No one will deny that man's understanding is limited. We are limited by our experience, exposure, our prejudices, and the filters of perspective. Solomon affirms our human limitations in Ecclesiastes 3:11: "He [God] has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end." People remain ignorant without teaching. Because God desires that men know Him through personal experience He has given us the Bible, His Word. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit we learn of God's impeccable character. We marvel at His wisdom, learn we are gross sinners through His laws, and remain awed by His love and grace toward us. Just like we can never know God's works from beginning to end (not to mention His operation for eternity!), we will at best wade in the oceans of His wisdom revealed in His Word. His knowledge and wisdom go to a depth no man can plumb, and has love so expansive it reaches galaxies beyond our sight.
As we mature and grow in faith, a danger exists that we would grow in knowledge unchecked by humility. The second part of 1 Corinthians 8:1 teaches us, "...Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies." As people we struggle to keep everything in balance. Think about in terms of eating and exercise; we likely eat too much and exercise too little. The same can be true about our study of biblical doctrine. It is possible we have a personal affinity for certain scriptural teachings. Understanding doctrine is not the end: doctrine exists that we might know God and experience Him in a personal, continual relationship. Because none of our understanding is complete, there is a distinct danger that we would unconsciously confine God within our knowledge of a doctrine. By doing so we limit our faith and no longer allow God to be God.
How terrible it would be if God was confined by our own ideas of Him! Lately I have been studying promises and examples of divine healing in the Bible. I have learned much concerning God's operation to heal men in body and soul, but I freely admit I do not know all. God did not develop the doctrine of healing and is then forced to abide by His own rules. On the contrary: the revelation of divine healing through God's Word proves to us the character and will of God to heal. But God can still do whatever He wants whenever He wants. I either can make a god of my limited doctrine that God must bow to, or I allow God to be God. Romans 9:20-21 exhorts, "But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?" Instead of taking God at His Word, we can allow a single apparent exception from our experience to derail the whole of God's promises and His clearly declared will. What we classify as exceptions according to our limited view God consecrates otherwise.
May we never make a god out of our limited understanding to which the Almighty must yield! When we run into difficulties, let us retreat back to the truth which God has clearly revealed. Good doctrine always is a reflection of truth, not boundaries we set to which God must conform. Thank God nothing He does is arbitrary, but according to His good purposes!
12 April 2011
10 April 2011
Quote from "A Pastor's Sketches"
I recently obtained a copy of Ichabod Spencer's book, A Pastor's Sketches. After reading a few pages I am convinced I have found a gem. It's funny how relevant a book can be written over 150 years ago because men then are in the same condition they are now: lost! Human nature has not changed a bit, and neither has the saving power of Jesus Christ and man's great need for atonement and reconciliation. A pastor, Ichabod was called to minister to a young dying Irishman who had all sorts of intellectual hindrances to believe in God's existence. I cannot do justice to the logic and mastery which Spencer employed to convince the Irishman of his false impressions, assumptions, and prejudices. Shortly before his death, they shared a remarkable conversation which led to the Irishman's eventual conversion found on pages 48-49:
"Tell me what to do to be ready to die."
Said I, "You believe in God, the Infinite, Eternal Spirit?"
"I do," said he.
"Then pray to him," said I.
"I have, and I will," said he.
"You believe you are a sinner?" said I.
"I know I am," said he.
"Then repent, and trust in Christ for pardon."
"Will repentance save me?"
"No," said I; "Christ Jesus saves sinners. You must not trust to your repentance and faith to save you. That would be self righteousness. Trust only in the crucified Son of God, your proposed Surety." After a pause -
"What must be done first, before I trust in him?"
"Nothing - just nothing."
"How? Is there no preparation to make?"
"No; none at all."
"But, holiness - " said he.
"Results from faith in Christ," said I.
"And the Holy Spirit - " said he.
"Is your only hope," said I. "Without his aid you will neither repent nor believe. It is his office to take of the things of Christ, and show them unto us."
"Will you pray with me?" said he.
We fell on our knees. I offered a short prayer, and left him. I never saw him afterwards...the young man died in peace, with praises for the atonement of Jesus Christ on his lips."
Such a sure departure into eternal glory and rest is freely offered to all men who will repent and trust in Christ as LORD!
"Tell me what to do to be ready to die."
Said I, "You believe in God, the Infinite, Eternal Spirit?"
"I do," said he.
"Then pray to him," said I.
"I have, and I will," said he.
"You believe you are a sinner?" said I.
"I know I am," said he.
"Then repent, and trust in Christ for pardon."
"Will repentance save me?"
"No," said I; "Christ Jesus saves sinners. You must not trust to your repentance and faith to save you. That would be self righteousness. Trust only in the crucified Son of God, your proposed Surety." After a pause -
"What must be done first, before I trust in him?"
"Nothing - just nothing."
"How? Is there no preparation to make?"
"No; none at all."
"But, holiness - " said he.
"Results from faith in Christ," said I.
"And the Holy Spirit - " said he.
"Is your only hope," said I. "Without his aid you will neither repent nor believe. It is his office to take of the things of Christ, and show them unto us."
"Will you pray with me?" said he.
We fell on our knees. I offered a short prayer, and left him. I never saw him afterwards...the young man died in peace, with praises for the atonement of Jesus Christ on his lips."
Such a sure departure into eternal glory and rest is freely offered to all men who will repent and trust in Christ as LORD!
09 April 2011
Anointed Without Shame
Last night our family attended a "Biblical Dinner" hosted by Calvary Fellowship of Epping, a neighboring suburb of Sydney. It was an instructive evening of learning the social and hospitality customs in Israel during the life of Christ. When welcoming a guest into your home, good hospitality was of great importance. After the greeting it was good manners to offer a cold drink of water, wash the feet of the guest, and anoint their head with a fragrant oil. It was also considered polite to wash the hands of guests before eating.
I was asked to come forward for part of the demonstration. I was told to kneel and pastor John explained how the host would pour fragrant oil over the head of the guest. The oil would drip from the hair and beard onto the clothes. It reminded me of a statement King David wrote concerning the anointing of Aaron in Psalm 133:2: "It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments." It seems like a large amount of oil would be needed to drip from the head all the way to the edge of the garment! It is also clear that this ancient act of middle eastern hospitality would not receive a favorable reception among people hailing from western cultures!
It caused me to think about the command given to the sick in James 5:13-15: "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven." I used to always carry a small vial of oil with my Bible in case someone desired to be anointed in obedience to scripture. My thought always was, how much oil should be used in anointing someone? A dab on the forehead or the back of the hand? Even if I poured out all the oil in the vial it would not add up to half a thimbleful.
Anointing is anointing. If we make it a point to baptize by immersion, we shouldn't care if oil messes up our hair or drips onto our clothes. I am not suggesting we need to make an arbitrary "law" that true anointing with oil should be a minimum of 6 fluid ounces. But why don't we see people generously anointed with oil as Aaron today? Maybe it points to a deeper issue: perhaps we want to use just enough oil to satisfy the requirement but as little as possible to avoid inconvenience. Maybe someone just had their hair done or is wearing an expensive jacket...maybe we don't want people to feel self-conscious or embarrassed. This potentially sums up the life of Christians very well. How do I know? For too much of my life, to my shame, this sentiment could summarize my Christian walk - wanting the benefits God provides but unwilling to make even the smallest of sacrifices.
Consider the implications: we want benefits from God like healing and forgiveness but are not willing to submit to having oil poured on our heads. I used to place a drop of oil on my finger and place it on the afflicted person seeking healing - also with a couple of tissues on hand to quickly clean up! My great concern is as I carefully measure out the oil God carefully measures out healing. I want to be anointed fully, not just with a drop carefully meted out! We desire the Holy Spirit in His fullness, but when we refuse to yield ourselves to Him fully we hinder Him. LORD, may I never ration the outflow of your Spirit through me! How God desires us to fully yield to His anointing, even if it costs us a coat! If we are not willing to submit to having oil poured on our heads how shall we obey in the smallest spiritual matters?
In no way am I condemning any particular way people choose to anoint with oil in obedience to God. We are not under the Law but grace. My participation in the Biblical Dinner last night caused me to examine my reasoning behind my own practices of anointing people in name of the LORD Jesus Christ. In all things I want to do things God's way. It profits me nothing to conform to social church tradition when God leads me otherwise. Faith is best seen through my obedience to His Word. May God anoint us with the Holy Spirit without holding back a drop!
I was asked to come forward for part of the demonstration. I was told to kneel and pastor John explained how the host would pour fragrant oil over the head of the guest. The oil would drip from the hair and beard onto the clothes. It reminded me of a statement King David wrote concerning the anointing of Aaron in Psalm 133:2: "It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments." It seems like a large amount of oil would be needed to drip from the head all the way to the edge of the garment! It is also clear that this ancient act of middle eastern hospitality would not receive a favorable reception among people hailing from western cultures!
It caused me to think about the command given to the sick in James 5:13-15: "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven." I used to always carry a small vial of oil with my Bible in case someone desired to be anointed in obedience to scripture. My thought always was, how much oil should be used in anointing someone? A dab on the forehead or the back of the hand? Even if I poured out all the oil in the vial it would not add up to half a thimbleful.
Anointing is anointing. If we make it a point to baptize by immersion, we shouldn't care if oil messes up our hair or drips onto our clothes. I am not suggesting we need to make an arbitrary "law" that true anointing with oil should be a minimum of 6 fluid ounces. But why don't we see people generously anointed with oil as Aaron today? Maybe it points to a deeper issue: perhaps we want to use just enough oil to satisfy the requirement but as little as possible to avoid inconvenience. Maybe someone just had their hair done or is wearing an expensive jacket...maybe we don't want people to feel self-conscious or embarrassed. This potentially sums up the life of Christians very well. How do I know? For too much of my life, to my shame, this sentiment could summarize my Christian walk - wanting the benefits God provides but unwilling to make even the smallest of sacrifices.
Consider the implications: we want benefits from God like healing and forgiveness but are not willing to submit to having oil poured on our heads. I used to place a drop of oil on my finger and place it on the afflicted person seeking healing - also with a couple of tissues on hand to quickly clean up! My great concern is as I carefully measure out the oil God carefully measures out healing. I want to be anointed fully, not just with a drop carefully meted out! We desire the Holy Spirit in His fullness, but when we refuse to yield ourselves to Him fully we hinder Him. LORD, may I never ration the outflow of your Spirit through me! How God desires us to fully yield to His anointing, even if it costs us a coat! If we are not willing to submit to having oil poured on our heads how shall we obey in the smallest spiritual matters?
In no way am I condemning any particular way people choose to anoint with oil in obedience to God. We are not under the Law but grace. My participation in the Biblical Dinner last night caused me to examine my reasoning behind my own practices of anointing people in name of the LORD Jesus Christ. In all things I want to do things God's way. It profits me nothing to conform to social church tradition when God leads me otherwise. Faith is best seen through my obedience to His Word. May God anoint us with the Holy Spirit without holding back a drop!
07 April 2011
Thanks Cheerful Givers!
"So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver."
2 Corinthians 9:7
There are few things that make me more uncomfortable than discussing money as a missionary. There has no doubt been much abuse in government, corporations, businesses, and even in church ministries with people stealing or misusing funds. But the discussion of money should not be a taboo subject. The reality is that in our current system of buying and selling money is the only means to obtain necessities like food, petrol, internet access, insurance, and other things.
A huge part of my testimony is how God has always provided for my needs and that of my family. Especially in the last year, the financial contributions of family and friends have literally put gas in our tank and food on our plates. God has used your generosity and the timely sale of our house to provide for our physical needs. Thank you to all who have given as God has placed upon your heart. We have made some lifestyle changes to help us with the fluctuations in income as Shepherd's Staff disburses funds monthly, but to God be the glory: He has provided and continues to!
At the moment our housing, mobile phones, and petrol are being covered by the church where we minister as part of a compensation plan. Our visa restricts us from receiving cash from the church. So those who contribute to our Shepherd's Staff account are directly aiding us with day-to-day expenses, even things like buying "tyres" for our car! It's so great that the Holy Spirit moves people to give. We are blessed by those who support us on a monthly basis and also those who give single donations from time to time. It places us in awe to see God miraculously provide through you. I'm sure there are times when you doubt that your contribution makes any difference. I want to tell you that it makes a huge difference!
God always gives us what we need, and thank you for aiding in supplying for our needs through prayers and giving. I'm reminded of the passage in Acts 2:45 where Luke describes the lifestyle of the early church, how people gave of their possessions to those who had need. In giving you are living that life of faith! We praise God for using you to minister unto us. May you rejoice in the gift of cheerful giving!
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