Transcendent Praise

Hebrews 9:11 – 12 When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here; he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, this is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.

Read Hebrews 9 in its entirety. It will give you some understanding of the purpose of the tabernacle described in the Book of Exodus and the various rituals that guided the worship of the Israelites – God’s chosen people – at that time. It was about gaining access to God. Hebrews 9: 9-10 explains that “This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshipper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings – external regulations apply until the time of the new order.”

Today access to God is by the blood of Jesus Christ – he is the perfect sacrifice – the only one who was able to meet God’s standard of holiness. By believing in him, we become acceptable to God. Salvation is that simple. The Holy Spirit helps us to understand:

“For in that Christ died, there is no more mystery as to how men can have fellowship with me. I require only that men come to me in true repentance rejecting all trust in themselves, any hope of living lives to please me by themselves. It is the sacrifice of my Son only that makes it possible for me to even look upon man in his filthiness and call them sons. But once the sacrifice of Christ is embraced, I wash away all sin once and for all. I draw the believer close to my breast to sanctify, protect and prepare him to be in my presence when I shall call him home or come again. It is a mystery yes, but of love, pure redeeming love.”

Jeremiah 33:3 Call to me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

The God we serve is like no other. No other God knows everything and what is more amazing is that he is willing to share his knowledge with his children. Here he is speaking to Jeremiah and it is interesting to me that Jeremiah is in confinement.

There must be no more hopeless situation than being confined, when your movements are under scrutiny and you are no longer in control of your life, bleaker yet if you do not know how long you will be confined. How amazing it is then that the Lord God would show up to fellowship with Jeremiah. God reveals to Jeremiah things he could not learn from any other source. Most importantly he lets Jeremiah know that change is coming – nothing will remain the same. Some of it will be frightening, but in the end God says he will bring health and healing to his people and let them enjoy abundant peace and security. And please note God will do this for his own glory (verse 9).

God is a covenant keeping God and he reminds Jeremiah that: “If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time, then my covenant with David my servant – and my covenant with the Levites who are priests ministering before me – can be broken and David will no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne.” (Jeremiah 33:20-21). David’s son Solomon succeeded him as king to his earthly throne but the promised descendant of David is the Lord Jesus in whom we have redemption. God has kept that covenant.

If you are in a place of testing and great trial right now, know that the Lord God has you on his mind. There is no place so dark that he can’t shine his light. You can’t see the future but he knows it all, and change is coming. All he asks you to do is call out to him and he will answer. He is your Father and he will do for you what you cannot do for yourself.

Romans 11: 33 – 34 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?

What has God told you not to do but you are still arguing with him about it? You have approached the situation from every angle you can think of and the solution you are about to implement seems the best one, but you have doubts. Why proceed? You are in fact being disobedient to the Holy Spirit. “But…………..” you say.

Often the Holy Spirit will guide you to abandon what seems like a perfectly reasonable course of action. Let me illustrate: A year after I bought a new car I was travelling home one cold, foggy winter night. The traffic had stalled on the 59^th Street Bridge in New York. There are two entrances to the upper level of the bridge and the two streams of traffic merge at a certain point. As I got to that point, a motorist in an SUV decided to create a third lane for himself trying to get ahead of me. As a result he ended up leaving an almost full length streak of missing paint and slight dents on my car. The stupidity of it set my blood boiling. I stopped and release my door lock. Just then the Holy Spirit spoke: “Do not get out of the car.” That was not a rational response but I obeyed. The driver eventually eased up and fell in line behind me because there was no place for him to go. I could not see who it was or how many people were in that vehicle. We crawled our way off the bridge. He went his way and I went mine.

The damage did not render the car useless, just unsightly. The fact is that had I insisted on waiting for the cops to come, it would have taken hours, tempers would have flared and the situation could have gotten very ugly as all the other unhappy drivers would have joined in persecuting me, a woman alone at night. No thanks! Two years later, the Lord engineered a situation where the damage was fixed at no cost to me.

The point is, God does know best and he knows the outcome of every situation. So, exercise your faith, hand him the present crisis on a platter and step back. And remember to thank him when it is resolved.

Hosea 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death.

What a shockingly marvelous statement! The first time I stumbled on it, I was totally amazed. I have attended funerals. I have heard enough sermons about heaven and all of that but the idea of how totally indestructible the believer is had not sunken in. No wonder then that when this idea is addressed by Paul in the New Testament he summarizes it:  “Death has been swallowed up in victory!” and repeats Hosea’s exclamation: “Where O death is your victory? Where O death is your sting?” (See 1 Corinthians 15:54 – 55).

Death has been defanged, much like a snake deprived of its ability to spew venom that kills. How did this come about? Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ! He is risen from the dead and so will all who believe in him.  This is what Jesus explained to Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25). It’s a win, win outcome! I’m not surprised that Jesus asked: “Do you believe this? Because he knows us so well! We say we know and we say we understand, but do we believe? I do. Hallelujah! What a rapturous thought! So it is possible to rejoice through the tears at the funeral for believers and break out in song: “It is well with my soul. It is well!”

Luke 8: 35 And the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

Luke 8: 26 – 39 gives an account of a man who was demon-possessed and had led a wasted life. When the man saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg of you, don’t torture me!” I am always amazed when the Scripture records that someone, even in that state of mental distress, would recognize Jesus for who he really was. The Lord Jesus did not pass this man by because he realized that he could not free himself. He had compassion on the man.  I have no expertise in the treatment of someone who is impaired in this way nor do I fault those who were still afraid of the man after his healing rather than being happy for him. I guess we fear whatever we do not understand. But something awesome had just happened. Jesus had exercised authority over multiple demons, changing the man’s future for good.

In Mark 9: 14 – 29 there is an account of Jesus’ disciples coming face to face with a similar situation, except that this time the victim was a young boy who was dumb and had frequent seizures. They were unable to cast the evil spirit out of the child. Jesus pointed out that “this kind can come out only by prayer and fasting” (KJV); an indication that utmost care, preparation and anointing are prerequisites for those engaged in this kind of ministry.  Jesus’ answer also implies that there are different types of spirits and varying degrees of possession.

Based on Jesus’ treatment of the demon-possessed man it is clear that we cannot “write off” people who suffer in this way. Jesus’ action demonstrates that we should show compassion, pray, fast and believe for the victim’s deliverance, mindful of the fact that it is the Lord who works miracles. Our combined faith can move the Lord’s hand to heal and deliver.

“I am God Most High, deliverer, who frees my people from their sin and foul spirits that bewitch them and attempt to destroy their lives. Yea, I deliver and will deliver all who will seek me with determination. It is not my will that people should be bound and their lives be wasted. But I do require that they recognize me for who I am. That I am God and all forces are subject to me. All power belongs to me and no one else. I can subdue all things. I am the Most High God.”

John 20: 21 – 22 Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit”.

When you were “saved”, “born again” or “became a Christian” the Holy Spirit came to dwell in you making you a new creation. He has created in you an awareness of how much you are loved by God. Along with the peace that brought to you there also came the awareness that you are now part of something really big and wonderful. You are part of the family and kingdom of God, in the same way that a body has parts and the parts have functions to perform.

When Jesus met with his disciples after his resurrection, he told them that just as his Father had sent him, he was now sending them into the world. For that they needed special empowerment, so he breathed on them and said “Receive the Holy Spirit”.  Ask the Lord to breathe upon you and fill you with the Holy Spirit so you will be able to daily do the things He wants you to do. That is the essence of walking in the Spirit – it is daily, paced, forward movement requiring constant refreshing along the way.

“It is the breath of God that transforms to make whole and to make pure. It is the breath that fills with enabling and wisdom to decipher that which is good and acceptable before God. Lean not to your own understanding but depend on the Almighty God to make his ways known and to show you the way forward at all times. Only in this way will you know for sure what the will of the Lord is.”

John 20:19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said “Peace be with you!”

What is shaking your world right now? Why has fear gripped your heart? Is it illness, accident, a job loss, loss of a loved one? Whatever it is, you do know you are not alone, don’t you? I know that is true because Jesus’ assurance to his disciples and everyone who would believe in Him is “… surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

Just after Jesus was crucified his disciples were very afraid. Not only were they reeling from the reality of their Lord and Master being crucified but they felt certain the authorities would be coming after them next. So they were hunkered down behind closed doors. Then the most wonderful thing happened. Jesus just appeared among them. The risen, conquering Lord! Then he spoke what they needed to hear the most: “Peace be with you.” Those are his words to you in this moment, no matter what the circumstances are that have turned your world upside down.

After my husband died, I was washing dishes when Jesus “appeared”. Do I mean as an apparition?  No, just a palpable awareness of His presence! How did I know? In that moment my mind took me back to his appearance to Mary after his resurrection when he called her by name and her response was: “Rabboni” meaning Master! For me it was a moment most precious and I remember glancing over my shoulder as if to see him standing there. I whispered, “Lord, thank you for coming.”

Your Savior is Lord over everything – receive the peace he brings.

Isaiah 43:1 But now this is what the Lord says – he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”

As a believer you have been redeemed. Jacob is a representation of one who was transformed by his encounters with God. Every believer is put through the process of transformation to the degree that he/she is willing to yield to the Lord. Your aim is to get to the point where, when faced with challenges, you can say:  “Lord, not my will, but yours.”

This is serious business because it is not natural. Society conditions us to think: I can do anything I want, be what I want to be and nobody can stop me. Well, that is true on some level if “self-actualization” is the goal. However, once you have been summoned by God by name, that script is only good for the trash.

John the Baptist was sent by God to say: “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, “Make straight the way for the Lord.” (John 1:23). He was preparing the hearts and minds of the people of his day for the coming of Jesus. After Jesus came and was baptized by John in the Jordan river, John’s disciples came to him one day to ask him whether he was aware that Jesus was now baptizing  too and everyone was going to him. John reminded them that as he had made plain from the outset, he was not the Christ and now that Christ had come, his joy was complete. In summary he declared: “He must become greater, I must become less.” (John 3:30). Fulfilling his mission had been his supreme privilege. Are you willing to be so identified with God’s agenda that you are content to set aside some cherished ambition that God may set you on a new path for his glory?

John 6:29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One he has sent.”

My goodness, that’s it? Yes. If you ever become confused as to what God requires of you, read this verse over and over again. The life you live as a believer, flows from this one fact.

Jesus’ disciples walked with him from day to day.  He was always behaving in ways they did not expect or understand. What was he doing talking with that Samaritan woman at the well, for instance? (John 4). Didn’t he know that Jews have no dealings with Samaritans? And why wasn’t he hungry when they were? When they urged him to eat something, he responded:  “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”  This left them pondering, could someone have brought him food while they were away?  So Jesus continued to explain: “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”  More mystery!

He taught them how to pray. (Matthew 6: 5-14). They saw him do amazing things (recorded in John 5 and 6) like healing the sick and feeding the hungry masses with a few fish and a few loaves. He even walked on water to come to them in the dark. No sooner had they taken him on board, they reached the shore where they were heading.  The crowd took note the next day that only one boat had been available and the disciples had left on it earlier that evening. How then was Jesus now on the other side with the disciples?

They got on other boats and went after Jesus because they had questions for him. Most importantly: “Rabbi, when did you get here?”  Jesus answered: “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”  Next question: “What must we do to do the work God requires?” Jesus answered: “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”  This is the basis on which God will judge humanity. “For God so love the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16).

John 11: 25 – 26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

I am so glad it was Jesus speaking to Martha on this subject. Resurrection – it is so mind-blowing a concept that I really would have a problem with it if Jesus had not addressed it in his lifetime in the earth. I am also glad he was speaking to her in her darkest hour while she was trying to come to grips with the death of her beloved brother Lazarus. Why? Because when someone you love dies, there is no place to find hope except in the fact that death does not separate a believer from the love of God, rather he waits to welcome that loved one home and you will see them again at the resurrection. Any other outcome is too terrible to contemplate. There is just too much nothingness. This is why I believe it is so important for every individual to accept Christ and the salvation he brings.

You will experience the pain of loss, confusion, and even anger and, just like Martha and Mary, you will have questions. Martha acknowledged that she knew there would be a resurrection on the last day. But Jesus wanted to address her over-arching need to understand how important it was for her to believe in him in the moment and that what he was saying to her was truth. Since Jesus knew exactly what he was going to do about Lazarus, I think he wept when he saw the depth of Martha’s grief and that what she believed about the resurrection was not complete. He understands our grief too and knows that we will be tempted to doubt everything we have believed about him. But he wants us to consider afresh whether we do believe in the resurrection and his resurrection in particular, so that will have hope when faced with grief. His resurrection confounds and triumphs over everything that opposes God. There is nothing I believe in that builds resiliency more, and is liberating and faith sustaining.

I recall the sudden death of someone in my extended family which shocked us all. On day three after the news I was reading a devotional about temptation. (See Hebrews 2:18; 4:14-16; 1 Corinthians 10:13). Never would I have made a linkage between temptation, grief and unbelief, but the Holy Spirit did:

“Do not allow your spirit to be defiled by unbelief.  There is temptation of the physical but there is temptation on a spiritual level also. Such is the nature of grief. It brings into question your faith in a holy, righteous and loving God. Do not yield to the temptation of unbelief.”