Grace

When Jesus described the Holy Spirit to His disciples He used the the phrase, 'He will guide you into all truth.' The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. Part of His amazing ministry to the body of Christ is to continually, lovingly, and steadfastly bring truth into our lives. Having been brought up in a fallen world with a mindset that is programmed by miss truth and lies, the Holy Spirit is the person to aid me as I seek to have my mind renewed to truth. One of the biggest problems the Spirit works on in my life is the lie that works, and performance, earn acceptance. This lie is so subliminal that half of the time I don't know I'm thinking that way until I am gently prodded with the truth. Abba is telling Me continuously that 'works', and performance is not the most important emphasis, love is. His love for us is unconditional. Not conditioned by our performance, or behaviour. Ouch! This is where grace comes in. Almighty God, creator of the universes, Holy, and Righteous, chooses to love us, because He chooses to love us, not determined by what we do. This is the gospel, the pure wine of the gospel. I am loved because God chooses to love me, all of me, all of the time.

Lonliness

I was in town this morning. The sun was out, it was relaxed, I had met a couple of people I knew, and before catching the bus home I popped into Fox's for a pint. It's very comfortable wine bar and I was able to sit looking out at people passing by. After a little while I began to experience a sense of loneliness. I didn't think it was for me but for men in general. Men have their own pressures, they are expected to be good bread winners, good partners, good fathers, good at everything really. We all know that men fail. The problem is this sense of failure brings with it a feeling of loneliness. I don't think many men are able to articulate the emotional stuff that goes on in their lives. The answer is Jesus, and His love, but how many men have an opportunity, or desire, to share their personal pain with others?

Thanks to our friends in Germany

What did the Rock stand on? 2

After my return from Germany last Tuesday, as part of the Glory Invasion team, I have once more found myself in John's gospel. I don't wish to go back over the earlier post, it will be easy for you to re-read, but I want to add just a bit. I said that Jesus was filled, and thrilled with the deep revelation of the Father's love. Part of His security as a person can be found in Luke 3 at His baptism when the Fathers audible voice declared.
'You are my beloved Son, in you I am well pleased and find delight.' Full stop. Even before Jesus did any miracles, any ministry at all, the Father was underlining Christ's identity. 'You are  My beloved Son, in you (put your own name in) I am well pleased and find delight.

Thomas Merton wrote...

'... mysticism tends to inspire apprehension even in religious minds. Why? because the mystic must surrender to a power of love that is greater than human and advance towards God in a darkness that goes beyond the light of reason and of human conceptual knowledge.' This is only a small piece that he wrote in an introduction to a book. Mysticism is alive and well in the Bride today and not just in monasteries and nunneries, nor is it practised by just special saintly people, but every baptised believer in Jesus can tap into the river of His love and get carried away on a journey without charts, or maps, but with the rudder of His love. God is more passionate about us than we realise. He yearns for fellowship and friendship. We are created to dwell in the very heart of the Godhead. Lets find more of His time to be with Him alone. Every thought directed to Him is an admission of His indwelling presence. I am learning what Jesus meant when he said ... unless you become as little children, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God. 

What did the Rock stand on?

What kept Jesus motivated, obedient even unto death. He wasn't a 'driven' man in the way we understand the word in Western culture, but He was determined, focussed, dedicated; and at the same time relaxed and unhurried. Yes he knew He was the Son of God, yes He knew He was the Messiah, yes He knew there was going to be one gigantic wonderful wedding feast being prepared, and yes I believe He knew about the forthcoming birth of the Church.
But looking at His time on earth, particularly during His short ministry period, for me one thing is growing in importance and influence as I spend time with the Holy Spirit. Looking at the verses in John 5 where Jesus talks about doing nothing on His own initiate, I immediately related that to 'works', and that's partly true. Again as He talks to the disciples in John 14 prior to Gethsemane He reiterates the truth by stating ' but the Father who lives continuously in Me does the works ( His own miracles, deeds of power). In case we get side tracked into the works paradigm  as He is telling them about the soon coming Comforter He says, 'At that time, (when that day comes) you will know (for yourselves) that I am in My Father, and you (are) in Me, and I am in you.'  The most important prayer Jesus offered prior to His arrest is recorded in John 17 Jesus is speaking back to the Father the words the Father has given Him to speak. It's about unity of the church, but it's the spiritual unity Jesus is praying about. That somehow we who are recreated are now in grafted into the Godhead it's self.
Paul has a real revelation of Christ in us the hope of glory which he passes on to the church. But my point is that until I get a personal revelation of having Jesus and the Father in me as Jesus promises in John 14:23 somehow I will still think I am important, and I have something to contribute. But the One we know as the Rock stood on the truth that the Father was in Him. He was never alone, never moved by men's opinions, never influenced by religion or the world, never gave up or failed. He had the deep heart, and spiritual revelation that He was INDWELT BY AGAPE.  Love Himself was united to Jesus, and Love Himself has chosen to come to live in those ragamuffins who trust in the perfect sacrifice of Yeshua the Messiah.