Creating Space
Introduction
I was in a prayer gathering yesterday with experienced “prophetic intercessors”, focussing on the great Christ-hymn of Colossians 1:5-20, especially on “that in everything he (Jesus) might be preeminent/first place” (v.18). With very many names bandied about the Church, both of personalities and denominations/movements, this might seem an impossible place to reach. However, we sense that it is something the Lord not only wants to do but will make manifest in the city of Perth. To be more precise, he will unveil the reality that Jesus IS in first place in the Church he purchased with his own blood (Acts 20:28). If the Holy Father (John 17:11) and his eternal Spirit (Heb 9:14) did not live according to this truth there would be no Church of God (Gal 1:13) in our city! How is it then that we hear sincere brothers and sisters praying/singing “Lord make us one” when Jesus has already prayed (John 17:4, 22-23) and perfectly realised this reality (John 19:30; Rom 12:4-5; 1 Cor 12:12; Eph 4:4-6; Col 3:15). We are deeply deluded when we live as if the divided and fractured state of the Body is more profound than here indissoluble unity. How might the Spirit of the Lord heal us form this acute disorder enscaling “the eyes of our hearts” (Eph 1:18). Thankfully, the Lord has prophets who oftentimes speak out truths far more foundational than they know. When one of the brothers prayed that it is the nature of the three Persons of the Trinity to create space for each other he was touching on this all-inclusive condition of God’s plan for the world. Our healing lies in the Spirit revealing the space-making love of the Lord.
The Glory of God
Theologians love words, and one of their favourites is the Greek term perichoresis (I commend this resource for exploring https://perichoresis.org/), it describes the dynamic interaction of the Persons of the Godhead within each other’s life. For eternity, Father, Son and Spirit, have never competed for first place but have ever-existed in a rhythm of perfect other-centred love. The Father has found his glory in the Son whose radiant glory is in the Father, all in the Spirit (John 17:5; Heb 1:2-3; 2 Cor 3:18). No-one has ever been left out. This problem of spiritual exclusion has simply been embraced by all polytheistic systems e.g., Hinduism and has shaped the reactiveness of the exclusive monotheism of Islam. The radical gospel of the true God revealed in Jesus teaches we are unreservedly taken us into God’s world by means of infinite grace; “in the beginning the Word was God…the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, cand we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (1:1,14). What has gone wrong in Western Christianity so that today vast multitudes of sincere cannot find a home in the Church? here is where it becomes intensely personal.
Fallen
One of the most ancient ways of describing sin uses a Latin phrase, incurvitas in se which means enfolding in on oneself. In the beginning God spoke his Word to Adam from beyond himself (Gen 2:17), but when tempted, instead of looking out and up to the Lord in his Word, he turned inward to his own vain imaginings of personal godlikeness (Gen 3:4-6). Men and women today are still living out this reflex of idolatrous desire every day (Jon 2:8; Acts 14:1; Rom 1:21-22). Sadly, this disposition is often sustained even by “mature” Christians.
I once had an outstandingly clear experience of this personally. After submitting to counselling from someone the Lord sent to help me with “father issues”, I was abused by a shop own in Singapore, and straightaway sensed my spirit folding in on itself in self-protection. Knowing I needed help I sought prayer ministry and had a life changing experience of grievous heartfelt repentance followed by tremendous liberation. John warns the Church of his day, “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” (1 John 3:17). A closed heart is a narrowed heart unable to receive the fullness of the Word of Christ. But Paul commands, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Col 3:16). The Lord desires this of the whole Body of Christ do we?
To him be Glory in the Church
The apostolic vision “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honour giving preference to one another;” (Rom 12:10 NKJV), “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Phil 2:3) flowed form a vision of Jesus who “made himself of no reputation/emptied himself” (Phil 2:7) in the absolute diminishing of the cross (Phil 2:8 cf. Mark 15:34) so that in him we might share in his fullness in God (Col 2:9-10). Immersed in the mortar of large hearted love (Col 3:14) the Church of Christ experienced perfect competition free harmony, because a place is found in the limitless wisdom of the cross (1 Cor 1:17; 24) in the temple Christ is building (1 Pet 2:) for the most irregular of “living stones”. In Jesus no one is left out all have a place as he appoints. The perfect inclusion the world speaks of can only ever be seen through the Church (John 17:2; Acts 2:44; 4:32ff; Gal 3:28)! It’s time to stop singing to Jesus, “there is room in my heart for you”, and to start confessing the far more expansive “there is room in your heart for me” (John 1:18; 14:23)
Conclusion
All who would lead must grow in making themselves small because this is how the Trinity has made room inside itself for a fallen world. Where are those who can unreservedly say to the Church, “our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.” (2 Cor 6:11-13 cf. 7:3). The elevation of leadership in our time, especially with its excessive emphasis on the 5-fold ministry (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers) in place of the majesty of Ascended Lord (Eph 4:7-11; cf. John 14:6) is hemming the people of God in.