Read Your Life
Introduction
What a couple of weeks health wise, breathlessness due to an ongoing heart condition that took us into RPH emergency, then chronic nagging from kidney stones, then a heavy head cold. Finally, just as I as springing back to feeling normal and energised about going out to pray yesterday, as I bent over to tie up shoelaces, I put my back out. The pain is sharp and severe and arrives unpredictably. To top it all off, I was attacked by a stinging insect molesting me in unmentionable places (cf. Ex 23:28; Deut 7:20; Josh 24:12)! However I needed such a spectrum of pains to “hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches” (Rev 2:7etc.).
Understanding the Signs of the Times
Idols dead to divine revelation populate culture and Church, “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.5 They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see.6 They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell.7 They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. 8Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.” (Ps 115:4-8 cf.1 Cor 10:7, 14; 1 John 5:21; Rev 2:14, 20). In countermeasure the true Lord raises us “living idols”, the prophets, whose anguished testimony is incorporated into his own saving story (John 15:26-27). As those called to read our own lives as a part of “the testimony of Jesus, the Spirit of prophecy” (Rev 19:10), and given that “surely the Lord does nothing without revealing his secret plan to the prophets” (Am 3:7), what is the Lord revealing prophetically for our time?
Look Beyond the Miracle to Jesus
Pentecostal-Charismatic Christians, with whom I identify experientially, but not culturally or emotionally, are an enthusiastic bunch. Who can dare deny that “the joy of the Lord is our strength….God inhabits the praises of his people” (Neh 8:10; Ps 22:3). Nevertheless, spiritual “enthusiasm”, when people become intoxicated with their own natural responses to the mighty acts of God (Acts 2:11) is a heresy as ancient as religion itself (http://encyclopedia.uia.org/en/development/12321460). Our all-wise loving Father protects us from such self-indulgences by loving painful discipline (Heb 12:5-11). This is not easy in a nation with a comfortable lifestyle like our own. When an emergency doctor was moved from unbelief concerning my usually terminal cardiac story into calling me a “walking miracle” (100 per cent blocked left anterior descending artery; https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24507-widowmaker-heart-attack), I should have been more careful not to fall prey to “conceit” (2 Cor 12:7). Yet when robbed of my prayer time I suddenly felt “unspiritual”. A sure sign that I had been selfishly substituting my own self-consciousness for an awareness of the crucified-and-glorified Lord Jesus (Rev 5:8). This is a dreadful thing grievous to the Holy Spirit and malodorous to our all-Righteous Father (John 17:25;1 John 2:1-2). Honestly, we as God’s people are massively struggling.
Read the Signs
Paul needed to tell the Corinthians, that despite their elevated spirituality, “the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—you are not lacking in any gift” (1 Cor 1:6-7), and abilities to “discern spirits” and do “miracles” (1 Cor 12:10), many of them had become ill and others had died because of the judgements of God (1 Cor 11:27-34). Whilst, like ourselves, they had plenty of prophets (1 Cor 14 etc), they apparently lacked holy men and women who could see the divine judgments already falling. As Peter says, “For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Pet 4:17). Back in 1 Corinthians Paul speaks with authority because he is indwelt by holy fear concerning his own state, “I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Cor 9:27 cf. Eph 5:21; Phil 2:13). What are we missing brothers and sisters?
Pray for Christ’s Fruit
Are you aware dear Christian, that whilst ruling the cosmos our Lord Jesus is limitlessly more “meek and gentle” (2 Cor 10:1) than when he was on the earth. Therefore, when we long for “the meekness of wisdom” (James 3:13) we are hungry for more of the eternal character of Christ. This is a key to greatness that David was given, who testifies, “your gentleness made me great” (2 Sam 22:36) A key sadly hidden from so many of our leaders. If we are seeking the Lord for a “wave of glory”, which I interpret as the influx of fire-refined Third World Christians coming to Perth for the World Prayer Assembly, we must also be ready for an upswelling of a new generation of leaders. Only this new wineskin will be humble enough to accept that the coming glory did not come because of their spirituality or that of their congregations. They must be a nameless and faceless group for this is always the way the Lord. The great 18th century evangelist wrote, “Let the name of Whitefield perish, but Christ be glorified.” Smith Wiglesworth prophesied, “What a failure to think that people have their eyes on me. God will never give His glory to another;” Amidst revival at Oral Roberts University, Keith Green hid beneath the grand piano! Where is that Spirit of lowliness in the Church in Perth? To see what Jesus sees we need to see very differently.
Out of Exile
The undesirable indignity of my insect bite pushed me over the edge of complacency and opened me to the hidden privilege of restoration through shaming (cf. 1 Cor 15:34; 12:23). In her rebellion the Bride of Yahweh became guilty of spiritual adultery, was warned repeatedly by the prophets (Hosea; Jer; Ezek) then finally shamefully stripped of her self-luxuriant clothing (Ex 16; Hos 2:3 cf. Rev 17) by being forcibly taken into exile by her Husband. Only when God sovereignly restores her former covenant glories does she then repent. Finally the heathen nations see that the Lord has sovereignly and graciously acted for the sake of his own name and glory so they too can join with the Bride in worship (Ezek 36:22-38). This remains the gospel pattern for the New Testament and today. Only those who have “forgotten they were cleansed from former sins” (2 Pet 1:9) can imagine the Lord Jesus could bring the Western Church out of her long exile from his glorious presence whilst permitting her to continue her present carefree lifestyle.
Conclusion
The “spirit” of “envy and selfish ambition” (James 3:14, 16) remains prevalent in a Westralian culture proud of its prosperity and multitudinous billionaires. “Wise men from the east” remains a joke, for we are a materially aspirational society. Such fleshliness will not remain unchallenged in the wars of the Lord Jesus (2 Cor 10:1-6). Whilst the curse of fatherlessness (Mal 4:5-6) lies heavy on the land, the river of life (https://cross-connect.net.au/the-river-of-god-and-the-healing-of-the-nations/) which removes all causes of cursing (Rev 22:1-3) is already flowing through the hearts of God’s people for the righteous Jesus has once and for all taken the curse for us (Gal 3:13). He has broken my long dying father’s spoken out cardiac curse over my life (Prov 26:2) and will negate ever oath spoken over you too. “ in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken! (Is 54:17)