Times of Refreshing Retreat

Mandurah, 26-27/0920/09

General Background

Sally asked us to take this retreat not so much as a time to focus on her and the call of God on her life, but as an opportunity to take time out and be still in the presence of the Lord.  In view of this I have titled the 4 talks over these 2 days “Times of Refreshing.” I want to begin with a text that has been very important to me for the last fifteen years or so.

“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.” (Acts 3:17-21)

Session A: The Priority of Repentance

1. What is the Promised Refreshing?

The expression “times of refreshing” that appears in this passage is a unique phrase in the Bible. When we hear this what do we think of?

It certainly involves the bringing of new life. According to the passage these “times of refreshing” run from the ascension of Jesus into heaven (“whom heaven must receive”) until his return.

Effectively the refreshing coincides with the gift of the Spirit at Pentecost which marks the beginning of the renewal of the people of God. There are a number of connections linked by the language of “pouring”.

a. In Acts 2:17 Peter (paraphrases) Joel, “in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I  will *pour out my Spirit on all flesh”.

b. Later in the same speech Peter says, “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has *poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.” (Acts 2:2-33).

c. He is describing the beginning of the renewal of the whole creation prophesied in Isaiah, “until the Spirit is *poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.” (Isa 32:15; see further Symmachus Greek translation of the O.T. nd how this is linked to Acts 3:20)

d. To understand what this renewal means for us it is important to note more closely the order of events in Acts 3:19-20 “1. Repent therefore, and turn again, that your 2. sins may be blotted out, 20 that 3. times of refreshing may come”. This is paralleled by Acts 2:38, “Peter said to them, “1. Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the 2. forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the 3. gift of the Holy Spirit.”.  The sequence is repentance, forgiveness, renewal (cf. Tit 3:5-6).

This order actually flows from Jesus own words prior to his ascension into heaven, ““Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that 1. repentance and 2. forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the 3. promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy” (Luke 24:46-52) Acts 1:4-5 makes it clear that “the promise of my Father” corresponds to “you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit”.

2. Restoration comes First

This might seem to indicate that for entry into refreshment we should stress repentance as the first priority. In the teaching of scripture however, the restoration of divine order precedes the turning of the people to God. Where “all things” are restored, restoration precedes repentance. This pattern is outlined in:

a. The Old Testament restoration from exile

This is the sequence in Ezekiel, ““I will restore their fortunes, both the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters, and the fortunes of Samaria and her daughters, and I will restore your own fortunes in their midst, 54 that you may bear your disgrace and be ashamed of all that you have done, becoming a consolation to them. …you who have despised the oath in breaking the covenant, 60 yet I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish for you an everlasting covenant. 61 Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed…” Ezekiel 16:53-54; 59-61; cf. 20:40-44; 36:24-32; Jeremiah 32:36-41; 33:6-9; Isaiah 44:22; Hosea 3:5, Romans 2:1-8.

b. The ministry of John the Baptist

““Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.” (Matt 17:11-13).

John the Baptist “restored all things” because he came preaching the absolute priority of the kingdom of God. John’s preaching was itself a manifestation of the kingly power of God that made possible the repentance he called for. Prophetically, the three primary elements of the restoring presence of the kingdom of God were present in John’s ministry: “John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming 1. a baptism of repentance for the 2. forgiveness of sins….8 I have baptized you with water, but he will 3. baptize you with the Holy Spirit.””(Mark 1:4, 8).

c. The ascension of Jesus into heaven

The ascension is the climax and foundation for all restoration because it signifies the restoration of humanity to the glory of God. Jesus is now the heavenly king reigning for us in the fullness of the kingdom of God. Since Jesus is exalted, all the promises of God may be freely proclaimed [cf. “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” (2 Cor 1:20).] This includes the promises of forgiveness and the gift of the Spirit (as above).

From another angle, the message of restoration signifies the turning away of judgement. The context for Peter’s words about restoration in Acts 3 is the healing of the cripple (vv1-9). This is a sign of the universal restoration of all things coming at the return of the Jesus preached as “Lord of all” (Acts 10:36) by the apostle.

3. Repentance comes First

In the sequence outlined above, the first step in receiving refreshing is the act of repentance. Repentance issuing in personal renewal is often shown in the creation of joy. Jesus said, “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7). This appears in Acts, e.g. “Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city.” (Acts 8:4-8), the Jewish believers interpret the outpouring of the Spirit in Acts 10 in this way, “And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”” (Acts 11:18), in Acts 16 “he (the Philippian jailer) rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God” (Acts 16:34).

Paul teaches, “As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” (2 Cor 7:9-10).

The association between repentance and the joy of salvation exists because repentance is the first step in discipleship:

a. The Great Commission highlights obedience to Jesus commands: “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” (Matt 28:18-20). There is a close connection between obedience to teach and obey all Jesus commanded and his promised presence, which is the source of joy (cf. “times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord” Acts 3:20).

b. The first thing Jesus commanded is repentance:

“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”” (Mark 1:14-15) cf. Mark 1:4 “John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”

Repentance is the first step in discipleship, the place from which all things in us are restored. The goal of repentance is not forgiveness of sin but the newness of life that the gift of the Spirit brings. This is why, “Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7:37-39).

A few quotes from Basilea Schlink, “Repentance is the secret of the joy filled life.” “the greater the repentance the greater the joy”,  repentance is “ a continuing experience resulting in the joy of a renewed life”. John White says, “Christians who have never known repentance, are butterflies that have never flown.” Another writer gives an analogy from gardening: “if I’m to grow flowers I must deal with the weeds.” (Hutchison)

This must not be taken to mean that repentance initiates something or causes God to act in some way.

4. Repentance Flows from Forgiveness

It is the unconditional offer of restoration through forgiveness and reconciliation that is already available in Christ that evokes a change of mind about God. The knowledge of the availability of forgiveness is the precondition for repentance “3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.” (Ps 130:3-4).

“Then suddenly there dawns upon us the vast, entire endowment of God’s free love and forgiveness, and of the reconciliation he offers us in Jesus Christ. It is this which bowls us over, frees us from the burden of guilt, transforms us, provokes metanoia. This is the discovery which has always to be made anew….It is this discovery which periodically in history gives rise to an outburst of infectious faith, mass conversions and irrepressible joy.” (Paul Tournier)

Karl Barth says, “a confession like that of Paul in Romans… has taken place because the forgiveness of his sins has been revealed, because he has not come in vain into the judgement” (CD II/2 769).

Exercise: Spend the next hour or so by yourself with God reflecting on Psalm 51.

Session B: The Resting Lord

Introduction

Our central theme is “Times of refreshing” which come “from the presence of the Lord”. In both Hebrew and Greek, the word for “presence” is literally “face”; to see(k) the face of God is to see(k) the closest presence of God. The psalmist says, “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and see the face of God?” (Ps 42:2). The ultimate intention of God’s plan is that we “will see his face” (Rev 22:4). To see God in this way is a gracious gift. The giving of this gift is intimately tied to the rest of God and the life of Christ.

God Promises Rest to His People

From the time God established his covenant with humanity he has always promised rest for this people. This was to be a share in his own sovereign completed work, “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.” (Gen 2:1-3).

God’s way of communicating this rest was through humanity. In commanding, ““Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”” (Gen 1:28), God’s goal was that all things would be enveloped in the presence which was with Adam and Eve when he walked with them in the Garden of Eden.  This was a total state of blessedness and so rest.

The Fall marks a radical break with this original state of peace. After the Fall the promise of peace would come through an ultimate conflict with Satan, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”” (Gen 3:15). Nevertheless, God’s promise of rest through his personal presence remained.

It is promised to Moses, “13 Now therefore, if I have found favour in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favour in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” 14 And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”” (Ex 33:13-14). Then to Joshua, ““Remember the word that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, ‘The Lord your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.’” (Josh 1:13).

As heirs of the original promise in Eden, the kings of Israel, itself a “priestly kingdom” (Ex 19:5-6), were to obtain rest from their enemies through the power of God. David experienced this rest, “when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies” (2 Sam 7:1). God promised rest for Solomon, “Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days.” (1 Chron 22:9). In practice however this rest was continuously broken through rebellion.

With time, the promises of rest become more eschatological. The messianic king would bring peace through a universal reign, “In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more! 8 May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River  to the ends of the earth!” (Ps 72:7-8).

The promise was repeated regularly, “For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”” (Isa 30:15). “Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. 17 And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. 18 My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” (Isa 32:16-18).

A permanent rest for the people of God required however a dispensation vastly different from the old covenant. God’s own rest could never be entered until God himself came as the Word made flesh (John 1:14). The reality of all the promises of rest is found in Jesus, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt 11:28-29). Jesus gift of rest involves a sharing of his own humanity with us.

Jesus Refreshed before the face of God

There is an intimate connection between the stages of the life of Christ and our experience of God’s refreshing. By becoming flesh (John 1:14), Jesus took on the burden of our mortality, with its tiredness, pain, rejection etc. This suffering and struggle as a human being climaxed in his becoming sin (2 Cor 5:21) for us on the cross. When he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34 from Ps 22:1), Jesus had lost all sense of the blessing of God’s face shining through him (Num 6:24-26). He had entered fully into the state of the wicked, “But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. 21 There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”” (Isa 57:20-21). When he laments, “I thirst” (John 19:28) he has entered into the “dry and thirsty land” (Ezek 19:13) where there is no water for the human soul. In his torment Jesus is completely lacking refreshment.

All this is reversed through resurrection and ascension. Jesus has been “received” into heaven (Acts 3:21). This signifies a royal welcome for the Son of God, as expressed in Hebrews 1:6, “when he brings the first-born into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”” The enthronement of Jesus in heaven is the climax of the Old Testament promise, “The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”” (Ps 110:1). Jesus now fully shares in the presence of the glory of God. Thus John says of the glorified Lord, “his face was like the sun shining in full strength.” (Rev 1:16).

By preaching, ““God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”” (Acts 2:36), Peter is establishing that the Lordship of the living Word was not something merely attributed to him by the Father, or a mere title. His Lordship is not external to the reality of his human struggle and suffering. Jesus attains Lordship by his personal victory in life over all the powers which resist the rightful rule of God.  He is Lord by his victory over sin, Satan and death.  He has removed all that spoils our true human enjoyment of the Lordship which God gave us in creation.

Jesus Refreshed for Us

In returning to heaven, Jesus re-enters the glory he had with the Father, “before the world existed” (John 17:5). As a human being Christ is fully conformed to the joy of heaven (Heb 12:2) and is “bringing many sons to glory” (Heb 2:10). “Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence/face of God on our behalf.” (Heb 9:24).

As we look into the face of Jesus that we are changed, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Cor 3:18). “God… has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor 4:6).

The New Testament language about Jesus being “seated” in heaven e.g. Mark 14:62; Eph 1:20; Col 3:1; Heb 8:1; 12:2; Rev 3:21 represents enthronement with sovereign authority (cf. Dan 7:13). Jesus is seated as both king and priest, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Heb 1:1-3). Because priests stand to minister Jesus sitting means his work as priest is finished, he is at rest. He no longer has to obtain redemption, he applies it; “12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.” (Heb 9:12).

When I was praying recently a picture came to mind that I first saw in an evangelistic tract called “The 4 Spiritual Laws”. It shows 2 stages of life. Our pre-Christian lives are like a throne with self seated in the centre, when we become believers Jesus is invited to be seated on the throne. If Jesus is seated on the throne of our lives it is as the resting Lord. This represents the life of a discipled believer, that is, someone who shares the rest of Christ.

Lordship Precedes Rest

To enjoy the rest of God is not automatic. We are exhorted, “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God” (Heb 4:9), “11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience” (Heb 4:11). The writer to Hebrews focuses on the particular sin that stops God’s people entering his rest, “they were unable to enter (God’s rest) because of unbelief.” (Heb 3:19). The opposite of unbelief is faith, this is not an abstract belief, but trust grounded in the practical Lordship of Christ.

The restoration of “all things” can only come through the Lordship of Christ being exercised over everything. This is a major New Testament theme. “9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth…. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” (Eph 1:9-10, 22-23).

Christians treasure scriptures like, “28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom 8:28). This promise is however only operational in our experience when we allow Jesus to be Lord of all things in our lives. We enter into the goodness of God and so his rest when we accept that the circumstances of life are neither neutral nor negative but contain within them the purpose of we might “be conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom 8:29).

Consider the trials faced by Israel in the wilderness over food, water, enemies, and dangerous animals. They were unable to enter God’s promised rest because they refused to embrace these sufferings as part of the good discipline of God. “who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, who brought you water out of the flinty rock, 16 who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end.” (Deut 8:15-16).

The trials that come upon us are to be accepted as a share in the death and resurrection of Christ for us (Phil 3:10), the outcome of which is refreshing from the divine presence. To “reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:17) as a “kingdom and priests to our God” (Rev 5:10) is to exercise the Lordship of Christ in all circumstances and to be seated with him at rest over all things. This is the concrete meaning of being “ raised …up”  and “seated …in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:6).

Exercise: Spend the next hour or so by yourself with God reflecting on Psalm 23 and/or Hebrews 3-4.

Session C: The Fullness of the Father

Introduction

The scene of Peter’s preaching in Acts 3 is itself a witness to the refreshing and restoration that has come through Christ. Because Peter is filled with the Spirit who brings such renewal, he can speak the transforming Word in power and boldness (Acts 1:8). To be filled with the Spirit is to enjoy the reality that will eventually fill all things, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Hab 2:14).

The “restoration of all things” relates to the climax of the design of creation, “that God may be all in all” (1 Cor 15:28). Peter’s preaching of refreshment and restoration does not involve a narrow experience from God but a relationship that is all encompassing. This follows from the revelation of the nature of God in scripture. From the beginning, the plan of God is to fill everything in creation with his presence as Father, Son and Spirit.

God’s Plan is to Fill Everything with Himself

This is the pattern laid down from Genesis onwards.  God created the universe through speaking his Word in the power of his Spirit e.g. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” (Gen 1:1-3). “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.” (Ps 33:6). The way in which God draws humanity into his fullness involves the power of blessing.

“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.” (Gen 2:1-3). The seventh day of God’s “rests” draws its power from the divine blessing that makes all that indwells this day (the order of the whole creation oikoumene) holy. God’s own rest is a state of blessedness as the Persons of the Trinity enjoy their mutual work, “then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, 31 rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.” (Prov 8:30-31).

The declaration, “And God blessed them.” (Gen 1:28), envelopes humanity as the crown of divine blessing. Whatever is made by the Word and Spirit of God in the divine image necessarily enjoys the fullness of the Father’s blessing. To share in this is what it means for humans beings to be created for God’s glory (Isa 43:7).

To impart blessing was always the intention of God. This is conveyed in the Old Testament promise, “The Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. For the Lord will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers, 10 when you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that are written in this Book of the Law, when you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deut 30:9-10). The impartation of blessing has reached its full expression for the people of God in Christ, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Eph 1:3). “bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing” (1 Pet 3:9).

Sin Means loss of the Blessed Presence

Sin is a rejection of the blessedness of the divine presence and brings about the punishment of exclusion from the divine favour, “therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.” (Gen 3:23-24). The first couple were forced to dwell upon an earth that had been cursed, “cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life” (Gen 3:17). The fullness/fertility etc of the earth had been withdrawn by the judgement of God.  This pattern continues with the abolishing of Cain, “And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth… Cain went away from the presence of the Lord” (Gen 4:11-12, 16).

Under the Law of Moses the covenant was regulated by a mixture of blessings and curses (Deut 27-28), but the latter predominated. The climax of these curses was to be cast out of the holy land (the new Eden) and sent into exile in Babylon; “20 For because of the anger of the Lord it came to the point in Jerusalem and Judah that he cast them out from his presence. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.” (2 Ki 24:20).

The New Testament expression, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23) describes the loss of the fullness of the divine presence. This is also the final state of lost humanity, “9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might” (2 Thess 1:9). This is elsewhere called a curse, ““Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matt 25:41). (Cf. “‘I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matt 7:23).)

Jesus Fills Everything with Fatherhood

Jesus came to recreate all things and to do this according to the pattern laid down in the beginning, that what is made by Word and Spirit enjoys the blessing of the Father. This is how Christ sees his own life and ministry, “For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” (John 3:34-36).

Jesus was self-consciously filled with the presence of the Father. ““I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.” ” (John 14:6-10).

The climax of Jesus’ manifestation of the fullness of the Father is his prayers from the cross. Surrounded by those who curse him, he utters, ““Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”” (Luke 23:34). If there was ever any doubt about the Father’s desire to bless this blessing carries it away.

Jesus Removes the Emptiness

Sin is atoned for by Jesus taking into himself in the cross the fullness of isolation from the presence of God, ““My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”” (Mark 15:34). Jesus takes into himself the consequences of covenant violation, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” (Gal 3:13). The curse endured on the cross is separation from the Father. To experience alienation from the “one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph 4:6) means separation from the fount of all blessing. It means the loss of the “one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist” (1 Cor 8:6). “the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in  God who created all things” (Eph 3:9) is lost to the vision of Jesus because he no longer experiences himself in the divine blessing of God as Father, in our place he is cast outside  the innermost presence of God. The cry of dereliction signifies the means of universal restoration and points us to the essential reason why Jesus came.

Blessed from Above

The final command of Jesus is, “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” (Matt 28:19-20). The “name of God” is here revealed as Trinitarian in form and substance.

Jesus is able to enter into his hidden place of rest, that is, to ascend into heaven, because he has received the authority to immerse humanity in the totality of who God is as Father, Son and Spirit. This is his blessing (Luke 24:50). Where Moses failed to bring the people into the land because he could not enter through his own disobedience, Jesus fulfils the promise. Whereas the old covenant was maintained by a mixture of blessing and cursing (Deut 27-28), the new covenant involves the unconditional presence of God.

“When he ascended on high” Jesus poured out gifts upon the church so that it might come “to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph 4:13). Knowing it lacks nothing the church can pour out into the world all the riches of Christ.

Fullness in Us

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” (Eph 2:19-22). Every temple has one purpose, to be filled with deity.

This is the purpose of exhortations like, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 5:18-20) and “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. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Col 3:16-17). As the church abides in the creative Word and Spirit it becomes increasingly aware of the blessing of God as a Father and spontaneously breaks forth with praise and thanks. God’s greatest desire is always to fill his people with his glory.

Fullness Resisted

The fullness of the presence of God in the people of God is resisted by the same forces as in the beginning. “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.” (Col 2:9-10 cf. Eph 6:10-18).

“The elemental spirits” (Gal 4:3, 9; Col 2:8, 20) are demonic powers that seek to impose rules, rituals and regulations on the church that substitute for the personal presence of God. They operate as “deceitful spirits” (1 Tim 4:1) whose legalism aims to reverse the flow of saving history by taking us back to law, “And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:16-17). Evil spirits seek to substitute the presence of God in Christ, the Word-flesh, for inanimate principles and precepts that God does not indwell. However high sounding, the words of those who emphasis things other than Christ are “empty,” that is, lacking the blessed presence of God. (Matt 6:7; Eph 5:6; Col 2:8; Tit 1:10).

Fullness Means Lordship

Acknowledging Christ’s Lordship in all things brings rest, but it is his fullness that establishes his Lordship. The relevant scriptures exhorting us to be filled with the Word and the Spirit (Eph 5:18-20; Col 3:16-17) are commands to be obeyed. As we submit to them we are aware that we are seated with Christ in order to receive his authority to pass a positive judgement of blessing on those who are around us – in our workplaces, streets, shops, schools, offices etc.  It is only by the Word and Spirit that the blessed presence of the Father is conveyed.

God’s deepest desire is that we bring “the fullness of the blessing of Christ” (Rom 15:29) into every aspect of creation into which he has placed us, this is how refreshing and restoration come. The great challenge is to believe that God is a God of unqualified or unconditional blessing. That as Father he wills to bless others before anything else.

Exercise: Spend the next hour or so by yourself with God reflecting on Luke 6:27-30.

Session D: The Manifest Presence of God

Introduction

The expression “manifest presence of God” refers to occasions when God makes himself unavoidably real to us. The Bible recounts many such occasions – the burning bush, the pillar of cloud and fire, the parting of the Red Sea, the Temple being filled with the glory of God etc. This is one of the purposes of signs and wonders, powerful preaching and other extraordinary phenomena (Acts 2:1-5). It is a term commonly used of Christians’ intense spiritual experiences and encounters with God in revival.

To manifest his glorious presence is the ultimate goal of God in creation. In the End, everything will be seen to manifest the glory of God. What is now visible only to the holy angels (Isa 6:3), will then be seen by all: “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Hab 2:14).

Jesus is the Manifest Presence of God

In the fullest possible sense, Jesus is God manifest (John 1:1-18). Everything about Jesus conveys God’s presence. This was made most striking for people by his ministry. “And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.” (Luke 5:17); “And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.” (Luke 6:19); “And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”” (Mark 1:27); “The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!”” (John 7:46) etc.

The cross seems to be the exception to this. On the cross God hides himself from Jesus (Mark 15:34). Generally, this is an expression of the divine wrath against humanity, “How long, O Lord? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your wrath burn like fire?” (Ps 89:46). According to the principal of sowing and reaping (Gal 6:7-8), or, the punishment fits the crime, because man hides from God (Gen 3:8-10) God hides himself from man. Since however, Jesus is suffering for us, the absence of the revelation of the divine presence is the way in which Jesus takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

When God deprives the godly of his awareness, they necessarily cry out for the divine presence. God’s presence is the life of the faithful (Ps 139). Jesus’ cry on the cross, ““My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”” (Mark 15:34) is, in the language of the psalms, “a prayer to the God of my life” (Ps 42:8). Such prayer is not an activity of Jesus, his prayer is his life. (“It is the life which prays.” Andrew Murray) The only possible answer from the Father to such a life-prayer is the glory of the resurrection.

God Manifest Himself through us

The New Testament makes it abundantly clear that God primarily reveals his presence through us.

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 5:13-16)

“For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”” (Acts 13:47)

“Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Phil 2:14-15).

“Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. 12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia. 14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?” (2 Cor 2:10-16) n.b. the priority of forgiveness.

Christians often struggle to feel like light, salt, fragrance etc. Why do you think this is?

God’s Will is to Restore and Fill all things through us

It is the will of God in Christ to increasingly inhabit each of the spheres of culture in which each of us live. He wants to fill all of human life with his presence. “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Eph 3:14-21).

This fullness must come to pass in us in exactly the same way that God was united with and revealed by the humanity of Christ, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14). As the Word of God intensified his presence in Jesus via the life of prayerful submission, so it is with us by participation in the Word and prayer.

This involves the ever repeated cycle of emptiness and fullness, death and resurrection, crying out and receiving glory. The form of the life of Jesus is the form of our own lives (Phil 2:5-13). This pattern encompasses all of life; all history is destined to be conformed to the way of crucifixion and resurrection.

Exercise: Discuss what it means in your life situation to be glory, light, salt, fullness.

 

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