THE ‘GOINGS’ AND ‘COMINGS’ OF GOD – AND WHY (CROSS PURPOSES 123)
THE ‘GOINGS’ AND ‘COMINGS’ OF GOD – AND WHY
It’s a bit of an issue of mine but I’m forever trying to understand what it means to KNOW God rather then KNOW ABOUT God. What is the difference? I know I come to know the Father by knowing the Lord Jesus Christ, his Son. But what is it that enables me to ‘know him’, relate to him personally, as distinct from accumulating more and more factual knowledge about him?
Thus when I was perusing the bookshelves the other day I was drawn to 2 books. One, but Selwyn Hughes, is entitled “How to know God”. The other by Joyce Meyer goes with the title, “Knowing God intimately”. Promptly proceeded to read both.
While reading Joyce Meyer’s book I was really hooked by one phrase, in two parts.
“JESUS GOES TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR US; THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES TO PREPARE US FOR THAT PLACE.”
I just love that sentence!
Jesus goes to prepare a place for us – we recognise that that preparation involves the Cross. That’s what we see physically in the world. From the perspective of the Spirit he goes into the Most Holy Place and into the Holy of Holies – bearing his own blood of sacrifice. That blood, coupled with an utterly pure life (The first since before Adam sinned) is enough to rip open the curtain and ensure the gift of holiness to humans, and access into the presence.
His “going” means the Spirits “coming” – whose task it is, in part, to work with us and in us, to give expression to that very holiness we already have created in us by the Holy Spirit. This is none other than the Holiness of Jesus himself.
The Spirit does his job by leading us - nudging us - to truth. He counsels, guides, leads, causes remembering of Jesus’ words – but especially points us to Jesus as the Word who in word and action embodies truth!
The Spirit immerses us in truth – and as he does he brings to light that in us which is false, which is lie, which is sinful, polluted and defiled. Like bitterness! Like active and passive hate, and jealousy, like laziness and pride and lust and whatever.
The Spirit prepares us by running the plumb-line of truth over us. And as he does, the scripture is being revealed as true internally and externally.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
“2 Corinthians 3:17-18.”
Read it again.
And welcome the Spirit’s artistry.
Love you
Fred
It’s a bit of an issue of mine but I’m forever trying to understand what it means to KNOW God rather then KNOW ABOUT God. What is the difference? I know I come to know the Father by knowing the Lord Jesus Christ, his Son. But what is it that enables me to ‘know him’, relate to him personally, as distinct from accumulating more and more factual knowledge about him?
Thus when I was perusing the bookshelves the other day I was drawn to 2 books. One, but Selwyn Hughes, is entitled “How to know God”. The other by Joyce Meyer goes with the title, “Knowing God intimately”. Promptly proceeded to read both.
While reading Joyce Meyer’s book I was really hooked by one phrase, in two parts.
“JESUS GOES TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR US; THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES TO PREPARE US FOR THAT PLACE.”
I just love that sentence!
Jesus goes to prepare a place for us – we recognise that that preparation involves the Cross. That’s what we see physically in the world. From the perspective of the Spirit he goes into the Most Holy Place and into the Holy of Holies – bearing his own blood of sacrifice. That blood, coupled with an utterly pure life (The first since before Adam sinned) is enough to rip open the curtain and ensure the gift of holiness to humans, and access into the presence.
His “going” means the Spirits “coming” – whose task it is, in part, to work with us and in us, to give expression to that very holiness we already have created in us by the Holy Spirit. This is none other than the Holiness of Jesus himself.
The Spirit does his job by leading us - nudging us - to truth. He counsels, guides, leads, causes remembering of Jesus’ words – but especially points us to Jesus as the Word who in word and action embodies truth!
The Spirit immerses us in truth – and as he does he brings to light that in us which is false, which is lie, which is sinful, polluted and defiled. Like bitterness! Like active and passive hate, and jealousy, like laziness and pride and lust and whatever.
The Spirit prepares us by running the plumb-line of truth over us. And as he does, the scripture is being revealed as true internally and externally.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
“2 Corinthians 3:17-18.”
Read it again.
And welcome the Spirit’s artistry.
Love you
Fred
posted by PastorFredVeerhuis at 11:14 AM
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