Spectators, priviledged participants at best

This morning I was clearing out some old correspondence in order to make room for more paper and files in my filing cabinet. Some of it was letters, and I noticed one from a man who had turned up to a service some 25 years ago for healing. I read his description of what he had experienced from God and what had happened. It was wonderful. And it got me thinking.

We are but spectators to God's loving initiative and gracious care. At best, priviledged participants in His mission of mercy. We like to think of ourselves as agents. Instruments. In some measure, in control. But we're less than that. Yes, God can use us. But it is always God's initiative. Always God's care. Always God's love. That is what we witness to when we minister in Jesus' name. When we are truly arrested and used by God, we become more acutely aware that it all seems to happen despite us, rather than because of us.

The reason for that? Because it's all about Jesus. Now in lent, as we draw closer to passiontide, it's good to remember that. From start to finish, the salvation that comes to us from the Father, through the Son and by the Holy Spirit is God's gift, goodness given in glorious generosity. Enjoy the spectacle. And allow yourself to be drawn in.

You'll invite what you like and welcome what you want

Truth is, receiving the Holy Spirit's presence and power is something we really need to want. It doesn't drop into our laps. Justification, sanctification and eschatological empowerment should go together. But how much do we want it? Be honest. The Holy Spirit would work to bring empowerment in at least three areas of our life:

Personal holiness  - cleansing you and sorting you out in attitudes to money, sex and status.
Righteous living - pursuing God's social agenda for justice and care for the marginalised
Victory over the devil - with enabling to face the attacks of demons and disease

All this can be scary and life changing. So let me ask you: are you up for it? Because you need to be if you're going to want to be in God's eternity.

Are you baptised in the Holy Spirit?

Have you been baptised by the Holy Spirit? Do you want to be?

There is no getting away from it. Every Christian needs to be baptised in the Holy Spirit. An utter drenching and infilling in God’s presence and power. It transforms us and enables us. It changes attitudes and expectations for the Christian life.

When the Holy Spirit is infilling us in real presence and power, there is a change in us. Personal and congregational moral holiness appears and is longed for; the path of justice is pursued with ethical intent and righteous resolution; miraculous intervention in signs and wonders of God’s are longed for, expected and received.

A congregation full of people who have neither an appetite for nor an experience of the fire and power of God’s Holy Spirit is going to be a church that is spiritually impotent, morally and ethically corrupted and with no real sense of hope.

But a congregation where there is a longing and looking for the fire and power to fall will be a people where hope is abundant, where personal and congregational holiness is pursued, where facilitating social justice is high on the agenda and where God will repeatedly show His miraculous hand and His wonderful favour, His Spirit bringing light and life, quickening faith and love.

Yes, my friend. You and those in fellowship with you need to be baptised in the Holy Spirit and then experience His infilling again and again. Never forget this is the heartbeat. Continue to call out to God in prayer for this. Go for it!

Fracturing Fragility

Events in recent days have graphically reminded the world of the fragility of our political and economic systems. Whether North Africa or South East Asia. The most advanced technological societies are as vulnerable as any other. We live in a fragile, fracturing world which teeters on the brink of disaster. The present world and all its apparent securities passing away. Sober up. It’s true for all to see.

To be a Christian is to become part of a new world order that is God’s antidote to what we witness. A new world built on foundations found in the life and way of Jesus Christ. Jesus said that He brings life in all its fullness. He speaks of the Kingdom of God coming in power now.

Let’s root ourselves in the reality that’s eternally stable. Live a life consecrated to holiness, hospitality and help for others. Showing Jesus through our lives and bringing hope to a lot of frightened people around us now.

Lent begins with Mark 8.31 - 9.1

a.    Jesus brought the ‘breaking-in-ness’ of the Kingdom of God to the ‘world as it is’.
b.    the ‘world as it is’ will reject the bringer of the Kingdom of God.
c.    God allows the ‘world as it’ is to continue under His governance, despite hardness of heart and disobedience continuing.
d.    Jesus calls His disciples to focus on the ‘breaking-in-ness’ of the Kingdom of God as we live in the ‘world as it is’.
e.    For us, as Jesus’ disciples, there will also be personal cost.
f.    God assures us of His presence and enabling power, as we live as witnesses of the Kingdom of God, overcoming His enemies in the ‘world as it is’.