Dear…
‘He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.’
John 1:10
This morning, I felt physically and emotionally drained for no inexplicable reason. But I have come to learn, especially in such situations, to take my ‘power nap’ with the source of all grace and glory, God our Father.
And indeed the Spirit of God sanctifies, edifes and brings about new truths to one’s very being. And from being refreshed, also came a fresh new thought in my heart, which is, the dimension upon which God communicates with us.
‘And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.’
John 1:14
In the Old Testament, God communicated with chosen men like Abraham, Moses, Daniel and Joseph, amongst others, who in turn was used by the Lord to lead, teach and guide His flock. In the chasm of 600 years between the Old and the New Testament, nothing specific was documented in that period of Biblical silence. But after that, in the New Testament, God came to men in the flesh, in the form of His beloved Son our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet not all believe in Him and in fact, many were intent on persecuting Him.
‘Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?’
1 Corinthians 3:16
When the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ was taken to Heaven, to sit next to God our Father, He promised that the Holy Spirit will be sent to reside amongst men who believed, to guide, teach and correct all who believed. And this is where we are today.
But why is it so difficult for many professed Christians to even believe in this relationship, not to talk about actually communicating with the Spirit of God? Is it because many who call themselves Christians, do not truly live out their lives like Christ, and hence do not know Him?
‘Cause me to hear Your loving kindness in the morning, for in You do I trust...’
Psalm 143:8
The fourth dimension is a term a dear brother in Christ just shared with me yesterday. The natural world we live in is a three dimensional plane, where our carnal senses work best in. The fourth dimension is the spiritual realm where the Spirit of God moves.
‘Thou hidest Thy face, they are troubled. Thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou sendest forth Thy Spirit, they are created, and Thou renews the face of the earth.’
Psalm 104:29-30
This morning, and before I confuse my readers further, there is only one morning a day, at least in our natural world, but each of my personal journals are usually over a period of time, hence God does leave a stream of thoughts in my heart over several days, and when He so wills, I am led to string it together into a prayerfully coherent message, that will edify if it is truly from Him.
So, coming back from this little sidetrack, this latest morning, our good Lord brought me to Psalm 104(see link http://www.o-bible.com/cgibin/ob.cgi?version=kjv&book=psa&chapter=104) and interestingly, this Psalm talks about the unseen hands of God in yet the very visible natural world that we live in(that is, the three dimension world), and yet men have never given much thought to its well ordered structure, nor to the very present God Who brought this about. We see His works, but we see not our Maker, for God is Spirit and the carnal man cannot communicate with the Spirit God.
‘If it had not been the Lord Who was on our side, when men rose up against us. Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us……’
Psalm 124:2-3
Rare it might be, but it is not unique nor limited to just a privilege few who seem to ‘see and hear’ God and have a close walk with Him. Enoch was one such men of the Old Testament, and God took him out before much of the world was destroyed by the great flood(circa Noah’s Ark).
Today, while still a minority, the Spirit of God is increasingly manifested in the lives of the faithful, as the time is short and the world continues to plummet towards its own sinful destruction.
‘And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ….for ye are yet carnal.’
1 Corinthians 3:1-3
How can one transpose oneself from the carnal into the Spiritual realm? On man’s finite understanding, many are already unwittingly entering that realm, but not of God’s but of the devil. Avatar might at the moment be a fun world of one’s delusions, played out on the internet. Ditto for the games eg World of Warcraft, that many play globally on the broadband world of escapism. But when does imagination merge into reality? It might be a matter of nanoseconds before many will be willing like Dr Faustus to sell their soul, for the things of the world, not realizing the true price is eternal damnation.
Today, many of us who were brought out of bondage, out of the Egypt of our lives by the grace of God have long consigned to memory that indescribable joy and peace, when the Spirit of God sanctified our parched souls. Should we not turn back to the ever faithful God?
As the once exiled and now repentant Israelites asked their leader, Ezra “what must we do to be made right?’
Let me close by sharing some thoughts from the great 19th century preacher, Charles Spurgeon, delivered in a series of three sermons, close to a 150 years back. The Word of God is of relevance through all ages and may it help to guide you back into the one and only true path that God has set for all who fear and loved Him.
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
20th Aug 10
What did the Spirit of God say through Charles Spurgeon?
'Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation and uphold me with Thy free Sprit.'
Psalm 15:12
Interestingly, these sermon notes were given to me by a friend back in year 2005 and it would have stayed out of sight and out of mind if not for those rare occasions of housecleaning in my office, and I found it, just two days back, sandwiched between the many distractions of the world, which I was discarding.
Charles Spurgeon in his first sermon talked about the infallible signs of revival when God alone has been exalted on a large scale. When a church hungers for God, when the church sigh and cry for the Lord's presence. And when men is prepared to throw overboard everything except that which is the glory of God.
Contrast this to the reality of the lives of many Christians today, where they mouth God, but their hearts are with the world.
Charles Spurgeon in his second sermon spoke about the story of God's mighty acts.
'We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work Thou didst in their days, in the times of old.'
Psalm 44:1
Today, the mighty works which was accomplished in the olden time will be repeated and the Lord shall be greatly glorified.
Yet, without faith, we will never see the grace of God. And today, how many Christians can truly claim that they have a relationship with the ever present God. And how many Christians are in reality looking to idols of their lives, for they do not trust a God they have never known.
Charles Spurgeon in his third sermon spoke about Spiritual revival - the want of the church
'O Lord, revive Thy work.'
Habakkuk 3:2
Spiritual revival will come when we truly ascribe nothing to man, but all to God. And where change and transformation from carnality to spirituality must start with ourselves, by the grace of God. Sound doctrine upon the Word of God, deathlike solemn earnest prayers where only truly the will of God matters, and all praise and glory to God, these must be the wants of every Christian for revival to begin.
"When the twain shall meet" this will be the title of my next sharing. The Spirit of God is working mightily in my heart, placing this desire in me to no longer separate my secular life from my spiritual walk with Him. Can we be truly in this world but yet not of this world? Can we live in the Spirit with our Lord, much as we are still living in this sinful carnal three dimensional world?
May I truly discern the leading of the Spirit of God even as He shows me His plans for me and you, plans that are wonderful, that we will truly want to follow in total obedience.
'I have heard of Thee by the hearing of my ear, but now mine eye seeth Thee, wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.'
Job 42:5
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