Sermons

VISION AND VOW

Any vow and any binding oath to afflict herself, her husband may establish,[b] or her husband may make void. But if her husband says nothing to her from day to day, then he establishes all her vows or all her pledges that are upon her. He has established them, because he said nothing to her on the day that he heard of them. But if he makes them null and void after he has heard of them, then he shall bear her iniquity.”

Numbers 30:13-15

ASKING & THE HOLY SPIRIT

How does the Holy Spirit, described as “a Spirit of grace and asking” (Zechariah 12:10) help our praying, our asking of God? Since Jesus is the greatest teacher, let’s note what He tells us that we can expect to experience when we are asking in His name.

1. The Holy Spirit will help us to ask: Jesus said, “I will ask the Father and He will give you another helper…”  (14:15; 14:25; 15:26; 16:7) “…to be with you” (14:16). Until now, Jesus had been their “paraclete” (Gk. parakletos), the one who was physically and intimately alongside them, to help them, especially by answering their asking. But all this was going to change. Jesus told them that He would no longer be physically present with them, and this would mean that they would “no longer ask me anything” (14:19; 16:23). Was that the end to asking? How could it be if He said, “I will come to you” (14:18). Jesus promises that He would send them “another paraclete” (14:15) who would be the equivalent of His presence. Our ability to ask will be effected now by the Holy Spirit. Though the world “neither sees Him nor knows Him” Jesus says that the disciples will know Him and the Holy Spirit will “live with you and be in you.” (14:17) The “with-and-within” presence of the Holy Spirit is the presence of Jesus. It is because of this assurance of Jesus continuing to be intimately with us by His Holy Spirit, as our continuing ever-present paraclete, that we always have someone alongside us to help us to ask. If there was no Holy Spirit, there could be no asking. But because Jesus said that He will be “with you forever” there is no limit set on our asking, either because there is no one to ask, or because time has run out. “Forever” means we can ask and keep on asking! Our asking is an evidence, it is a sign of the Holy Spirit’s presence! “Prayer on earth, whether as cause or effect, is the true measure of the presence of the Spirit of heaven.” (Andrew Murray ‘The Ministry of intercession’) Let’s not forget two things:

·       The Holy Spirit does the prompting and prodding, inviting and inspiring, preparing and propelling to get us to the place where we ask. It is always the work of the helping Spirit, whether our asking comes out of conviction of sin or confidence in supplication, or whether out of a sense of unholy despair, or holy desperation. It is the Spirit of God that has drawn us near to ask.

·       It is the work of the Spirit, once having counseled and convicted and convinced and conducted us to the place of asking, not only to help us to get there, but to help us to stay there. If this asking began in weakness and we needed the Spirit’s help because of it, then it is clear that strength has to come from somewhere not just to pursue it and then practice it, but also to persist and to persevere in it. Without strength, our asking can only be “without ceasing” because of the Spirit’s empowering and fortifying help.

2. The Holy Spirit will teach us what to ask for: Jesus said, “The Spirit of Truth … (14:17) … The counselor will teach you all things… (14:26) … All that belongs to the Father is mine ... the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you … (16:15) He will testify about me… (15:26) … what He hears He will tell you” (16:13). The Holy Spirit is not our advocate in a redemptive sense (Jesus is the only mediator) but when it comes to asking, He does two things for us, that you would expect any good legal advocate to do for you:

i.          give you the words so that you can ask and plead effectively for yourself,

ii.          ask and plead for you Himself on your behalf.

The Holy Spirit briefs us, prompts us, scripts us. This is what Jesus said he would do for our asking. Truly the Holy Spirit is our counselor in asking, revealing the counsels of God. Jesus told us that the helping Holy Spirit would come to us as the teacher of our asking. He will inform us of the ‘what’s’ and instruct us in the ‘how’s’. There’s an important point about our asking that is couched in Jesus’ promise that our Helper will tell us and teach us what he hears. The Holy Spirit is “in the know”. As Paul later put it, He is a “Spirit of wisdom and revelation” (Ephesians 1:17-18). When you are asking, expect the teaching of the Holy Spirit to be manifested in the three ways that Jesus described:

o   The Holy Spirit will “remind” you (14:26) The Holy Spirit will teach you by not only reminding you of what you should be asking about, but also by bringing to your remembrance the things that you need to know in order to ask aright: key scriptures that will influence and inform your asking; the names of people who should be asked for; situations that need to be asked about; precedents of God’s actions in the past, in His ways and works and wonders (Deuteronomy 8:2; Psalm 77:11) that embolden your asking and give further grounds for it. It is the activation of remembrance that we see as such a great trigger of so much asking by the psalmists. When the psalmist “remembered” his spirit “inquired” (Psalm77:6).

o   The Holy Spirit will “convict” you (16:8) The Holy Spirit will teach you by bringing conviction as you ask. First, the conviction of sin, both our sins and the sins of others, of nations. He will convict us if there are hindrances to our asking. He will also convict us of God’s righteousness and what we need to be asking to be established in the lives and circumstances that we are asking about. But He will also bring us the kind of conviction that convinces us about the need to ask, the need to persevere in it. As He convicts us of the power of God’s will and word, we will be stirred, and faith and fervency will be strengthened.

o   The Holy Spirit will “guide” you (16:12) He will teach you by guiding you along the right track. Those who are asking as sons will be led by the Spirit. “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Romans 8:14). So those who ask ‘Abba’ will be guided in their asking. Having given us traction in our asking, the Spirit will now keep us on track, away from distractions. The guidance will be experienced as directed asking, both to specific needs as well as to specific requests for those needs. The Spirit serves as our prompter, as our GPS for asking.

3. The Holy Spirit will assure us we can ask as sons and daughters: Jesus said, “I will not leave you as orphans…  (14:18) … you will realize that I am in the Father and you are in me and I am in you” (14:20). Jesus is addressing the feelings of bereavement that they were experiencing, possibly abandonment, that would convince them that things could not be the same again. Jesus would not be there to be asked about or for, anything. This is about the assurance of our sonship. If we live as slaves (who do not ask masters) or orphans (who think they have no rights of inheritance) we will have no confidence to ask. Essential to the Holy Spirit’s role in our asking is the truth that the Spirit who is our helper in asking, our teacher about asking and what to ask for, is the “Spirit of sonship”. (Romans 8:15) The Spirit relates us to our Father and why would we be surprised that as His sons and daugters we speak His language? ‘Abba’ is our natural and native tongue. Doesn’t it make sense that the Spirit would help sons to relate to their Father and ask of Him?

4. The Holy Spirit will seek God’s glory in our asking: Jesus said, “He will bring glory to me.” (16:14) The Holy Spirit’s relationship with our asking will always ensure that the outcome is God’s glory. Asking that is helped, instructed and guided by the Holy Spirit will bring glory to the Father. He will only further the desire of Jesus, which is the glory of the Father. When Jesus asked of God we hear: “Father, glorify your name” (John 12:8). “Father … glorify your Son that your Son may glorify you” (John 17:1). Was this not the prominent and pre-eminent thing that Jesus taught us to ask for too? “Our Father, Hallowed be your name”  (Luke 11:2). Even if we are not asking for ourselves, but for others, there is no basis for our gratification in that. That would oppose the glorification of God. At the end of the day, all our asking is for the glory of God, that His glory will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. We “do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

 

It should encourage us that we can ask, helped by the Holy Spirit, in a way that all the outcomes will be as Spirit-infused as our asking was. We want to ask in a way that invites Spirit-soaked answers. The more Holy Spirit-assisted asking that there is through us, the more the fulfillment of what Jesus loves to do most: “I will do whatever you ask in my name so that the Son may bring glory to the Father” (John 14:14). Let this possibility of the glory of the Father and the Son being effected through your Holy Spirit assisted asking motivate you and move you to ask! And again I say, ask! Pray for the Spirit that you may pray in the Spirit!

 

Pastorally and inquiringly yours,

Stuart

 

(This cannot be reprinted without permission.)

 

SPIRITUAL GIFTS DECEMBER 2020

 “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7). As we break this verse down we discover 3 important points that inform us about the purpose of the spiritual gifts:

 

1. REVEALING GOD’S PRESENCE

·      The mention of “manifestation” gives the clue. It literally means “shining forth, making something known”. The invisible becomes visible. It also carries the idea of something being carried to the mind and the senses that is unmistakeable.

·      The idea is that just as a flashlight lights up at appropriate moments because there are batteries within, we can manifest the gifts of the Holy Spirit because of the Spirit within. “We do not become the depository or reservoir of omnipotence. We become the yielded channels through which omnipotence manifests itself to meet any emergency of life or ministry.” (McAlister)

·      An important associated idea in the word “manifestation” is that of nearness. Gifts are the evidence of God’s nearness, His presence. God is “on the scene”. Gifts reveal the presence of God.

·      Summary: So it’s not just a matter of power but a matter of presence.

 

2. REQUIRING MEMBERS’ PARTICIPATION

·      “all of them in all men … to each one is given … to one … to another … When you come together everyone has …” (12:6,7,8,9; 14:26) The point here is not to put down public leadership but to lift up all members to a place of engaged ministry. You cannot miss the emphasis in these passages: each one, everyone, all. It is inclusive not exclusive. “Now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it.” (12:27) The verb form “is given” is present tense. The idea is that the manifestations are for particular immediate circumstances and times and make sense. This raises the anticipation level, and the expectation of members.

·      Do you still think that the “each one” cannot / does not include you? I’m not … I could never…. (Fill in the blanks.) Remember dear-heart, while we were an enemy Christ loved us and chose us, and He continues to do so when we think we’re still not what we ought to be. Of course we’re aware of what is yet to be attained but don’t let that stop you enjoying what has already been obtained.

·      Summary: any gift through any member, any time, anywhere.

 

3. RESULTING IN THE CHURCH’S PROFIT

·      Finally, it is all “for the common good” Second to the glory of Jesus is the good of the church community. This message is consistently and repeatedly presented: for strengthening, encouraging and comfort, for instruction, for self-edification, for building up the church and blessing others.

·      Chapter 13 about love is the key in the heart of it all. Our desire for the gifts becomes a yardstick for our love for others and our desire for their blessing. Openness to the Holy Spirit is not primarily for our well-being but for the good of another. Your understanding and experience of the gifts is not a private affair. They are going to be premised on your committed involvement and incorporation in the body of Christ. It is impossible to read these chapters (12-14) and not be convinced that spiritual gifts are a community experience not just an individual one. Familiarity with the gifts should increase with the deepening of familial bonds. The question, “Do I have the gifts?” has no meaning unless we also ask “Do I want to profit the body?” Packed into the phrase “the common good” are two ideas: benefiting and bonding.

 

Paul presents the gifts as something in the church not something just in the individual. They are not for private benefit. We are called to speak to the body not at it. Gifts are bestowed because you are an essential member of the body. If you become disconnected you become dangerous. In the body, our legitimate individuality is submitted. If it isn’t it will become an individualism that will be discordant and disruptive.  Scriptural teaching makes the whole subject matter  of the gifts of the Holy Spirit both desirable and achievable, and if you forget everything else, they are for blessing the Lord Jesus Christ, for blessing people with the ministry of Jesus Christ and for building the church of Jesus Christ

 

This should all be very liberating for us. We’re in it together. Gifts are an inextricable expression of our worship and become absolutely necessary for our work. They are not:

·      TOYS: for charismatics to play with and feel good about themselves

·      TRINKETS: cosmetics to make us look good and feel more superior and spiritual than they are BUT THEY ARE …

·      TOOLS: for building the body and blessing Jesus.

 

So, stir up the gift that is in you; do not neglect the gift that is in you; covet earnestly the spiritual gifts. And in the words of 2 Timothy 1:6, “fan into flame the gift of God which is in YOU”!

 

Trying to be your fan,

Stuart McAlpine

 

(This cannot be reprinted without permission.)