Web Chapel

Serving the Saints

Author: MrSteveSlusser

  • Silent Prayer

    Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, …..  “Isaiah 6:8

    As our nation awakened to the National Day of Prayer I opened my Bible (actually my tablet app) and read this prayer of Isaiah.  The passage begins with “I saw  the Lord.”  We often focus on this chapter as the vision of Isaiah.  However, since my heart was focused on prayer I found a little “treasure hidden in the field” as the old brothers would say.

    We often pray privately just like we pray publicly.  It is how we are taught. By our example we teach this to our children.  We talk to the Lord. We give him a list of things to act upon. Then with the invocation of Jesus Name we conclude our prayer time with “amen” (let it be so).  Imagine if all of our interactions were done this way. Rather than converse, we just tell folks what is on our minds,  say “let it be so”, and walk away.  That sounds silly in the context of human interaction.

    Let’s take a look at this “vision” a little differently.  Read the opening of Isaiah 6 and think of the author sitting in his home meditating on the Word of God and seeking His face.  Suddenly and apparently unexpectedly he sees The Lord!  The first part of this “prayer” is not speaking words, but seeing a vision of the Glory of the Lord. In fact, it is a while before Isaiah speaks.

    This is the recipe for private prayer  that we may glean from Isaiah’s encounter with the Lord.

    1) GET A VISION OF THE LORD (6:1)
    I may not have had my own “vision”, but sitting there reading the Word of God I could see Isaiah’s vision and pictured in my mind what it must have looked like.  God has revealed Himself in His Word and in all that He has created.  Perhaps it could be in a flower “behold the     Lilly of the field“, or a creature of God “behold the ant” that He will show Himself to me on another morning with Him.  This phase of our prayer time is as important as the words that we speak. Get a vision of WHO GOD IS!

    2) TAKE A LOOK YOURSELF (6:5)
    When we see ourselves in light of the Glory of the Lord we should respond like Isaiah, “woe is me”.  We read that all our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) but until we compare all that we think is good in us to His Glory we fail to see just how unworthy we really are.  We need to get to the place of the publican who prayed “Lord be merciful to me, the sinner” (Luke 18:3). When we are humbled in His presence,  when words fail us,  we are finally ready to listen to Him.

    3) LISTEN FOR HIM TO SPEAK (6:8)
    I am not proposing that we pause in public prayer to hear the Lord speak.  However, in our private time of prayer, we need to insert times of “silent prayer” to allow God to speak to us.   We may not be blessed with the audible voice of God that the apostles heard at the Transfiguration (Luke 9:35), but we can hear Him.  Isaiah is recording a “vision” here. This is not a physical encounter, yet the voice of the Lord was clear to him.  “I heard the voice of the Lord”.   God has spoken through His prophets, and now through His Son (Hebrews 1:1ff). When we open His Word we can also hear Him speak if we will just listen.

    4) RESPOND TO GOD’S WORDS (6:8)
    Isaiah responds spontaneously with “Hear am I, send me!”   From my earliest days in the faith I have been touched by missionary slide shows and stories.  I wanted to go and wrote to missionaries and went to nursing school, but He did not send me to the jungles of Africa.  Isaiah’s words went forth to the world through this prophetic book, but there is no record that he himself “went”.   Abraham took Isaac to the mountain and was prepared to sacrifice his own son, but God provided himself a sacrifice. (Genesis 22).  When we respond to the Word of God with willingness and eagerness it pleases Him.  We are thinking like He thinks and feeling like He feels. We now see the world as He sees it.  Our own insufficiency is somewhat forgotten as we gain strength in His presence.

    5) NOW YOU ARE READY TO “PRAY”

  • FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT

    And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
    – Ephesians 5:18

    Most folks think that they have control of themselves and their circumstances.  I am reminded of a scene from the movie The Devil Wears Prada.  Miranda, a powerful fashion editor, is explaining to her second assistant Andrea that the sweater she “chose” was actually chosen for her by professionals in rooms like the one that she found herself in at that moment.  I apologize if you missed the analogy, but the point is that world (in the Biblical sense) tells folks what to think, what to wear, and how to feel.

    Paul begins his admonition to be filled with the Spirit with the extreme contrast of being controlled by alcohol which is (results in) “excess”(KJV).  The Old English term excess confuses some folks into thinking that the verse is talking about too much alcohol.  Actually, this word is translated elsewhere as “riot” (1 Timothy 1:6 & 1 Peter 4:4), a behavior observed of unbelieving Gentiles. It is a term of violence to self and/or to others.

    Ephesians 5:17 provides the purpose of being filled with the Spirit: To understand the will of The Lord. The following verses provide the result of being filled with the Spirit.

    • Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;  (Ephesians 5:19)
    • Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (Ephesians 5:20)
    • Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. (Ephesians 5:21)

    The confusion that folks make here is that some think that through religious practice like singing and listening to Christian music, saying prayers, and subjection to religious authority will lead them to the Spirit’s filling.  On the contrary, these are the results (not the means).

    What then is the filling of the Spirit?  One analogy often used is that of a glass filled with water, leaving no room for anything else.  This represents the view that the Spirit is the content of the filling. This view results from the misunderstanding of what this verse is saying.

    If Paul was indicating that the Spirit was the “content” one would expect to find what is known as a “genitive of content”.  The use of a dative to indicate content is rare. In fact, there are no examples in the Bible of a “dative of content” where the preposition “en” is used, as is the case here.

    Therefore, the grammar of the text argues for the agency of the Spirit rather than the content. Expanded this would read: Be filled with (that is by means of) the Holy Spirit.  The fact that this is in the present (be being) indicates that it is not like salvation or the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (a totally different subject), that occurs once for all.  Instead, it is a daily or moment by moment act of the will to allow the Spirit of The Lord to have control.  Namely, saying yes to what the Word of God says even when it conflicts with our own wisdom, intellect, and emotion.

    Finally, if the content is not the Spirit, what is?  The answer is found in Ephesians 3:19, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.  See then it is God working in us that results joy, contentment, singing, praying, and placing others above ourselves.

    Beware that you do not mistake religion, which may look much like this, for a true relationship with The Lord.  Only one who has believed on Christ can filled (controlled) by His Spirit, and enjoy the fullness of God’s indwelling Spirit.  Trust in Him today.

     

     

     

     

  • PLEDGE

    In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation–having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.   Ephesians 1:13-14  

    Our word today is found in three Scripture references.  Each is a reference to the Spirit of God being given to those that believe the gospel of Jesus Christ.  [See also 2 Corinthians 1:22 and 5:5]

    The term translated here “a pledge” is ἀρραβὼν (arrabōn). It is translated “earnest” in the KJV and “deposit” in the NIV.  It is a term likely borrowed from Phoenician traders to indicate an advance payment that guarantees full payment on delivery.  There also seems to be a later association of this term with an engagement ring (though not the common use when Paul wrote this).

    Today my wife and I celebrate what we call “Impatience Day”.  Having received the blessing of Kitty’s father and having purchased the ring, I was waiting for Valentine’s Day to pop the question.  In the words of my own father, the ring was “burning a hole in my pocket”.  I just couldn’t wait another week.  So after an evening of Bible teaching and music at a local prison for youthful offenders, I asked Kitty to be my life partner.  The ring that I gave her that night she still wears today as a symbol of my pledge to be her husband.

    The pledge that the Lord has given to the believer is not purely symbolic.  It is the real, indwelling presence of the Living Spirit of God. This “pledge” points to the promise of “redemption”, yet another financial term.  Paul writes, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us”.  – Ephesians 1:7-8a The Spirit is given as the guarantee of not only the full payment of our salvation, but of a relationship to the Person of the Son of God.

    We, the Bride of Christ, await the Coming of the Bridegroom to take us to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.  We have His Spirit as the pledge of His promise.  Even so come Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)

     

  • IDOLS

    “My little children, keep yourselves from idols.”  (1 John 5:21)

    I grew up in a large family with colorful relatives.  Among them was my beloved Aunt Hazel.  Her home was like a museum filled with images and statues of idols from around the world.  I don’t think she actually worshipped them but it was clear that she was fascinated by them. She knew their names and their supposed powers.

    The last gift that I received from her was a small box of miniature carved statues with a card telling me their names.  It is now part of an illustration I have used for years in children’s gospel meetings called the “idol box.”  Nobody would argue that these items belong in that box, but the other items may surprise you.  A baseball, coins, a miniature television, and other assorted icons of daily life that may be useful or necessary, yet any could become an idol.

    What exactly is an idol? The images of man or beast carved into wood, metal, or stone are the obvious ones (Deuteronomy 29:17).  Colossians 3:5 ends a list of sins done in the body with “and covetousness, which is idolatry:” I am not so sure that the grammar in the sentence may not dictate that everything on the list is also idolatry, but covetousness is synonymous with idolatry in and of itself.

     The basic idea of covetousness is desire.  It could be the desire for something that does not belong to us.  Or perhaps it could be the desire to be something that we are not.  Through the magic of the media we are made acutely aware of what we could have and what we could be and before long we want it.

     The root of covetousness is not being content with what we have or who we are. There is an old adage that states “if you want what you have, you will have what you want.”  Paul’s similarly admonishes Timothy that “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6).  What you do not spend (lose), you save (gain). That makes sense.

     The idolatry of covetousness drives man into debt or at least wastes his resources that could be better invested. Many always need (want) the newest gadgets and gizmos. (I speak to and of myself).  For some it is riches, for some it is relationships, and for others it is recognition.  You get the idea.  Now you know what to look for. 

     “My little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21).

    SBS
    October 2012

  • MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE

    “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28

    John 10 provides much information about sheep and shepherds. The focus of this short study is the Shepherd’s voice. I recall reading about a group of shepherds gathering to water their flock. An observer asked how they could tell which sheep belonged to which flock. The answer came when they were rested and refreshed and the shepherds called out to their sheep. Very quickly the sheep divided into their various flocks simply by hearing their shepherd’s voice.

    “… and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.”  John 10:3b

    In John 20 we read that Mary (Magdalene) arrived early at the tomb of Jesus and found the stone rolled away. She told the disciples of her discovery. Peter and John rushed to the scene and confirmed her observation. John looked inside the tomb and Peter actually entered and saw the empty grave clothes. They left the scene but Mary lingered behind. She also stooped down and looked inside but now at the head and foot of the place Jesus had body had rested were angels. She spoke with them and with Jesus (supposing him to be a gardener). Through her grief and tears she did not recognize who she was talking with. But then she heard a single word – her name “Mary” (John 20:16). She immediately recognized Jesus and clung to him.

    “…the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.” John 10:4b

    In 1 Kings 18 Elijah the prophet had a showdown with the prophets of Baal. He called down fire from Heaven and killed the false prophets with the sword. Following this great victory he was pursued by the wicked queen Jezebel. He found himself alone in the wilderness and cried out to the Lord to take his life. God sent him a messenger with food and instructions to go to Mount Horeb where found a cave for shelter. It is there that he met with the Lord and once more pleased his cause. The Lord instructed Elijah to stand upon the mount as He (The Lord) passed by. First there was a strong wind, followed by an earthquake, and then by a fire. Each time the phrase is repeated “but the Lord was not in the (wind, earthquake, or fire)”. But then came a “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12), and this was the voice of The Lord.

    “…And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice;”   John 10:16

    Perhaps you are like Mary. The Lord is close by but you do not recognize Him. Or could it be that like Elijah you are looking for Him in the wrong places. Whatever may be your situation, The Lord may very well be speaking to you right now. Listen as He softly calls out your name and offers you the opportunity to live forever in His presence.

    “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish” John 10:28a