteries." 

The Church was "birthed" on the Day of Pentecost in, "mysteries."  Acts 2 tells us, "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 8, 10, 19).  A Dutch theologian and Greek scholar pointed out that the Greek construction of the passage reveals that these, "other tongues," were not known languages of the various people groups gathered that day.  The, "other tongues," of that first Pentecost in the Church Age were languages unknown to man.  This is the same in Act 10 & 19.  The Acts 2 text does not say the disciples were speaking in the known languages of those present, but rather, "How is it that we hear...in our own language...?"  This, my friend, was something of the, "mysteries," of the Holy Spirit, viz., the disciples spoke in, "other tongues," and the Holy Spirit caused the others to, "hear...in our own language."

If the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit teach us anything, it teaches us that when we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, we enter the Kingdom of God/Heaven in which we can only live as 1 Corinthians 2:14 says.  "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."  1 Corinthians 14 teaches us that there is a "dimension" of living which goes beyond mental understanding.  This is central in understanding why Paul would say, "I speak in tongues more than you all." 

Remember the promise of our Lord Jesus Christ, "Ask and it will be given to you...."  If you have not, or at one time did, but have neglected this wonderful Gift of the Holy Spirit, I encourage you to ask for a renewed "filling."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess that life can only be, "spiritually discerned."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Fan Into Flame The Gift"

"For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God...."  (1 Corinthians 14:2a,b)

"He who Speaks in a tongue does...speak to...God."  I think we should prioritize to whom we speak. 

Elsewhere in the chapter we read, "He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself...."  Or, "....If you bless with the spirit,..you indeed give thanks well...."  Now, of course, if there are those who do not need to, " edify himself," or, "....give thanks well,.." then I can understand why this is all nonsense to them.

Jesus baptizes us in the Holy Spirit.  He has given us everything, "necessary," for our brief sojourn here, and I can say that I have never found such edification in this journey as when, "I pray in a tongue."  My Scripture admonition today is what Paul told Timothy, "Fan into flame the gift of  God that is in you...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, that when I don't know how to pray, you do.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Make Some Sense"--Okay, But Whose?

"For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.  What is the conclusion then?  I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding.  I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding."  (1 Corinthians 14:14, 15)

Do you?  Don't be like most people who live in the world of "what makes sense," i.e., if it doesn't, reject it.  How much of the Bible "makes sense," at least in the way which most interpret sense?  Our sense is our mind; face it.  And how far did that get us before we surrendered our hearts and minds to Jesus?!?

The main reason people reject, "pray in a tongue," or, "speaking in tongues," is that it "doesn't make sense" to them, period.  The MacArthur's and other self-appointed "authorities" can talk exegesis and hermeneutics all they wish; the fact still remains: The human mind just can't "get around it;" therefore, it finds ways to say, "Well, that's not what the Greek says," or, "That all stopped with the early Church," or, "...................."  To such people I would suggest listening to Paul rather than the naysayers, "He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself....I speak in tongues more than you all."

"My spirit prays...."  What on earth can be so objectionable to that?!?  Of course, "I pray with my mind," but my mine is limited; the Holy Spirit participating in, "my spirit," prays way beyond, "with my mind."  There are times when I pray as "far" as I can, "with my mind."  Then, when the inevitable happens, "I pray with the spirit....I sing with the spirit."  This "means of grace" is a glorious, "fellowship/participation," in, "the Godhead," Father, Son Jesus and Holy Spirit.

Father, in Jesus' Name, only You can "make sense" out of what seems to not "make sense."  Amen.

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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2