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To continue with my theme from the last week’s series of blogs about the resurrection, there’s one more entry I’d like to post about what the resurrection does for us. My most recent post was The Revolutionary Resurrection. In that post was a section called, “The Resurrection Reverses the Garden Curse.” I’d like to dig a little more deeply into that garden. There are four things that Adam and Eve’s first sin brought to mankind that the resurrection of Jesus begins to reverse. Fear-Death-Works-Slavery Each of these four things didn’t exist prior to Adam and Eve’s sin, and each of these four things were dealt with by Jesus upon his bodily resurrection. Fear to Courage God warned the first couple about the effects of sin, should they engage in it. “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17). Sure enough after both of them ate from the forbidden tree, they immediately began to experience sin’s effects. One of those effects was fear: “They heard the sound of ​a​the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ He said, “​​I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid…” (Genesis 3:8-10). Jesus resurrection from the grave began the process of reversing our fear of God[1] to bring us courage when we face the Almighty. “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you ​have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’ (Romans 8:15). Death to Life The separation of the spirit from the body is another terrible curse that God warned our first parents about. Man was made a physical being and is not complete without his physicality. Sin brings death, but Jesus’ resurrection begins the reversal process from this terrible curse by guaranteeing us a resurrection from the dead like Jesus’ resurrection. “For ​a​if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be ​in the likeness of His resurrection” (Romans 6:5). Works to Grace Man’s natural inclination is to work for his salvation. Every religious system in existence shares one thing in common. Whatever their belief about eternal destiny, the religious adherent must earn their place in Heaven, or nirvana, or whatever the belief may be. Christianity is unique in that Jesus paid the penalty for our sin and grants us eternal life with him purely by unmerited favor and grace. We see a taste of the works mentality in Adam and Eve right after they committed their first sin. “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings” (Genesis 3:7). The attitude of man when recognizing his shame is always to find a way to cover his shame by his own efforts. But even Adam and Eve recognized that their efforts were not good enough. For after sewing fig leaves together to cover themselves they still felt the need to hide: “I was naked so I hid myself” (Genesis 3:10). Jesus resurrection provides a wonderful reversal from the works mentality. “For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus…For ​​sin shall not ​be master over you, for ​you are not under law but ​under grace” (Romans 6:10-11,14). Slavery to Freedom Adam and Eve’s sin forever made them slaves to sin. “Through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners” Romans 5:19). But Jesus’ death for sin provided forgiveness and his resurrection provides power for a new life. “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was ​b​raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life…knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our ​body of sin might be ​done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin” (Romans 6:4-5,6-7). Conclusion The resurrection of the Lord Jesus provides far more to the Christian than we can outline here. Suffice it to say that Christ’s resurrection from the dead provides us with real power to experience God, know him, and please him.

I was thinking recently about an article I wrote about Buddhism and morality nearly two years ago. In that article, Void or Victory: The Higher Nature of Christianity Over Buddhism, I quoted the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions as saying, “In Christianity absolute morality is the central theme, in Buddhism absolute morality is nonexistent.” Today I ran across a quote from theologian John M. Frame that provided me with insight into why philosophies like Buddhism cannot offer anything concrete like moral standards that reflect things which are always right or always wrong. In an article for Free Inquiry magazine, Frame wrote, “An absolute standard, one without exception, one that binds everybody, must be based on loyalty to a person great enough to deserve such respect. Only God meets that description” (Emphasis mine).[1] How true this is. Moral values can only find their expression in terms of relationship to others, and specifically, relationship to God. Buddhism cannot offer concrete absolutes because it is a system which denies the existence of God, the Lawgiver. Thus its system of morals, if it can be called that, cannot be absolute. Buddhism’s system of morals can be notoriously flexible. Remove any sense of offense and the sin does not exist. This is especially true about Buddhism since it is a system that also encourages detachment. Think about the moral imperatives you learned through life. What moral imperative is there that isn’t predicated upon relationships? Use the Ten Commandments as an example. Stealing, adultery, lying, even coveting are all expressed through relationship. Someone else is always hurt by these actions. The first four commandments are expressions of sin in relationship to God. Even the commandment, “You shall remember the Sabbath, to keep it holy,” is an expression of relationship to God. When we violate a moral imperative we offend God even if we do not offend our peers. God himself is the final expression of all that is right and true. Imagine for a moment that we commit a sin against someone but they are not offended or do not feel hurt. Say you stole something from someone but it was something they really didn’t care that much about. They let it go. Or you hide covetousness in your heart against your neighbor, but they don’t know about it so they receive no hurt. Do these things nullify the idea that a break in moral standards has been committed? Not at all! Ultimately the person we always offend with every sin is God, the Lawgiver. One of the great treasures of biblical truth that is being lost in our postmodern culture is the idea of absolute truth—or absolute morality. In postmodernism, as in Buddhism, morality is a function of perception (or as the Buddhist might say, illusion). But in the scriptures morality is a function of God’s eternal nature. As Christians we look to God’s character for what is right. He, in his person as expressed to us through his word, is the final standard for all that is true and right. We have a sure and certain guide in God’s character and in his word so that we may know, absolutely, what is right and what is wrong. Without a relationship with Christ, we cannot know anything about character and truth with certainty. We can only speculate. And speculation is not the way to find assurance about our nature or eternal destiny. [1] John M. Frame, “Do We Need God To Be Moral?” Free Inquiry, Spring 1996, page 4-7.

1. Gold and Honey – Psalm 19:10 Here, the psalmist declares that the Word of God is more desirable than the finest gold and sweeter than honey. I believe that he is speaking of both the value of the Word of God and the experience of interacting with the Word of God. Its wisdom is incomparable. We can know God’s plan for how to live and prosper – what an unbelievably valuable gift! Also, the experience of God’s Word can be so rewarding. We find encouragement, peace, and hope from the heart of God. It is the place where I run when I am hurting or lonely. It is an unfailing source of peace. Knowing God more deeply through His Word is sweeter than could ever be described with words. 2. Sword – Hebrews 4:12-13 The sword must be absolutely sharp to be effective. The Bible is the absolute standard of righteousness. It is in its absoluteness that it receives its sharpness. The truth is separated from untruth by this standard of righteousness. The sharpness of the sword is painful. Sometimes our sin becomes so much a part of who we are that it hurts desperately to remove. I think that this is the reason that we sometimes choose to live knowingly with sin – the pain of removing it is so great. We may have a fear of the sword. However difficult it may be, I am so thankful that God has given us a standard for righteousness and a sword for removing impurities. He knows what is best for us and what will make us into His image, even if it is painful. 3. Lamp – Psalm 119:105 The Word of God is a lamp by which we can see where to go and what to do. Sin has made the world so dark – confusion and pain reign everywhere. The Word of God is truth. By truth, we can judge how to handle reality. The Word of God brings clarity and focus, guiding us in the way that God has set out in His will. I have experienced the “lamp” metaphor recently. When I have tough decisions to make, and I just feel like I can’t make sense of all of the factors in front of me, I always find comfort and guidance in Scripture. 4. Water – Psalm 1:3 In this verse, the man who is grounded in the Word of God is like a tree, nourished by flowing waters. The Word of God and its teachings are often compared to water. I think that this is the case for two specific reasons. First, water is absolutely necessary for life. Man cannot survive for more than a few days without water. In fact, most civilizations spring up around sources of water. The Scripture is the same way. It is essential to the Christian life, and we must settle in it, drawing on it every single day. Also, water is refreshing, bringing cleanliness and purity, and is a source of strength. Over and over, water is an image used in the Psalms especially, as a reference to Scripture. In the Word of God, we can be cleansed of impurity and our souls are restored.

Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the king in the Persian winter palace in Susa. The king of Persia had previously stopped the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, possibly perceiving that the Jewish people could become a threat as they returned from exile in Babylon. He even made a statement of authority by having part of the initial work torn down. Until he gave the approval for the building to continue, the walls would remain in tatters, and the people of Jerusalem would be vulnerable to predators. Hanani, Nehemiah’s brother, brought Nehemiah a bad report of the state of affairs in Jerusalem. He explained the condition of the city, emphasizing its vulnerability to attack. Upon hearing of Jerusalem, Nehemiah immediately wept, fasted, and prayed to God about the news that burdened him. We can apply his example to our own lives by asking ourselves what our response is when we hear of distressing news. Do we turn to God in prayer or try to manipulate and fix it with our own passion and strength? The Prayer Nehemiah immediately associated the negative report regarding Jerusalem with the sins of the people. His reaction was more than a response of sorrow; it was a plea to God. God placed a burden on Nehemiah’s heart, and Nehemiah prayed and wept in response. Nehemiah was sensitive to God’s call. He prayed day and night. His prayer was a prayer of confession on behalf of his people. He recalls the favor of God and then prays to God to grant him favor in the presence of King Artaxerxes. His prayer was continuous—one source suggests that the prayer continued for nearly four months before Nehemiah had an opportunity to share his concerns and plans with the king. How often do we rush things and hope that they happen in our own timing? We must exercise the same patience of Nehemiah and respect those whom God has placed in authority over us.

n a previous blog, I was thinking about our responsibility to admonish one another based on our history of loving that person. While it might not take much planning to prefer, support or comfort someone, admonishing is different. Scripture reminds us that we should admonish carefully. “Correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction.” (2 Tim. 4:2) We should consider issues such as: · Does this person indeed need to be admonished? · Am I the right person to do it? · When would be the best time? · Does this person know that I love him? There are some guidelines and precautions that I have learned to consider before admonishing someone. Make sure we are not guilty of the same problem. (Matt. 7:3-5) We really need to search our own hearts to see if there is anything the Lord wants to admonish in us before we’ll have the confidence to minister to others. Make sure the admonition is based on scripture, not on personal beliefs or opinions. Don’t be heavy handed with God’s word. Be gentle and subtle about introducing scripture into a tense conversation. Pray for the person and yourself before you act. The prayers may change the person without the need for confrontation. Pray that the person will be open to you and that your motives are pure. Pray about the right time and place to approach the individual. The Bible says there is a proper time for everything, including a “time to be silent and a time to speak.” (Eccl. 3:7) Our basic guideline should always be – What time and place is best for the individual? What will make her most comfortable? Approach the person privately. She should be the first to hear of the matter, not our other church friends. Our actions should be properly motivated… because we love the person… not because we have thoughts of revenge, anger or the desire to humiliate. The end result of admonishing should be that someone is better equipped for kingdom business. People are generally sensitive, and we should admonish gently. Emotionally, we need to be calm so that we craft our words carefully and tactfully. Be clear, accurate and thorough. Try to condense the admonition into one or two statements, don’t exaggerate and discuss the entire issue so that it doesn’t have to be revisited later. When we admonish someone, we should be willing to advise them what to do, how to do it and, if possible, journey with them through the process. As we problem solve with them according to God’s word, we can be part of the restoration process. Be careful not to be influenced by the person or his sin. Sometimes we don’t need to discuss the details of a situation. Just stick to the general problem lest we may also be tempted. (Gal. 6:1) Subsequent to admonishing someone, continue to reassure him of your love and commitment to a healthy relationship. Be careful not to administer shame or condemnation. Address the action without denigrating the person. Realize that initially admonishments may hurt the person, but that in the end he will benefit and the relationship will be strengthened. Paul realized that, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Heb. 12:11) While this list of guidelines may be long, the well-being of those we love should not be taken lightly during times of admonishment. It may well be the case that it will be our turn to receive admonishment, and we would want our loved one to be so prepared. So, how does God prepare us to receive admonishment? Let’s mull that over next time. Don McMinn, Ph.D. (with Kimberly Spring) Executive Director of theiPlace.org The 11th Commandment: Experiencing the One Anothers of Scripture

There’s an important page in your Bible that, if you are like most people, goes completely unread. Chances are, you are like most Christians who rip past this page without a moment’s thought. In fact, in this page of the Bible might be described by some as the most irrelevant, unnecessary, useless page between its soft leather covers. Virtually no one earmarks it, thumbnails it, highlights it, or contemplates what it represents in God’s grand scheme. Yet I’ve found this page to be one of the most important reminders to me that God in His sovereignty is always at work, performing His Will in the world and in my life. Before I tell you where to find this page in your Bible, allow me to share a story. Bob was an up and coming political star, somewhat controversial, but completely dedicated to his mission. He passionately wanted to represent righteousness in the political system but often found himself frustrated. We were on the phone one day, discussing his latest machinations with his political party and race for power when he pulled a big question out of his hat that was probably the most important question he’d ever asked me. “Tom, why don’t I hear God speak?” “What do you mean, Bob?” I asked. “When I go to church I hear about God speaking to so-and-so, or impressing someone with something. It’s like it’s normal for God to speak to someone. But to be honest, I’ve never heard God speak to me. I want him to speak to me. But he doesn’t and I don’t know why.” Very quickly I silently prayed for wisdom then decided to answer Bob’s question with a question of my own. “How much time to you spend reading the scriptures?” Bob hesitated for a moment. It was the kind of hesitation that was an answer in itself. “Uh, well, things are so busy I haven’t really had a lot of time to read the Bible. There’s just so much to do.” “Bob,” I said, “If you’re not listening to what God has already said in His Word, why would He have anything else to say to you?” There was a long moment of silence on the other end followed by, “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Since that conversation so many years ago Bob poured himself into God’s Word, making himself a student of its precious pages. The more he paid attention to what God said, the more God had to say to him. There are times in our lives when God is virtually silent. In my experience, God is usually silent for two reasons. First, God is silent because we aren’t giving attention to His Word. We often fill our time with daily tasks, entertainment, and socializing, but we relegate God’s Word to a corner bookshelf. This is nothing less than a form of idolatry. Like God’s rebuke of Jerusalem in Jeremiah 6:10 we “cannot listen,” because when it comes to the scriptures we “take no pleasure in it.” When we keep God on the bookshelf rather than at the table we find that even what we may already know from the scriptures can illude us. To my friend Bob, God seemed far away. But once he began to apply himself to the scriptures, things changed. Not only did he become a student of the Bible, God began giving him influence with his party and peers that he had never before enjoyed. The second reason for God’s silence comes when God is at work. There are times when we are listening to the Lord, keeping Christ at the table instead of the bookshelf, and yet it seems that God is not speaking to us. The heavens seem shut and God is silent. We wonder if we’ve done something wrong, if God has rejected us, or if there is unconfessed sin in our lives. Israel faced a time like this when God was silent. It was a period of 400 years represented by that single empty page in your Bible between the Old and New Testaments. During this silent period of Israeli history no prophet walked the land. But remarkable things happened that prepared the way for Christ. The Roman Empire was being built. Instead of abandoning God for idolatry once again, responded by deepening its religious commitment. A group of dedicated Jews formed the Pharisaical order, dedicating themselves to God’s law (the Pharisees didn’t start out as bad guys). Israel finally abandoned the idol worship that had plagued them from Moses to the Exile. The temple of God was being restored. And the family line of David quietly lived their lives, passing on their dedication to God until it finally reach a young virgin willing to carry the Christ. God was silent during that 400 year period, but he was at work, laying the foundations of kingdoms and roads that would carry Christ to the ends of the earth. He would finally speak again through his Son. So why is God silent with you? Is it because your ears are tuned elsewhere or because He is quietly at work, preparing you and those around you for the next horizon where He will take you? When you spend time giving attention to God’s written Word, take a little extra time with that empty page between the Testaments. Contemplate the history it represents and what God was doing to prepare the world for the coming of Jesus. Let God’s silence speak to you.

How well do you know God? Has it ever occurred to you why we are able to know the depths of God’s character? We all have people we know better than others. We know them better because we spend more time with them, interface with them more than others, and feel a closeness to them. In the case of our Lord Jesus, the more time we spend in communication with him, the more meaningful time in his word and contemplating his truth, the better we get to know him. But I submit that our knowledge of God’s goodness and character would be severely limited if not for one terrible thing. Sin. Allow this to roll around in your head for a while. Had it not been for sin we would know and understand far less about God’s character than we do right now. When I say “know,” I’m referring to knowing God experientially. It’s one thing to know God theoretically or intellectually, but experience is a different matter altogether. Without sin we would not know about God’s forgiveness. Without sin there would be no need to express forgiveness to anyone. Forgiveness, both giving it and receiving it is a wonderful experience. Without sin we would not know about God’s grace and mercy. If we had been without sin, to whom would he demonstrate these traits of his character? Without sin we would not know God’s justice. We say that God is just and all his judgments are true. But we would not comprehend the scale of God’s justice if there were no sin. Without sin we would not know God’s long-suffering (patience). God does not orchestrate the immediate damnation of the sinner. Rather, he takes time for the sinner to come to conviction. He puts up with the sin of all mankind, for his own purposes. Without sin we would not know God’s wrath. Honestly, that’s something I can do without. Thankfully, those who know Christ will never experience the fullness of God’s wrath. But we can know something of God’s character by recognizing his wrath toward those who reject his son and remain in their sin. Knowing his wrath helps us to understand his justness, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. I’d also like to submit that without sin we would not know the full expression of God’s love. It’s one thing to love when things are good and relationships are close. But it’s another thing to love when offended or rejected or persecuted. The sinner who comes to know Christ comes to realize how much God’s loves him or her because of the love expressed through the cross of Christ. How much deeper is our understanding of God’s love because Jesus suffered horribly for the sake of our redemption. The full expression of God’s love could never be fully experienced if not demonstrated through his suffering for us. Can there even be a full expression of love without suffering or sacrificing for another? If Christ is our model for loving expression, then I think not. I hate sin. I long for the day when my sin nature will forever be removed from me. But I’m also in awe that God’s ordination of sin’s existence enables me—enables all of us—to experience God’s character in ways that would not be possible without sin. Truly, our knowledge of God, our understanding of his character, of who he is, would be greatly limited if not for the expressions of God’s character demonstrated because of sin. How deep and profound it is to understand God’s character because of our flaws. It reminds me of one of my favorite passages: “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). All things, even sin that separates us from God is used by God to enable the Christian to know him, to really know him in ways not possible without the existence of sin. What other ways do we know God better because of sin?

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” Paul refers to the Creator of the universe as “the God of all comfort.” He carefully defines the source from which all comfort comes. How wonderful that God did not create us and then disappear! He is not a Deist; He is “our Father.” He is the perfect Father, “the Father of compassion.” He loves us and wants to be in a relationship with us. As a result, He has set Himself up as the source of our comfort. He knew that the product of the fall would be much pain and suffering, and He did not abandon us when we deserved it. He pursued us by sending his only Son to die for our sins, reconciling us to Him. And He continues to be there for us. The Holy Spirit indwells each and every believer. He is the Comforter. No matter what we go through, He is with us, supernaturally coming alongside, bringing comfort and hope. However God’s comfort does not stop there. As a result of God’s work of comfort in our lives, He has orchestrated all of His creation in order to place people around us that are going through the same experiences we have struggled or are struggling through. He has placed around us people that need the comfort that we have received from the Holy Spirit.

Years ago I learned a valuable, but painful lesson about admonishing the ones we love. I had befriended a young businessman who aspired to the ministry, and for several years we ministered together in many ways. As we spent time together socially as well, I noticed a few “loose ends” in his character which I brushed off as minor issues. But even as these issues worsened, I failed to bring them to my friend’s attention. Eventually, he disappeared until I learned that these “minor” character flaws had landed this man in jail. It was an agonizing moment when I realized that if we truly love someone, we must be willing to admonish him. Otherwise, our love is out of balance and incomplete. We admonish for two different reasons. The first is to warn, caution or gently reprove someone – “Jack, you are not spending enough time with your wife.” The second reason is to instruct others with the truths of God’s Word – “Lauren, now that you have your first full-time job, let’s learn what the Bible teaches about financial stewardship.” Admonishing isn’t just reserved for when someone messes up. It can also be used for teaching and/or warning, but it is distinguished from rebuking, a harsher treatment that Jesus used against evil spirits, fever, the wind and on occasion His disciples. Generally, we earn the right to admonish someone by first ministering the other “one anothers.” Our ministry is likely to be repelled unless we have demonstrated preferring, encouraging, comforting and accepting in the relationship. The apostle Paul spoke bluntly to the Thessalonians because gentleness preceded his admonition. The church received his rebuke because they were convinced of his love. We had a similar situation in our church. One of our members wasn’t providing for his family because he would not commit to a steady job. I made a concerted effort to befriend this man, meeting for fellowship and prayer. After I was convinced that he knew I loved and cared for him, I admonished him in a kind but direct way to get a job. On occasion, we may need to admonish someone when there is insufficient time for laying the proper groundwork, but those times should be infrequent. Nothing substitutes for a loving relationship. When we admonish someone, we should be very careful how we do it. “Correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction.” (2 Tim. 4:2) I will continue with some practical suggestions in a subsequent blog. In the meantime, be thinking about times when you were admonished. What worked? What didn’t? Don McMinn, Ph.D. (with Kimberly Spring) Executive Director of theiPlace.org The 11th Commandment: Experiencing the One Anothers of Scripture

In previous discussions about admonishing others, we’ve talked about two important issues. If we’re going to love someone thoroughly, we must be willing to admonish if necessary. On the other hand, we must be careful how we do it. But what if we are on the receiving end? Here are some ground rules. Be approachable. Give permission to people close to you to speak the truth in love. (Eph. 4:15) Close friends should feel the freedom to come and talk to us. Realize that admonishment doesn’t usually feel good, but it is good for us. (Heb. 12:11) Even though people who admonish us may not do it just right, we should be open to what they have to say. (Heb. 12:10) How should we respond to someone who admonishes us? These practical suggestions have worked for me. Listen attentively to what the person is saying and how the Holy Spirit may be nudging you. Paraphrase or summarize the admonishment to verbally clarify the concerns. This ensures that both parties are on the same page. Affirm the person’s concern for the issue and thank him for being willing to discuss it. In a non-defensive manner, discuss the issue. Ask for clarification or examples. It may be necessary to politely disagree. There are usually two sides to every story! Receive the truth. Even though the content or delivery may not be 100 percent accurate, we should be willing to learn from what is said. Respond graciously to the admonition. For example… If agreement is not 100 percent, “Thank you for taking time to visit with me. I always want to be open to what you and others want to say to me. I promise to prayerfully consider what you have said.” If there is conviction, “Thank you for taking time to visit with me. What you have shared makes sense and I receive what you say. Pray with me and for me that I will be open to God’s work in my life. Don’t try to deflect the focus to someone else or onto another issue. If we are confronted about a sin issue and we are indeed wrong, to simply acknowledge the wrong is insufficient. We need to ask forgiveness. End the session with prayer. When someone correctly admonishes us, we should esteem him, not resent him. Show this respect by thanking God in prayer and reconnecting with the person in order to reaffirm the relationship. As we have discussed the issue of admonishing others, it may come across as a big deal that requires formal preparation. While a formal meeting may be required in certain circumstances, admonishing others in a more relaxed, casual setting is often the atmosphere for this kind of communication. For me, the most important requirement is love for the other person. Don McMinn, Ph.D. (with Kimberly Spring) Executive Director of theiPlace.org The 11th Commandment: Experiencing the One Anothers of Scripture

A Barna research report this week revealed that 58% of American Christians don’t believe the Holy Spirit exists. “Fifty-eight percent strongly or somewhat agreed with the statement that the Holy Spirit is ‘a symbol of God’s power or presence but is not a living entity.’”[1] Interestingly, the same survey revealed that about 60% of American Christians do not believe Satan exists. I suppose you could argue that if you think Satan doesn’t exist then what do you need the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit for? We can also argue that it doesn’t matter if you believe Satan exists or not. Without the Holy Spirit you are traveling up temptation’s raging river without a paddle—or a boat for that matter. I’ve long thought that the problem many people have with understanding Who the Holy Spirit is, and His role, can be boiled down to our description of Him. The Bible always describes God’s character in human terms we can understand from our already pre-existing relationships. Two examples: When we call God, “Father,” we can understand that because we associate the term, “Father,” with that which is already familiar. We know what a father is and what his role is. The same can be true when we call Jesus the “Son of God.” We already have in our minds what a son is and what his relationship to his father is. These anthropomorphic descriptions of God’s nature, in part, aid our understanding of who God is. But when we come to the descriptive term, “Holy Spirit,” we encounter a problem. It’s not like the term “Holy Spirit” is similar to “mother,” or “Father,” or “Son.” We have trouble wrapping our minds around how it works. We wonder exactly how the Spirit of God is related to God when we can’t picture him in anthropomorphic terms we already understand. The Holy Spirit is God, but He’s not the Father and He’s not the Son, and He’s not described with anthropomorphic terms. So how does that work exactly? The Bible tells us quite clearly that the Holy Spirit is a person, with attributes of personality, and He is deity, co-equal with the Father and the Son. But the term, “Holy Spirit,” seems impersonal as opposed to titles like Father and Son. Maybe it’s because we think of the term “Spirit” like an essence instead of a person. Yet we forget that when we die our spirit enters God’s presence. I.E., we enter God’s presence. The spirit is us. So why don’t we take that thinking and apply it to God in the sense of personhood and personality? The Holy Spirit is God. It’s troubling enough when a majority doesn’t believe in the Evil One. You can’t defend yourself against an enemy you don’t believe exists. But when you regulate the Holy Spirit to nonexistence in your belief system then you’ve wiped away the only source of power you have for defeating the enemy’s schemes. American Christianity is in a mess of trouble when it doesn’t recognize the existence of an essential member of the Godhead. Most U.S. Christians Don’t Believe Satan, Holy Spirit Exist, Christianpost.com, April 13, 2009.

God is concerned with our worship. It is not something He considers to be optional in our daily life and practice. In fact, the Father seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. (John 4) I find it amazing that God would seek our worship, but just as a father desires the love of his children, so the Lord desires our worship. God created us for His pleasure (Rev. 4:11), and He paid the costliest ransom to rescue us from sin so that we might spend eternity in awesome adoration of God. Some think that Christ came to save us from bad habits, to keep us from going to hell or to prepare for us an eternal place in heaven. While these are all true, the ultimate purpose of Christ’s death was to return us to worship. Jesus reiterated this without hesitation in Matthew 22:36-38. When asked which is the great commandment in the law, He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (RSV) Notice that Jesus did not say you shall serve the Lord our God – we must place worship above serving. We do new believers a grave injustice when we immediately make workers out of them, involving them in all sorts of Christian service. First, we need to coach these believers in the art of worship, and then they can become workers. An even greater tragedy exists in the case of many saints who have been saved for years but have seldom, if ever, entered into true worship. We must be cognizant and obedient to the supreme priority God has given us. Loving the Lord by loving others is not sufficient. We must love Him directly. Having established our love for Him, we can then “feed the sheep.” It was God who made the first move in creating us, and the second move in redeeming us. He made us as much like himself as He could. We are fashioned in His image in order that we might worship Him. As Christians, our plans are only successful to the degree that they correspond with God’s will for our life. Why not get in on His ultimate aim for mankind? Be a worshiper of God! Don McMinn, Ph.D. (with Kimberly Spring) Executive Director of theiPlace.org Entering His Presence: Experiencing the joy of true worship