The Church In Transition, Week 5: The prophet of transition
By Ernie R Heavin
Posted: Sunday, May 12, 2013
Last edited: Saturday, May 18, 2013
This short story is rated "G" by the Author.
 Share
 Print
 Save
 Become a Fan
|
Recent stories by Ernie R Heavin
· The Church In Transition, Week 4: what it will mean for Mary, Jesus and us
· The Church In Transition, Week 3: the paradigm shift
· The Church In Transition, Week 2: carefully and investigated
· The Church In Transition, Week 1
· A Message From Heavin: Why Did Ellie Become A Christian In Her Final Years?
· A MESSAGE FROM HEAVIN: What Is God Like?
· A MESSAGE FROM HEAVIN: When God Confronts Us With Comfort
>> View all 97
|
|
|
Father, sprinkle clean water on us,
we will be clean.
Our filth will be washed away
and we will no longer worship idols.
Luke 3:1-20
What do you think about the fact that God would become so frustrated with his people that he would give them the silent treatment for 400 years? (Amos 8:11-13) Usually, when we give people the silent treatment it is because we are petty. For God, the reason he gave them the silent treatment was because they were petty, they refused to listen. (Isaiah 65:1-3) And then one day, John the Baptist started preaching, the word of Lord came to him and God started speaking once more. The one who came in the spirit of Elijah had arrived (Malachi 4:5-6; Luke 1:11-17; Mark 9:9-13).
John the Baptist was to prepare the way for the Lord, to make the crooked paths straight and to make the rough ways smooth. The relationship between God and his people had become tense and John was going to smooth the way for God in the flesh to make reconciliation for all people, to God. Have you ever been in a tense relationship with a friend or loved one and felt the need to make resolve? Several years ago I received a phone call from my wife, Karen. She told me I needed to come home, that my dad had a heart attack and was going into emergency surgery. By the time I finally got my dad on the phone he was going into surgery. I had ninety seconds to tell my dad everything I needed to tell him, just in case.
We love each other, but my dad and I have always had a tense relationship. Politically we are miles apart. Theologically we’re pretty much on the same page with some exceptions. However, the one thing we have always been able to talk about with enthusiasm and in full agreement was football. So, with only ninety seconds to make resolve I asked, “So pops, how do you think the Kansas City Chiefs will do tomorrow?” “Well,” he responded, “I think that new quarterback might do a good job for us.” “They stink,” I said. And then we told each other we loved each other. On that day the one common denominator that could communicate how we felt for one another with resolve was football. For the silence to be broken, John the Baptist (football if you will) was the catalyst that brought both parties to the table with resolve. God, through John the Baptist was saying, “It’s time for us to talk.” The people, through John the Baptist were admitting, “It’s time for us to listen.”
Baptism for forgiveness of sins: I think a lot of people have the wrong idea about John and see him as a hard and blunt prophet. It’s true , he was direct. A prophet (or any spokesman for God) should never preach a passage or speak on a topic just to make someone mad; however, a prophet or any spokesman for God should never avoid a passage of scripture or a topic just to avoid making people mad. John was bold, but notice that this prophet had the common person asking him how he could bear fruit in keeping with repentance. Tax collectors, known for being swindlers and tough Roman soldiers were asking the same question. John was truthful but approachable as well. And take note that he was preaching to them good news. (Luke 3:18)
Had you been one of the crowd on that day, if you asked John the question, “What do I need to do to bear fruit in keeping with repentance, what do you think he would have told you to do? We live in a “It’s not my fault” society, today. Until a person stops blaming other people for what others or he/she does, until a person stops confessing other people’s sins and begins to confess his/her sins, the relationship between you and God is going to be tense. You don’t want to experience a famine of God’s word or his presence, which leads to…..
I baptize with the water….he (Jesus) will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire:
Is being baptized with the Holy Spirit for the privileged few or the privileged many? My understanding is that Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire, meaning, he will either baptize you with or in his Spirit or with fire, fire meaning punishment (see context of the burning of chaff). I certainly don’t believe those baptized with the Holy Spirit would be referring to just the apostles, as some teach. In Ezekiel 36:25-27 the forecast for future is God sprinkling people with clean water, given a new heart and a new spirit. Ezekiel 37:14 emphasizes God placing his Spirit within us. And in Joel 2:28-32 (quoted in Acts 2:14-21) the prophet tells us that God will pour out his Spirit on all flesh. It sounds to me that this promise is for the privileged many, not just the privileged few.
Too often, especially in the 19th, 20th, and 21st century, the Holy Spirit is looked upon more as a circus act performer or a deist. Depending on which end of the pendulum you swing, the Holy Spirit either cause people to look and act ridiculous or no longer interacts with people at all. Neither is acceptable or appropriate. King David, one of the privileged few in the Old Testament, could not imagine living without the Holy Spirit. (Psalm 51:11) Jesus, addressing the privileged many assumed the Holy Spirit to be the ultimate gift to be desired and received. (Luke 11:9-13) Francis Chan wrote a book titled, “The Forgotten God” in reference to the Holy Spirit, and too often the Holy Spirit is the forgotten God. The Father loves us, the Son saves us, but the Spirit, we’re not too sure what He does so regarding the old saying, “Twos company, three is a crowed” can sound true regarding the trinity. But just a caution: The Holy Spirit is God. He is personable, he is the creator, he is God, for God is Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 12:13 we read,
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-Jews or Greeks, slave or free and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. When one is baptized into Christ, when one’s sins are washed away, one is baptized in the Holy Spirit. We may have different gifts from the Spirit, but all who have received salvation are baptized in the Spirit. It is the Spirit that will lead the church in transition. So, are you coming to terms what it means to be a church in transition?
A Prayer From Ezekiel 36:25
Father, sprinkle clean water on us,
we will be clean.
Our filth will be washed away
and we will no longer worship idols.
Place a new heart and a new Spirit in us.
Remove our stony stubborn hearts and
give us a heart that is tender and responsive
to you.
Give us your Spirit so that we can be fully
obedient to you.
|
| Web
Site: The Writings From Heavin
|
|
|
|
|
