Topic Summary 1. Obedience – an easy way?
2. Be yourself
3. Waiting for a tidal wave?
4. Feelings
5. Whose voice is it?
6. Come to share
7. Preparation
8. In the Spirit
9. When to prophecy
10. Fear of God
11. Grieving the Spirit

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1. Obedience – an easy way?

Look at this extract from the Sermon on the Mount sequence of Dennis Potter’s TV play “Son of Man.” (Peter is a big, burly fisherman.)

Jesus: “Do not set yourself against the man who does you wrong. No! If he hits you – ah, but what then you say? What about that, then? Well – if he hits you on the right cheek, turn and offer him the left cheek. Yes – it will hurt twice as much, my friends!!”

Peter: “Especially if I was to do it, Master.”

Jesus: “Or if a Roman Soldier was to do it- ? Then turn the other cheek. Turn the other
cheek.”

God never promised obedience would be easy, by he does demand obedience. It may be a small thing He asks us to do, and obey Him in, but often our pride holds us prisoner. The choice to obey is ours – how often we miss out!

2. Be yourself

Never say “I could never do that,” on the basis of past limitations too quickly. When God calls someone to a ministry He often awakens in the person a deep longing for this. This desire is a mixture of longing and fear. The fear is because the task seems greater than our capabilities. But the longing finally amounts to an ability to do otherwise! Wake up, be yourself. Don’t carry a big tag round your neck saying ‘WORTHLESS,’ for to do so is simply pride. As Arnold Bittlinger has put it:

“To say ‘I have no gifts’ is to lie to God and to the world.
Instead of giving yourself, you are burdening your fellow-
Christians with a superfluous facsimile of someone else.
Whoever doesn’t give himself to his neighbor in his
originality gives nothing, just hides his actual gift in a
napkin under the table. A copy of someone else does
nothing to help build up the Kingdom.”

3. Waiting for a tidal wave?

There are many people who have been known to pray, begin a song, lift their hands, dance, put a hand on someone’s shoulder or prophesy. Don’t wait to feel super-inspired- OR (worse still) wait for the atmosphere in the meeting to be spiritual. Obedience is the key. Learn to know God’s voice. The flow of the Spirit is easier to discern if you’re prepared to walk into deep waters in obedience. Any coward will move in the flow on the rare occasions that a tidal wave sweeps them off the bank! Don’t wait for a tidal wave.

4. Feelings

At the 1980 Easter Workshop John Skinner shared a mime about 3 men praying. The 1st man God came and spoke to clearly. The 2nd man God came and hugged –He did not speak, but allowed the man to feel His presence. The 3rd man God stood in front of silently and did not allow to feel His presence, but worshipped Him anyway, recognizing His presence by faith. God loves them all equally, but it is the 3rd man who knows Him best. He will at times, of course, feel God’s presence or hear Him speak.

5. Whose voice is it?

At the times we feel a prompting or sense a “voice” directing us, but are uncertain of its source we can in the name of Jesus take authority and silence the voice of Satan, and also ask to put aside our own imaginations (11 Cor. 10: 4-6) Usually we won’t even need to do this. We will recognize His voice. On the occasions we are not able to feel His presence what we know of Him will be a good guide. The relationship test enables us to say 1) He wouldn’t say that; I know Him enough to know that, or 2) He might say that- His logic is different from my own. (This is a good test when someone else brings you a word they believe is from God.)

6. Come to share

1 Corinthians 14: 26 says ‘How is it then, brethren? When you come together every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

7. Preparation

Whether or not you prepare what you will share (e.g. song, teaching or whatever) it is important that your own heart be prepared. (“Be still and know that I am God.”) Practice or preparation is not unspiritual – King David appointed singers, musicians and dancers who might become skillful to offer the fruits if their dedication back to God. There is room for practiced singing and new songs, for prepared teaching and spontaneous teaching from the Word of God and so on. The necessary balancing factor in both cases is that we be submitted to the Holy Spirit.

8. In the Spirit

Often we hear someone ask “Oh, but was it in the Spirit?” Paul tells us not just to be filled with the Spirit, but also to walk in the Spirit day by day (Gal. 5:16.) The obvious answer is that we should not only know the Spirit to be within us, but ourselves be “in the Spirit,” in tune with Him. In Rev. 1:10 John tells us he was “in the Spirit on the Lord’s day” and then the revelation came to him. The confusing aspect of the phrase “in the Spirit” is that we are often unclear what is being referred to – the thing? The action? Or the person? For example “dancing in the Spirit” means different things to different people. It can mean that the person is in the Spirit who is perhaps hopping from foot to foot in sheer joy, much as a solo or congregational singing always is far better when the singer or singers is/are in the Spirit. It could be that someone will share a dance that God the Holy Spirit has previously given them, just as someone may share a new song the Holy Spirit gave them in their own devotional time. Thirdly, and this is what I would properly call “dancing in the Spirit,” the Spirit may release to someone at a given time movements which are at the same time spontaneous and directed by Him, but like all prophecy or worship usually expressed through that person in their uniqueness, much as ‘singing in the Spirit’ is a song spontaneously given but directed by the Holy Spirit whether it be in tongues or the singer’s native language. All three types of manifestations are valid, though different
a) Singer, dancer or teacher in the Spirit
b) Song, dance or the teaching previously given by the Spirit
c) Singing, dancing or teaching as directly inspired by the Spirit

9. When to prophesy

The following is Don Basham’s answer to the question?

Q: How can you tell if God is nudging you to prophecy in a meeting? Does He tell you everything that you are to say or just give you a few words or sentences to begin with? How can you discern whether it is really God, or just your emotions, or even satanic influence?

A: A basic spiritual principle needs to be applied in our understanding of how spiritual gifts are to be manifested. The principle is this: All progress in the Christian life is by faith. As I understand the operation of the gift of prophecy, God seldom overwhelms us with such a powerful revelation that we serve merely as a kind of dummy for a Divine Ventriloquist. Rather the “nudge” to prophecy will most often be so slight that it takes a certain boldness and courage to speak out. God doesn’t move on us in a way which violates our free will. He waits for us to choose to be obedient to His leading. Frankly, I’m suspicious anytime I hear a person say, “God made me say that,” or, “I just had to speak out!” The devil or an unholy spirit may compel, but the Holy Spirit never compels. More often than not the Holy Spirit will prompt us only with a spiritual thought, or a sort of inner quickening, or even a brief verse from scripture. But the whole prophecy seldom is made known to us until we begin to speak. This means we are seldom sure of the exact content or even whether or not it is God until we actually speak forth the words. We have to run the risk of being “in the flesh” – in other words, making a mistake. But if we are mistaken, or are in error (which will not happen too often) God has means to check on the prophecy. It is to be evaluated or judged by those who hear (1 Cor. 14:29, 1 Thess. 5:19-21)

10. Fear of God

If we pray for the fear of God on a gathering it will usually have two effects: a) it will quieten the noisy and b) it will goad the lazy or fearful into participation. In addition, because of free will and man’s stubbornness the occasional meeting-monopolizer may need actively discouraging, just as a weaker member may need to be actively encouraged to open their mouth.

11. Grieving the Spirit – (or Three Ways to flunk it when God gives you a prophecy to speak out

From my own bitter experience, here are 3 ways to grieve the Spirit with disobedience when He wants to use you in prophecy in a meeting. All disobedience is sin, but the worst of the three is
(i) Hold on to what God wanted you to speak out. Go home miserable, realizing that whoever the word was for has been cheated out of it by your disobedience.
(ii) Pray that God will give it to someone else (and then watch them struggle to give a word God had chosen to communicate through you.
(iii) – still disobedience – Compromise it (e.g. translate an ‘I the Lord your God, would say to you’ word into a ‘The Lord says that He…’ word or an ‘I think the Lord is saying that’ in order to not seem presumptuous. Instead you distract from the word by bringing attention to yourself, the very thing you sought to avoid!

A) Myself and my choices

Every right choice makes the next right choice easier. Every wrong choice makes the next wrong choice easier. Every time we choose, something possible happens. This is why every choice we make is a way of creating, it makes something real. This is part of what it means to be made in God’s image. (-Andy Raine)

BE A REAL PERSON. God wants you to be real with Him, with yourself and with others, to come down from the clouds of false spirituality and act responsibly as one who must give account.
“Well done! That was beautiful.”
“Oh, it wasn’t me, it was the Lord.”
“But I’m sure I saw your lips moving.”
“Oh you don’t know what I mean.”
“Yes, but do you know what you mean?”
Often we talk like this because our thinking is muddled. If it was the Lord when I performed well, who was it when I failed? The devil? Me? Many Christians suffering from a sickness called loss of identity, and one of its side-effects is a loss of accountability. With a real desire to give God the glory, we are not sure where we personally fit in. Are we, in parody of the well-known hymn?
Drainpipes only, blessed Master,
But with all Thy wondrous power
Flowing through us…..?
Let us beware of a ‘lost in God’ concept that appears to release us from individual accountability. (Terry Virgo)

…..Ultimately we alone must take responsibility before God for our actions. Regardless of circumstances that conspire against us, we are the ones who finally decide whether to give in or to resist temptation- the responsibility is ours. (-Dick Leggatt)

But the motions we go through must be real and authentic, not attempts in our own strength to live up to other people’s expectations. Often we put a cork called ‘law’ on us which says, ‘I MUST love my brother, I MUST read my Bible etc. etc.’ The pressure of that ‘have to’ begins to distort my personality or perhaps spills out in anger at my wife! The corks need to be thrown out, like many folk do when they “backslide” But that’s not all. Beware the “well, everyone else does it” syndrome. Even expression is dangerous if it’s not healthy. The re-pressers look more holy, but inside they are as dirty as everyone else. They’re more withdrawn from the world. The ex-pressers can be apathetic or “to hell.” But confession is the answer in the middle – be real with God first and then sensitively be real to others. Confess to God that things really bind me. God can “zap” us and set us free, but often he wants to work with our choices to implement His purposes. We shouldn’t be embarrassed in Christian circles to be real and honest with each other in an atmosphere of confession. (John Skinner)

A revelation of Christ is what delivers. (E.g.) if you are lonely you need Christ to reveal Himself as Friend. We don’t just need strength to battle through; we need revelation of Christ, embarrassing revelations, fresh baptisms of love. But with that increased light will come increased responsibility. (Winkey Pratney)

It’s a question of right choices, in Christ’s footsteps, along the pathway of the cross. Jesus made choices towards that final scream of agony all through His life. Hebrews 5:7-8 (Amplified Bible) ‘Although He was a son, He learnt active specific obedience through suffering.’ Jesus as a man grew in faith, grew in His understanding of His relationship with His Father etc. Jesus was prepared to do without things that were good, security, home, money, and marriage. Righteousness means traveling on the road planned for me by God and embracing His will for me. Jesus had to choose righteousness by denying things that are in themselves right. (John Skinner)

Just how important are our choices in God’s work in us? Think of the wooden forms that a carpenter builds before cement is going to be poured. These forms describe the shape which the cement will take. When the cement hardens, they will be thrown away; only the cement will remain. They serve a temporary function, whereas the cement endures. The wooden forms represent the believer’s choices. He does not himself work patience, kindness or love into himself, but simply constructs the outward form into which God pours His enduring work of holiness. The wooden forms which a carpenter builds are often a little ungainly. One board sticks out beyond the others. Two boards lying next to each other don’t match well. Another is marred and gouged. And so it is with the forms of holiness which we construct. They are only an approximation of outward conformity which we come up with. But when we do this for God, in faith that He will fill it, it serves His purpose. In due time, the ungainly outer form will have served its purpose and can be discarded. Only the divine cement will remain.
(Larry Christenson: “The Renewed Mind”)

“Yesterday He helped me, today He did the same, how long can this continue? For ever, praise His Name.” What’s the Goliath in your life? The biggest thing that you’re facing? David said, “I’ll whip Goliath, because the God I serve delivered me in the past and will deliver me again.” We’ll overcome Goliath not only because we’ve got confidence in God, but we’ll face the enemy with courage. I don’t care who you are, if you’re a man or woman of God, you’ve had to face a Goliath. Ian McLaren, a great and famous old time preacher, said one day to his students, “Listen to me, be kind to everybody, because everybody’s having a hard time.” When someone begins to sing:-
“Sometimes there are threads of disappointment,
Dark threads of sorrow and pain,
But hold fast for God still holds the shuttle
There will be bright threads of victory again.”
I notice tears come into my eyes. I don’t care what you say, there’s not one of us not having a hard time. Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not talking about defeat. I’m talking about growth because God allows difficulties to come to increase our faith. Courage in the face of the enemy is how we’ll overcome.
Gentleman Jim Corbett, heavyweight champion of the world, was a slim fellow who met many opponents much larger and bigger than himself. He was asked one day, “What is your secret of victory when you’ve fought so many heavier and bigger men than you?” Gentleman Jim Corbett said, “My secret is when the fellow hits me, and it’s the end of the round I turn back to my corner and my arms want to hang down and my feet feel like lead, I say to myself, “Jim Corbett, you’re not going to quit, you’re going to fight one more round, just one more round.” I’ve seen my opponent’s eyes grow large: when I appeared for the next round. Sometimes he thought he finished me that round, when I dragged myself back to the corner and I would say “Jim Corbett, you’re going to fight one more round.” I’d be up there when the bell rang and my opponent would say, “Can I never put him down? Can I never put him out?” He would begin to feel scared, he would begin to feel weary, to get frightened of me and one moment he’d take his guard down, then I’d deliver the knockout blow!” The way we’re going to win isn’t by fighting the whole fight, we’re going to fight one round at a time. We’re going to come up when the devil thinks he’s got us down.

When that problem thinks it’s got you licked, if it’s that feeling of rejection or unworthiness our people seem to be possessed with when the devil points at you, and says, “You’re not worth tuppence, you’re not worth anything,” and that negative spirit in you wants to make you lie down, there’s something in you that says, “Devil, I won’t give you the satisfaction, I’m coming up for one more round, just one more round.” Paul said, “I’m often cast down but not in despair.” One of the modern translations puts it, I’m often knocked down, but I’m never knocked out.” You may have had some news that broke your heart, you maybe going through a circumstance that would kill ten ordinary men or ten ordinary women and the devil hit you and said, “You’ll never come off that one. One, two. three – four, five, six – I told you they’re out – seven, eight, nine”…Hallelujah, the devil lost again. We’re going to win because we won’t quit.

The reason why some of us are so frustrated, the reason why so many of us are so tired is not because we’re over-strained, it’s because we’re under-motivated. I read recently of a woman who had been paralyzed for years and her little daughter was playing outside, while mama lay inside the house. Suddenly she heard that horrible screech of brakes right outside her door and she heard someone in the distance shout her little girl’s name. I want to tell you something, and this was the cause, that paralyzed women got up out and snatched her girl and bought her into the house. The motivation was greater than the pain, greater than the paralysis. We need to attempt greater things for God. (- Simon Peter Cameron)

Our right choices release God’s will into actuality in our lives. They are our way of seeing the His Kingdom come. A life of obediently turning away from the wrong choices Satan tempts us with is too big a task to think of facing, but we can face it one day at a time, by doing the next thing God says for us to do, and making right choices one at a time. (-Andy Raine)

…..God always has a back-up plan. God says His work will get done even if He has to call in someone else to do it – or He will do it Himself! ….God let me know that events which He has decreed HAVE TO HAPPEN! When He decrees it, an irreversible force is set in motion that nothing can stop. IT HAS TO HAPPEN! People He has included in His unfolding plan are not irreversibly stuck with that plan for themselves unless they want to be. God has predestined the event, but not the individuals. He said, “If you will link arms with Me, there will be joy and happiness in it for you. I have fore-ordained you to be a partner with Me in the great work that I am doing, but I will not hold you to it.”

Do you know….
That if even one member of your family is living for God, each individual member is highly favored?
That a great host of angels has been assigned to bring these highly favored people to God? That they have orders to listen to no objections, but to hasten individuals to a point of choice? That if a person chooses the wrong way, the angels will begin the cycle all over again? (‘Angels on Assignment” – Charles and Frances Hunter)

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B. The Character of God and the Sacrifice of Christ

What is God like? He is Good. He is Righteous. He is Loving. He is Faithful. He is Jealous. He is Just. He is Merciful. He is Gracious. When man sinned, God in justice had to wipe us out. God realized He could not remain righteous if He wiped us out, though He would be just. But he loved us, and so found a way out- Grace! The way out, “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” He said ‘I will forgive you if ….’ That ‘if,’ repent and believe, was an arbitrary legal category. So God we find is just, merciful AND righteous. God’s divine characteristics of mercy and grace were always potentially there, but the fall of man sadly made it necessary for them to be activated. (Uli Kortsch)

When God asked Abraham to take his son and be prepared to sacrifice his life, He knew how hard it was to do just that. Jesus, like Isaac, had to carry the wood for the sacrifice. God Himself provided the Lamb. In Abraham’s case that actual slaying of the son was spared him, though he has clearly shown he was prepared even to murder Isaac if God told him to. When God made man He knew there was the possibility he would choose to walk into sin and need redeeming. The Father and Son both knew that unless Jesus were willing to be born and die instead of guilty man, they could not make man in their own image, capable of choosing wrongly. In this sense they had already faced the issue and chosen to still go ahead and create man. This is how we can call Jesus ‘the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.’ As Christians we are told to reckon ourselves dead to this world. The early martyrs had often been aware at their baptism that their faith could cost them their lives- they were living as dead men, whether they were called to die or not. Jesus was potentially the sacrificial Saviour even before man chose to sin and made the sacrifice necessary. The plan of redemption was only God’s glorious back-up plan. (-Andy Raine)

C. Creation and the Fall

(See also ‘Destined for the Throne’- Paul Billheimer)

Creation happened from an overflow of love. God has in Himself a complete loving fellowship and communion, He did not need to create anything, but generously He wanted to. Our limitations become our great next asset as we creatively overcome them. God made man finite and the universe infinite, that man through his limitations might conquer the infinite. However, the world as we know it now is bound in many ways it was not before the fall. Eve didn’t freak out when the serpent was the cleverest of all the animals BUT some of them obviously spoke. Things have really changed…. When we became slaves of Satan we forfeited the rule of the universe. So Satan now became the master of this world, the prince of the powers of the air. Satan’s power and rule over the earth can still be seen in various ways unknown before the fall.
1) Disease
2) War
3) Carnivorous animals
4) Changes in climatological phenomena
5) Death
6) Entropy
(and perhaps 7) Relativity)

Changes in Climatological Phenomena

(See Age-graph above) Cosmic radiation which lessens life-span increased after the fall, as cloud cover decreased. After Noah we see a drastic fall in life span. God did not desire the flood, but His justice, and Satan, demanded it (Uli Kortsch)

Methuselah, the man who lived longest of all was the son of Enoch who became a prophet, and from the birth of his son walked with God. Finally he walked with God and was not for God took him! He named his son ‘After he’s gone it shall come’ prophetically meaning the impending destruction of man. God knew He must judge man, but was so reluctant to do so that Methuselah lived even longer than his own son who died of old age, the year he died the flood came. (-Andy Raine)

The rainbow after the flood was a sign of covenant. It was then a new thing. Why? – no rain before this. There was dew, tropical humidity, but the sun was not visible; continuous cloud-cover, but no extreme temperature differential, and so no rain. By Genesis 11 or 12 we see physical stability of the earth. After the flood the sun began Entropy

The 2nd law of Thermodynamics. ‘Every system naturally decays i.e. you can’t win. Entropy today is the biggest single limiting fact in the universe. Romans 8:22. This law virtually makes man impotent. Nothing you can do can last (in the physical world.) The law of entropy is in direct conflict with the theory of evolution, and poses a real problem for evolutionists. Sir Julian Huxley tried to solve their problem by saying energy from the sun stops the earth from ever being a closed system, but this is no answer since the energy from the sun is not directive energy, but random energy. Entropy says, whatever I do increases random, non-directive energy = wastage. Entropic energy is useless, chaos.

The law of relativity is a limiting factor. (E.g. speed limiting factor = the speed of light) This is only more or less proven, some aspects not yet proven. Also it is only theory that this is a consequence of the Fall, but if man is to rule the universe, when these consequences are reversed it seems to be a logical area of re-adjustment. (- Uli Kortsch)

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D. Man – in God’s image

What is man like? – moral, limited, finite, in God’s image, governor, prince, a creator.

If God made us to be His sons etc. why or how are we limited, finite? What is the point of man being here on earth, post-Fall? To make moral choices. This can only be done because of limitations. Today the state of redeemed man is higher than that of Adam and Eve. We are in the Kingdom today, heirs of the Kingdom. Satan worked for God unknowingly. 1 Corinthians 2: 6-9. We as Christians are today creating and learning how to be creative.

“Made in God’s image” – physically means nothing, i.e. if a man loses a leg he’s still in God’s image. What is spirit in a person? It’s dead until made alive by the Spirit of God, like a balloon that’s never been blown up. Man’s WILL can be operated by soul or by spirit depending on which is in command at the time. The spirit is that central part of you which when it is alive directs all of you. When the spirit is dead then the soul directs the body. (some people’s soul has died, and they are just ruled by their body – often they need to be put in special institutions!) A lot of the soul is bio-chemical, but the spirit isn’t at all. E.g. Women’s emotional changes are greater- that is bio-chemical. We can rule there (or learn to!) by living with the spirit in control. Body is 100% physical. Spirit is 0% physical. Soul is a mixture of physical and non-physical. At death the soul goes on identically, but it’s physical part drops off with the body. When we come to know God our spirit gets saved first, then our soul (e.g. the renewing of the mind,) then finally the body. Saving = reclaiming= redeeming. “I praise the wounds, and the Blood of the Lamb that heals the weakness of my body, soul and spirit.” Your soul and body may be really messed up before you find the Lord, and these take time often to be redeemed progressively. (Unless Satanically involved) your spirit has not been messed up, just plain dead.

Dreams are normally regurgitation’s of our mental state. Choices in dreams are even if “wrong,” only indicators of areas of weakness NOT of conscious decision. We are not able. Just take it to God on waking. Don’t get condemned though! (Romans 8:1) Often it is God clearing things out of our system. If it’s a nightmare, ask God to relax you. If you feel a demonic problem in dreams just take authority and receive peace from God. Next morning you can pray: ‘Lord, You know and I know that I didn’t enjoy what happened last night. Please, Lord, let there be no repeat performance. If You can teach me something through it, then please do so, but do it clearly.’ Unless God specifically convicts you it is not necessarily sin. Whatever happens never get condemned. Time also is a good healer: Before we are saved we are 100% problems. At conversion God may immediately clear 80%, so as to leave 20% for you to battle with to strengthen your character as He clears them one at a time. (-Uli Kortsch)

Man is a moral being

“Man is a free moral agent.” Gordon Olsen
Free – able to choose, influenced, perhaps, but not caused to…
Moral – having to do with a sense of “oughtness,” obligation, duty concerning “right’ and “wrong.”
When you do wrong intending to do right God sees what you did in your heart, and therefore pardons you BUT will often expect you to put it right if possible. (cf Leviticus 4 – sin of ignorance.)
Moral Government is government based on RIGHT CHOICES.
A government is that structure by which there is authority and responsibility in the legislation of all actions of all. Moral government is that government which operates on the basis of free choices. In other words, God’s government of His people is inherently based on the working assumption that we, His subjects, have free choice. Any ruler who makes real laws is bound by them himself. God created the law and in doing so accepted it. The law was based on His character anyway. He is free from law – but if He breaks the law it changes. God cannot give you free choice and force you at the same time.

What about “Original Sin?”

Often what we mean by “original sin” would be better termed “original guilt.” As it is often taught it raises 3 main problem questions:
1. Aren’t free choices and original sin incompatible? (YES)
2. Is sin an “it” communicated to a child through genes? (NO)
3. What about God’s justice? (-Uli Kortsch)

(At risk of being controversial it is possible to argue that the assumption of the inerrant truth of this teaching of original sin (=guilt!) historically contributed to 1) the popular idea that sex, even within marriage is in some way dirty and sinful and a consequence of the Fall, rather than part of God’s original plan, 2) a popular superstitious view of Baptism of infants as an insurance policy against hell-fire, 3) various doctrines of later Catholic tradition concerning Mary, being adopted (e.g. her continued virginity) 4) the idea that Jesus didn’t sin because He couldn’t, rather than because He chose not to.
(-Andy Raine)

Ezekiel 18 and the weight of the rest of Scripture indicate clearly that a man is accountable for his own sin i.e. we are not guilty for Adam’s sin, but we are guilty of our own. Sin is not in the genes, but disease etc. in the genes is a result of Adam’s sin. Morally, there is a pressure upon me to sin a) from my body, b) from my environment, parents etc, c) from Satan. This is a consequence of Adam. Sinfulness is a moral state. We have an in-built tendency to sin. Accountability increases with understanding.

Perfection
Be perfect: (Titus 1:15) Matthew 5:48, (Isaiah 38:3) James 1:4, 1 John 1:1 -2:3, 1 John 3: 1-9.
We need to obey the law to be perfect. Phillippians 3: 12, 15.
2 words for “perfect:”
Teleou – a) ceiling-high such as God has
b) perfection to the level of understanding

i.e. Light (internalized knowledge) = responsibility
So Matthew 5:48 ‘Be perfect even as your Heavenly Father is perfect.’ means ‘Be perfect to the level you can, even as He is to the level He is (infinitely) capable of.’ i.e. ‘Eat your dinner up like your Daddy’ NOT ‘Eat up your Daddy’s dinner.’ !!!! ( -Uli Kortsch)

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E) God and the Future

God’s actions have a past, present, future – succession.
His Being is eternal.
TIME – a) SUCCESSION OF EVENTS
b) DURATION (even has units of it –e.g. minutes, years.)
Time is a limiting factor. “Entropy is time’s arrow,” said Eddison. God is not limited by the b) factor at all, but God does make successive choices = a). Our units of time are an arbitrary thing and under certain scientific and mathematical conditions can change. God’s “time” has no beginning and no end, but a Christian’s time only has no end. Future decisions of both man and God are not now realities. Choices are not real until they are made and there are therefore a flux of alternatives. God knows the alternatives perfectly, but gives us real choices of blessing or curse. It becomes reality as we create it by choosing it. God’s total knowledge is of all the choices. (Past, present, future are not all the same to God. The concept of the ‘Eternal Now’ is not, Biblical but Eastern/Greek. The future is not fixed, but a flux of alternatives within certain certainties. God predestinates the unity, but not the diversity. It is as if He determined a ship going from Dover to Calais, but what happens within the ship is not determined.) God has perfect recall of all past events and perfect cognizance of future alternatives. There are various words for ‘time’ in Greek. When the scripture says that time will be no more, the word used is ‘chronos.’ “Chronos” means quantity of time, certain amount, succession, duration, space and date. It is this that will pass away. When God’s Divine time intersects our time and acts the word is ‘Kairos.’ “Kairos” means quality of time, epoch marked by features of event, season, appointed time. This will continue.
So 1. God knows everything
2. God knows the future
3. Future choices do not exist yet. (- Winkey Pratney)

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F. Summary of some main points of Moral Government teachings

1. God acts in true succession and lives in endless time. Future decisions of both God and man have not happened and are therefore truly in the future. They are not present realities.

2. God’s rule over His moral creation is moral and not coercive. God does not use brute force to rule in bringing us to salvation. (Nor can we as children use force to save men- our job is to give them more light, living light, to enable them to choose Him.)
a) Since moral rule is antithetical to force, man can and does resist and refuse salvation.
b) Unless men meet God’s conditions He cannot wisely save them.

3. God has a right, a Moral Right, to rule man
a) Evangelism based on human “need” is inadequate in its motivation. Our focus must be the heart of God, not people.
b) Christ’s “challenges” to salvation are really commands, not invitations. “Come, follow Me!” This was no option, but an ultimatum.

4. Man’s choices originate in himself
a) Man is a created, finite creator
b) Because we create choices, we are responsible for them (In Ezekiel 21:19 and 1 Samuel 17:8 the Hebrew word ‘barah’ is translated ‘choose,’ but always elsewhere means ‘to create.’)

5. Man’s sin has truly hurt God (Genesis 6:6)
a) Grief is proportional to intimacy of a person. God knows us best and is most intimate, therefore the phrase: “it’s OK as long as I don’t hurt anyone” is ridiculous, because selfishness hurts God the most.
b) This hurt has not caused Him to become bitter, but has resulted in loving willingness to forgive.

6. Man must meet certain conditions to be saved. Grace is the grounds, Repentance and Faith are the conditions. These (repentance and faith) cannot save, but because He has extended the GRACE, we can respond. 1 John 4:19. (The conditions are that you honestly repent and believe, but these are not the grounds of pardon- you’ll never earn it.)

7. Love is an unselfish choice for the highest good (This is an unselfish choice for the highest good of God and His universe, according to their real, related values.)
a) Love is not a feeling. It can be (and is) commanded, and that command fulfilled, as a chosen direction of life. Because love is a choice it can be commanded.
b) Sin (or selfishness) is the opposite of Love.

8. Holy living – is daily loving obedience to growing light.
(It is loving obedience, not grim-lipped.)
a) God holds us responsible for what we truly know about Him and His Law. (It depends partly upon whether we’ve fully understood the truth.)
b) Holiness is measured by Him as our conformity to His standards, His revealed light.
c) Holy habits are established by fresh revelations of God’s character, and by consistent drawing on God’s strength and love.
d) Holiness is something that you are, not something that you have (as a possession.) Christian “perfection” is commanded and is therefore possible, and is living up to the light you have.
Light = responsibility. Light, when obeyed = growth, not just growth in knowledge, but in grace. (-Winkey Pratney)

______________________________________________

How is your love for your friends and family? Here’s a test to help you decide.

Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Then in each aspect ask yourself from 1-10, 1 being very weak and 10 being very strong. For instance, on ‘patience’ you might circle ‘3’ because you lose your temper a lot, but you are not as bad as you used to be! Be honest. Be very honest.

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

Love is patient, love is not jealous, or conceited, or proud,
love is not ill-mannered, or selfish, or irritable; love does not keep a
record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the
truth. Love never gives up; its faith, and patience never fail.
1 Corinthians 13: 4-7.

Love is patient: I keep calm when friends or parents annoy me. I don’t get angry when some one makes a mistake even more than once. I rarely yell at people or lose my temper.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Love is kind: I really try to be thoughtful to those around me. I am willing to praise the success of others. I share my time and concern when it’s needed, and I’m always on the look out to ‘build up’ my friends and family.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Love is not jealous: I’m not upset when friends perform better than I do. I am not threatened by others’ talents. When I’m overlooked, I don’t punish people with my moods.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Love is not conceited: I don’t hog the spotlight in the group. I avoid focusing the glory on myself. I strive to make the others look good, and never tell exaggerated stories about my performance.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Love is not proud: I know my limitations and work within them. I don’t need special attention or favors to get me to co-operate. I don’t go around putting people down.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Love is not ill-mannered: I avoid making any crude or sarcastic comments to others or about others. Instead, my conversation is polite and supportive and my approach to others is sincere and friendly.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Love is not selfish: I am not self –centered. I avoid making others fit my expectations. I am not possessive of my friends or my position. I don’t always insist on my way. I want to learn other people’s ways of doing things.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Love is not irritable: I am not touchy, cranky, defensive, or super sensitive. I don’t burden others with my bad moods. I am approachable, warm and open, and easy to get along with.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Love keeps no record of wrongs: I am quick to forgive those who have hurt me. I don’t fight back or seek revenge when criticized by someone. I forget mistakes others make and avoid holding a grudge against anyone.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Love is not happy with evil: When someone is proved wrong, I avoid self-satisfaction. I never take delight in the failure of another, even if it has made me look good. When anyone slips up, I am there with encouragement rather than ‘I told you so.’

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Love is happy with the truth: I welcome honesty and justice, even when it shows my weaknesses. I am willing to give credit and praise wherever it is due. I live my commitment to God honestly, and am willing to admit my mistakes.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Love never gives up: Even when a game seems lost, I keep playing my best. When my relationship with someone is a struggle, I keep sharing. I never miss an opportunity to help someone. There is no rejection or failure that can make me give up my commitment to love.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Verdict

1. I now feel like (circle one):
a. crawling into a hole
b. giving up
c. trying harder
d. starting all over again
e. crying for help
f. shouting
g._______________

2. For me, loving as Christ loved is (circle two):
a. impossible
b. beautiful
c. hard, but worth trying
d. a nice ideal, but
e. something I’ll need help on
f. something I’m really committed to
g. what it’s all about

3. If I am going to do anything about this, I need a little more (circle two):
a. guts
b. faith in Christ
c. support from my friends and family
d. grounding in the Bible
e. confidence in myself
f. determination/ commitment
g. direction
h._____________________

Lyman Coleman

“For thou Oh Lord, art God above all the earth,
Thou art exalted far above all gods
I exalt thee, I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee O Lord.”

“Paul writing in Colossians 1 (16) makes it quite clear, that creation owes its existence to the work of God in Christ. From this Scripture, we can surmise that Satan was created by God, but as the Bible makes it quite clear that everything God made was good, then Satan is not now as God originally created him. Something went wrong.”
(Pete Anderson- “Talk about the Devil”
Word paperbacks. Publishers)

Dr. Lewis S. Chafer, the American Theologian says:
“Revelation concerning this eminent being begins with his sinless career embracing the dateless period between the perfect creation of the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1) and the catastrophic judgment upon our planet (see Gen. 1 (2) and Jeremiah 4 (23-26)) which is in all likelihood to be connected with the fall.”

However there is a mystery here and the Bible is silent concerning the time of this fall. Two chapters in the Old Testament (Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28) do give us some further light. (Pete Anderson)

In the study of Scripture, it is always important to see first of all into its immediate context, and then to look at it in its wider application. As we look at these two chapters, there is no doubt that both Isaiah and Ezekiel are writing of the downfall of the kings of Babylon and Tyre, but you also become aware as you read these chapters, that language is used that goes far beyond that of two earthly kings. (Pete Anderson)

‘Thy will be done on Earth” – This is the reclaiming of it after the pollution and rebellion. Ezekiel 28 (12-18) in the garden, a covering cherub. Spiritual angelic powers are, it seems, over geographical areas. Obviously the man king of Tyre, could not have been in Eden; that would be an anachronism. Lucifer is a created being and can only be in one place at a time. The larger the City, the more corruption, very often: bigger principalities of bigger cities. Lucifer hung out quite a lot in Babylon and Tyre. He’s like the traveling apostle of the Satanic Kingdom (Daniel 10) (2-3) 11-13 and 20. Not physical princes who resisted angels (N.B. Transfer at that time from Persia to Greece) –(John Harwood)

Read Ezekiel 28 (12) and examine its language. Could all this possibly be true of an earthly ruler? Is it not much more likely to refer to a “being” who lived on a different plane from man? Isaiah in Ch. 14 of his prophecy gives an idea of what actually happened to this great anointed cherub, and what form his rebellion took. Read it in verses 12-14. The anointed cherub is named Lucifer, “Son of the Morning” – the same term Jesus uses in Luke 10 (18) when He says “I saw Satan fall like lightening from the Heaven” John in Rev. 12 (9) also talks of the casting down of the Devil. In Isaiah 14 (12-14) we find that Lucifer (Satan) said ‘I will’ five times, each time in an attempt to usurp the rightful authority of the God of the Universe. Lucifer was created by God, and for His service, but his heart was lifted up with pride, and he rebelled against God’s rule and order. Jesus said of Satan in John 8 (44) ‘He abode not in the Truth.” Timothy 1 (36) also shows us by implication, that pride was the Devil’s downfall. Lucifer, created by God to have dominion over the Earth, rebelled and brought judgment and chaos. Sin and evil now invaded a universe that until then had been sinless. God now chose earth as the stage upon which to present the great drama of human redemption. (Pete Anderson)

2 Corin. Ch 10 (3-5) speaks of “casting down every high thing that exalt itself against the knowledge of God.” Lucifer began by meditating “what if?” probably, and began to believe it, and tried it. He is still deceived himself- The war is over. But these demonic forces are only “high things.” We need to remind them they’ve been defeated – they are usurpers. Luke 10 (19-21) 2 Corin. 5 14-20) Isaiah 61 – (John Harwood)

“Sin itself began in Heaven with Lucifer, Son of the Morning heading a celestial revolt against God, and this is really all that we are told in the Bible as to the origin of evil in the universe, and Scripture is silent as to the reason why God allowed this. When Satan rebelled and fell from his exalted position, he was not alone, for there were other angels and spirits he drew after him, in his pride, and rebellion against God. This is made quite clear in 2 Peter, (24) and in Jude 6, which also suggests that these angels were moral, responsible, created beings, who were tempted, just as Adam was, and they failed. Possibly, these angelic beings were subject to Lucifer in God’s original creation. It seems there are two classes of rebellious spirit beings- Those reserved in everlasting chains under darkness, and those at large, working in the world. (Pete Anderson)

“I will give thanks to thee O Lord, among the people,
I will sing praises to Thee among the nations,
For Thy steadfast love is great, is great to the heavens
And Thy faithfulness, Thy faithfulness unto the clouds
Be exalted O God, above the heavens
Let thy glory be over all the earth.”

Jesus commanded Lazarus to come forth from the grave. He spoke, and it happened. But he was still bound and those around had to loose him. We are to see the things God calls forth, and see what still binds them, and help loose them. We are praying for example about the work of God on Holy Island.
“Lord, show us the things that are binding the work you have newly called forth on Holy Island. Help us to loose YOUR work, and let it go in resurrection power.
Be invading the territory of Satan. Take the battle to his sphere of operation. Words of Jesus in Matt. Ch. 16 are very important in this connection. In verse 18 He says, “I will build My Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” “It is not, as so often is taught, that the church can withstand all the attacks of Satanic forces from hell, but rather that the gates of hell shall not be able to withstand the frontal attack of the Church of Jesus Christ.” (Pete Anderson)

Often our music can be defensive instead of offensive, in its standing against the enemy. Many times “In the name of Jesus” which says that demons will have to flee,” is sung in an attempt to reassure us that we have all authority in His name, but ends up focusing our eyes on ourselves and our inadequacy. Thus, proclamation-in –worship is often more effective, focusing our eyes firmly on God’s ability and rule.

“A revelation of Christ is what delivers. E.g. If you’re lonely, you need Christ to reveal Himself as Friend. We don’t just need Strength to battle through; we need revelation of Christ, embracing revelations, fresh baptisms of Love.” (Winkey Pratney)

The fastest ways to get rid of shadows is not to chase them, but to turn to the light. As we look to Jesus, the enemy becomes very uncomfortable indeed.
“Prayer only is effective because it changes the mind of God. Prayer does nothing – God does it, but loves to act in response to our freely chosen prayer. We literally create with God. We take the potential of God, and actualize it here on earth – this is the binding and loosing He promised we should do” (W. Pratney)

“Ezekiel 22 (30-31) We are called to stand in the gap
a) Between God and His World
b) Between principalities and the world they attack.”
(Reona Peterson)

Esther 5. The privilege that is ours to enter the presence of The King. “If I perish, I perish, but I will go in unto the King.” Unlike Esther, we know our King will always receive us, providing we are made clean, and enter the fitting way. Is there authority in your praying? Do you sound like a beggar? Or a Royal Son? “She wore royal apparel – robe of righteousness and garment of praise.” (Reona Peterson)

The King’s highway goes right though the middle of the enemy’s territory – the territory God has wanted us to take. The Enemy won’t permit you to go through that territory – he’ll try and give you an easier way around instead. So we come against the Enemy with the weapons he wants us least to use. For instance, if we sense he is wanting us to be full of fear, we must move, in full faith. We must not attack people, but the spirit in people, by the Spirit of God. We are to occupy. When you turn on the light, where does the darkness do?” (Loren Cunningham)

If we have already faced the issue of laying down our lives for Christ, and are assured that we are His to live of die, then the fear of death is conquered, death has no more dominion over us, but also our lives will be different. Our security is not in this life, we are not afraid to lose it – we live as dead men. We are able to pray, as Reona Peterson suggests, “If I perish, I perish, but I will embrace the will of God for my life.”

Revelation 12 (4) suggests that 1/3 of the angels rebelled with Satan. Our spiritual warfare is only appropriating what Jesus already did on the Cross. Christ has won. God told Joshua “Every place you set your feet, you will win.” But he still had to act it out. (John Harwood) God won’t judge us for not doing things we can’t do. If a father told his little son to move a heavy fridge, and it wouldn’t budge, would he whip him? Or would he make the power and strength available, his strength, to move it with him. Greater things will always be like fridges – we’d never accomplish them in our own strength. (Joe Ferrante).

Your strength is not important. Your power is in Who you know. Larry Christenson tells the story of “The Old Landlord.” In it a new landlord has taken over a property, and settled all the bad debts himself. He carefully explains to the people in the house, that should the old landlord come and give them hassle, they are to refuse to listen, and just tell him to take it up with the new landlord. Soon however, the old landlord shouts, and tries to frighten them, but even the little 5 year old can tell him “Go away, I don’t need to listen to you, go and see the new Landlord.” Some years ago there were three of us spending part of a day waiting on God. He led us into movement in the Spirit to bring us understanding. We saw how when we said, “Satan, we rebuke you, in the name of Jesus,” the Enemy flinched, as if he had been hit. When we said, “Satan, we silence your voice in the name of Jesus,’ he became tied up, and struggled to get loose. The times he worked himself free or took no notice of our commands, were when we were acting in an attitude of independence, instead of dependence on God. We have authority, because we are under authority. The name of Jesus, whist hated by the enemy, is only effective, as we truly express our reliance upon Him.

Similarly, the Lord led us in acting out the story of a man who did not know God. The enemy of his soul came slowly, and danced round and round him weaving tightly round him, a web of deception. The enemy also whispered in his ear such as “Tired…tired…tired,” and almost immediately the man was so unaware that the thought was not really independent. He was also unaware of the tight web round him, and would say, “I feel so tired, I think I’ll just sit down.” It seemed amazing to us, that the man was unaware that the thought was not independent, nor how the tight web was there, impeding his movements, until it finally paralyzed him. Then he called helplessly for aid. God send someone. (A nature Christian?) Who knows how to use a sword, and then cut him free. The man was thankful, but, because he was spiritually blind, the Enemy was able to begin again immediately, the process of spinning the web around him. This happened several times. Each time, the Christian arrived and rebuked the Enemy, he fled, and the sword set the man free, but he was powerless to stay free. Slowly, the Christian asks on his knees to come to Him. He too is given a sword, and a shield. The Enemy comes up behind him, and the older Christian comes to the rescue of the new believer. Eventually, he comes to fight the Enemy on his own. He still does not know how to use his sword properly, but grasping it by the blade (!!) He succeeds in bashing the Enemy hard on the head with the hilt, and the Enemy retreats. He will more and more learn to use his armor, and how to use his weapon. He will also learn to recognize the Enemy’s presence more quickly.

Malcolm Smith talks about his visit to Africa, and when he went with a guide through the jungle. He did not see the mountain lion on the cliff until it moved. He did not see the snake lurking in the grass ahead of his feet. The guide explained, “You from the city. You got city eyes. I’m from the jungle, I got bush eyes. You stay in the jungle much longer, you’ll learn to have bush eyes too.”

“James reminds us of an important principle in Ch. 4 and verse 7 when he says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.” It is only in submission to God, to His Word, and His rightful authority, that we find power and strength to resist the devil, and that strength and power, we find in the armor that God has provided for us. Eph. 6 (13-17) –( Pete Anderson)

“Demons believe, but only tremble. They are confined in depravity, and never seek forgiveness. They are unclean, and never long for purity. They confess Jesus Christ as Lord, but they do not trust Christ, or submit to Him, although they obviously recognize his authority.” (Dr. M. Tenney)

One of the revivalist preachers, I think Finney, had a dream in which he saw, and heard a man preaching the gospel to a huge crowd of people. As he walked nearer the man, he became more and more uncomfortable. “I know who you are. You’re Satan, aren’t you?” The preacher smiled in affirmation. “Satan, what are you doing, preaching the Gospel?” “Don’t you know?” the preacher replied, “It’s my greatest weapon to preach the Gospel without the anointing.”
“Be informed” the Bible exhorts us, “but be not ignorant of the devil’s devices.” Take notice of what is happening in our world. See how the devil is making inroads into our society, in the realm of literature, music, films etc.” (Pete Anderson)

Romans 1(18-20 and following) Be careful not to worship the creation, instead of the Creator. Rehearsal etc., can become an idol. We must daily honor Him. It is all a battle in the spiritual realm. Rock groups etc. often have the hold they have over people because consciously or unconsciously, they are slotting in amongst the direction of evil spirits already there, for thousands of years. But we have the victorious Spirit.” (Bryan Pollard)

John, in his first epistle says, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God.” Bryan Pollard says along the same lines that “every word has a personality. Listen for the Spirit behind it.” We often underestimate the extent to which spiritual factors come into play. For instance, Pete Anderson points out, that Christian hymns and Bible readings, always quieten a mentally sick person, and where there is demon possession, these things will bring out immediate antagonism.

When we are properly prepared, clothed in His Salvation, and His Righteousness, our strongest offensive weapon against spiritual darkness is the celebration of who He is – our Lovely Lord Jesus. Read 2 Chronicles (20) The people of God did not need to fight in his battle. They celebrate God’s presence, and sent the praises out to face the enemy, and were victorious. God inhabited the praises of His people. If we go out to witness in music and dance, in public places, it is good to open out with proclamations of who God is, assertive things, that dispel the powers of darkness, a bold statement of our trust in Jesus.

There are often specific places in music, when we sense some break through each time, and some pieces that are peculiarly effective in spiritual warfare. Know your armory, and more in obedience, even if from the viewpoint of clarity of communication you would naturally discard some pieces. As the spiritual air clears, you will find those you seek to reach are more open. Invest the time in spiritual warfare.
“Jehova Jireh – my Provider, His grace is sufficient for me.”

“God has spoken to his people- Hallelujah!”

God’s reason for choosing a people is not to give them a ticket to Heaven, but to demonstrate His character, His care and His love to the world, to lift Him up so that others might see Him, and be drawn also into His love, a real relationship with Him. Ern Baxter has said, “The Church is an extension of the Trinity on Earth, to catch the eye of the world.” God wants to reveal Himself in His glory.

THE VEIL
When God led the children of Israel out of Egypt, God spoke with an audible voice to them, giving them the commandments. They were terrified, and asked that He would not speak directly with them again, but use Moses as an intermediary. While God was speaking with Moses, the people turned to idolatry. When Moses came back, he was angry with them but even through his anger, his face shone with the reflected glory of God.

The tabernacle in the wilderness (or the Mosaic tabernacle, as we call it) was built upon the same pattern. Its symbolism spoke of the mystery of the Cross, the Trinity, but the Holy of Holies, in the centre would enter there only once a year and that would be as representing all the people. In fact, before he entered, he would tie a cord around his ankle, so that; should he be struck dead, they would be able to retrieve his body without touching it and without needing to enter the Holy of Holies!

What was to be seen within the Holy of Holies? Three things which speak to us of the Trinity: 1) The Ark of the Covenant. This was a box made of wood, covered with gold, signifying the combination of man and God we see in Jesus. Inside this box, were the two tablets on which were written, the 10 commandments, which Jesus summarized as saying, “love God, and love your neighbor.” The commandments we contained in the Ark; Jesus embodied God’s intention for us in His life; Love came, and was the fulfillment of the law. The Ark symbolized God as the refuge and strength of His people. It had poles attached, so that in times of battle, God’s presence could lead them on. More than that, it spoke just of who He is. 11) THE MERCY SEAT This was the golden lid or covering of the Ark. It speaks of YHWH, the unspeakable God and His forgiveness on the basis of the Ark of salvation. Formed out of the same piece of gold on either side were cherubim, both with head bowed in worship and surrounding the Mercy Seat which is the throne of God, with their great wings. 111) The Shekinah The Shekinah – glory of God is His visible presence by the Holy Spirit. It would come as a brilliant light, resting between the cherubim, and lighting the Holy of Holies. This was not symbolic, but actual. There was no candle or oil lamp there, nor could day-light penetrate, even as there will be no need of created light in Heaven. (As always, though, we cannot clearly differentiate in character, symbolism or activity between the Persons of the Godhead. He is one God, and in His nature, is such sweet fellowship and unity, that whatever involves or concerns one member of the Godhead inevitably concerns all.)
The High Priest hardly dared, once a year, after much preparation, to enter the Holy of Holies, but often, the cloud above the tabernacle would descend, filling the Holy of Holies, with the Shekinah-glory of the Lord, this being the sign that God was summoning Moses into His presence. Moses would then go straight into the presence of God, with no outward preparation, entering boldly, but humbly, to talk with Him.
Years later in the Davidic tabernacle, the most remarkable new thing was that the Ark was set in the midst of the congregation. The presence of God was no longer hidden behind a veil. The people still had cause to fear God (As C.S. Lewis said, “He’s not a tame lion”) but they were prepared to take the risk. They wanted the presence of God.

A KING
God had wanted Israel to remain a theocracy, but sadly agreed to the peoples demand for a king, so they “could be like all the other nations.” God had chosen them to be set apart, special, peculiar, people, but they chose to conform to this world’s standards. It was the veil all over again! A king would serve God for the people, and the people would serve the king. Even worse, the first king, Saul, was not obedient to God, and finally even meddled with the occult.
The man God chose to be his successor was David, a shepherd, “a man after God’s own heart.” This shepherd king, knew where his authority came from, and his strength, and would use all the power he was given to glorify God the more. Elvis Presley was known even from the early stages of his stardom as “The King.” Often when he would sing, “I may be the King, but He is the King of Kings!” I believe David would have said the same to his people – “Listen, I may be the King, but the Lord God is the King of Kings; you think I understand you because I come from being an ordinary shepherd? Well, try to understand this; the Lord is my shepherd…” He tries to lead them into the same relationship; “We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gate with thanksgiving…” In 1 Chron. 21: 1-30; we read how radically God dealt with David, when he was tempted with pride, and embraced it. God wanted him as a king, precisely because he was a king who would let God reign. See 1 Sam. 17:37; 45-47)

LOVE – RELATIONSHIP
The central feature of the reign of David was the open expression of His love for God. The Lord and David had a relationship big enough to include a whole nation in, and still not be distracted. On the hill side, David expressed his love and praise for God, as a king, he did the same. The love affair was contagious – it overflowed to affect other meaningful relationships. Look at David’s covenant with Jonathan, his faithfulness to Saul his enemy, the quality of relationships amongst his people. (Psalm 133) The New Testament tells us that “love covers a multitude of sins.” David broke all the rules, he wore an ephod, ate the shrew-bread etc. – but his heart was right, and that mattered far more than law or convention. No wonder the Lord says, “Love is fulfilling the law.” All the praise and worship and festival and celebration flowed out of David’s love of God.

SO WHAT IS THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID?
The Ark representing the presence of God had been taken away into battle in Saul’s time, and God allowed it to be captured. The enemy found it very uncomfortable to have around – even their idols fell before it – and sent it in a cart, back to David’s kingdom. David and his people went with great rejoicing to fetch the Ark of His Presence to Jerusalem on Mount Zion where God had chosen to dwel.l David could have waited a long time and prepared a beautiful place to bring the Ark to, but to him, it mattered more to go quickly, so he put up a tent (The same word as tabernacle) in his own back yard, as close to him as he could get it, where God’s Ark could be received. Here, David would go and spend time in the Lord’s presence. Chas Schmitt has imagined the scene of David creeping into the tabernacle that first night after the recovery of the Ark, and after David had been rowed at by his wife, then tried to retire for the night………

“Lord, Lord, are You there? Lord, it’s me, it’s David.
Can you hear me Lord?”
“Yes David”
“I’m sorry to disturb you Lord, were you sleeping?”
“No David, I never slumber, nor sleep.”
“Lord, I just wanted to come in and see you. I didn’t have a special reason, but I’ve been lying there all night, just thinking about you, and I couldn’t help just coming out here, just to peek and, Lord, Lord, Lord….”
“David, if we’re going to get better acquainted, we better drop the formalities, just call me Jesus.”
‘Jesus? Jesus-Jesus, JESUS! JESUS !!!
“David, you’ve been going to too many Pentecostals meetings!”
“Lord, I mean Jesus, You don’t mind do You? I mean, mind me coming here like this?”
“No David, just make yourself at home. Take your shoes off, draw up a chair, rest your feet there on the Ark.”

____________________________________

The Lord loved David. No wonder He nearly broke David’s heart by not letting him build Him a beautiful temple to dwell in. The Lord preferred that old tent in David’s back yard, where he could spend time with Him. David sat in His presence and poured out his heart. And he did know Jesus. (Psalm 110, Matt. 22: 42-45) God’s promise (Amos 9: 11-12, Acts 15: 16-17 etc.) to restore the Tabernacle of David, does not refer to restoration offering creativity, of continual praise offering, of thousands worshipping together in the Spirit, of demonstration of His glory- but most of all to a people with lives built together in His praise, but each, with an intimate love-relationship with God, knowing Him as all-in-all.

Andy brought a contagious affection for the holy island of Lindisfarne a love of the Northumbrian saints and the seeds of a vision which was beginning to find clarity in the language of the upper and nether springs.

A clue to helping us get to know Andy is captured in a photograph of him, as a child, next to St. Aidan’s monument on Holy Island. Early in his life Andy found ‘a place of resurrection.’ Not for him some journey to a distant shore, but still a crossing of the sea, to Lindisfarne, The Holy Island. If we measure this journey in miles then it was only a short distance to travel, but we would also miss the point. When Andy crossed the causeway to Holy Island he gave up the possibility of any other way of life. This was the place God had chosen for him. As such, it became and is the non-negotiable part of his life. His work, marriage, relationships, hopes and opportunities have and are worked out within the framework of this understanding. This covenant relationship to Holy Island would become a feature of Easter workshops which often concluded on the Island, and later the venue for the Northumbria Community in the renewal of their commitment to the Rule.

In the early days, monastic was not a word that would find a lot of use in Andy’s vocabulary. Yet the life he lived hinted at a way of living familiar to Holy Island, first practiced by those early Celtic Saints, St. Aidan, St. Oswald and St. Cuthbert. Nor would Celtic have much use in his vocabulary, as the memory and spirituality of those early Celtic saints still reverberates from the Island landscape. Instead he chose the vocabulary of the upper and nether springs to give meaning and understanding to the spirituality he was both seeking and finding. For Andy, Holy Island is the uppersprings, a refreshing, moving, life giving stream flowing from a deep spring whose source is the generations of prayer and faith associated with the Island and in particular those wayfaring Celtic Saints. Quite unconsciously, Andy put into the foundation of the Northumbria Community the spirituality of these early Celtic monastic communities and only later would it become a necessary self-conscious connection.

A familiar sight on the roads in Northumberland in the late 70′s early 80′s was Andy, with three or four suitcases, most of which had seen better days, hitching a lift to his next destination. Availability to the life God had called him, precluded a career and a regular salary. Supported instead by occasional odd jobs, ministry, and gifts from family and friends. Unselfconsciously, he had chosen the same method of transport as St. Aidan, who walked everywhere so he had the time and opportunity to meet people. His aim was to make available practical and down to earth ways of living as a Christian, which he had learned himself or been taught by another and leading others to faith in Jesus that had given meaning to his own life. One vehicle to achieve these aims was Dance. Wherever he went, he recruited folk to take part in his dance presentations, refusing to take no from people who thought they weren’t good enough and from men who thought dance should be reserved for the ladies. In doing so, he made sure the ministry of dance did not become the property of the professionals and all a little genteel. He was equally at home preparing pieces for use in a liturgical setting or for use in the street which was his preferred option. This preference is expressed in the Rule, in Church Without Walls. Dance created communities, as people gathered together around a point of common interest. The Vine, in Earl Shilton was an example of this. Dance was an essential feature of Easter workshops and an integral part of the life of the Northumbria Community.

A contribution worth highlighting that Andy made to the ethos of the Community was in regard to putting relationships before reputation. Andy had a habit of making friends with those who were marginalized in society. People who because of poor education , little social definition, or moral failure were regarded as not important enough to invest time in. Andy invested the time. Often traveling long distances to spend a day with somebody. His total support and lack of embarrassment with those who were taking their first faltering steps in ministry and his refusal to only invest time in people who could do something for him, remains a constant challenge to those who use people to get on in their ministry and drop them soon after they arrive. It is also the key to healthy community life where the reputation of the community is always secondary to the welfare of each individual.

For those who know Andy his idiosyncrasies are legendary, a subject of affection and frustration amongst his friends. Love or loathe him, you will always remember you met him.

(Andy married Anna in 1994. They have two children, Joel and Martha.)