The Holy Spirit in all of Creation

     In my book Following the Cloud, I discussed the continuing role of the Holy Spirit in the physical world.  I had to keep referring to the the Holy Spirt by the awkward phrase "The Holy Spirit in all of creation" to distinguish His role from His position as the third person in the Trinity.  I was frustrated because I did not have a clear term to use.  I had a clear picture of what I wanted to say, but I didn't have a specific word to use.  As Mark Twain said, "the difference in the right word and almost the right word is the difference in lightning and the lightning bug."

     I recently had an epiphany.  I asked Google Translate to give me the following words in Latin:

     For all of the traditional theological references to the Holy Spirit as the third part of the Godhead: "Holy Spirit Divine" = Spiritus Sanctus Divina.

For references to the Holy Spirit who is continuing to work in all of creation, i.e., in physical matter:  "Holy Spirit Matter" = Spiritus Sanctus Materia.  

     This feels like an appropriate term which respectively recognizes the Holy Spirit in a way that He has not been fully appreciated before.  It allows a discussion of the mechanisms available for the continuing operation of God in the current world - without violating any physical laws which HE established.

     It allows for a discussion of miracles by a correct understanding of the supernatural - NOT as something that violates natural laws, but something that is "outside" or "over" natural laws.  "Super" as used in "supervisor" - "one who is in authority over."

     A Boeing 747, 250,000 pounds of aluminum flying through the air, is not a violation of the law of gravity - it is just a very advanced application of many other laws of structure and aerodynamics which counteract or supersede the law of gravity.

Remember: Just because you can't understand something, doesn't mean it is a miracle.  Just because you can understand something, doesn't mean it is not a miracle.

Walking Through Life With Your Eyes Closed

Legalism disturbs me.  In theological or secular terms, legalism is not the search for truth.  Legalism is a declaration of ABSOLUTE truth where there may not be any such thing.

I have no issue with respect for the truth.  I believe that there ARE incontestable truths.

I consider myself to be a Conservative Fundamentalist.  However, a Fundamentalist is NOT a Literalist.    A Literalist is, by definition, a Legalist.  A Fundamentalist is someone who believes that there are incontestable fundamental principles.  A Legalist is someone who believes that there is only one valid and acceptable interpretation of each individual detail.

It's not what you know that will hurt you...  It's what you know that just ain't so!

My book Following The Cloud will not be promoted by the Hiram Bookstore because contained in that book is the suggestion that the Earth might be more than 6018 years old!  I include everything from the Reformation to Quantum Physics and THAT'S the issue!?!  I was astonished to find that the owner of a bookstore with tens of thousands of books on every subject could object to such a thought. I was further amazed to find that he had no willingness to even consider any alternate possibilities.  In fact, there seemed to be a fear of considering any alternate interpretations to those that he already had.  The overt excuse he gave was that he might offend some Southern Baptist pastors that frequently come into his store.  But he revealed his real uncertainty when he said that believing that the Earth was older than 6018 years old "was a slippery slope".  What?  If you find out that a number somewhere is not what you thought it was, you can no longer believe in Jesus Christ?  That is a very weak faith.

I know for a fact that Southern Baptist pastors are NOT required to believe that the Earth is 6018 years old.  I took an Old Testament theology course in a Southern Baptist seminary class with 30 Southern Baptist pastors.  I listened to a Southern Baptist Theology professor explain the original Hebrew in Genesis 1:1 and 1:2.  The Bible begins by saying, "In the beginning, GOD created the Heavens and the Earth."  Genesis 1:2, which is traditionally translated, "and the Earth was without form, and void...", can be read, in the original Hebrew, "and the Earth became without form and void."  The interpretation of that one word introduces numerous possibilities.  There is no actual suggestion of the specific elapsed time between the original creation and the beginning of the current cycle of creation.  From the beginning of Genesis to the end of The Revelation, the Bible presents GOD as the sole Author, Creator, and Sustainer of everything that was, is, or ever will be.  Whether the Earth is 6 thousand or 6 billion years old does not change that.

In every aspect of my life, I am required to analyze - to find out how things work.  As an engineer, what I choose to believe had better agree with what is.  If it does not, I might endanger the machine that I am designing and the lives of the people using it.  There are practical, physical, moral, and legal implications surrounding my understanding of the world and the rules that God has created to govern it.  Likewise, as a Christian and a theologian, I am encouraged to understand the underlying principles that God has established to govern His Creation.  I do not need to be afraid that I will discover a scientific principle that will invalidate the sovereignty of God.  My faith is not a blind faith.  I am not required to close my eyes to what is around me.  At the same time, I am not required to believe every scientific theory.  (This requires the ability to distinguish between theory and fact - not something everyone is qualified to do.)

"If the King James Version was good enough for Paul and Silas, it's good enough for me!"  (old joke - still relevant)  God has given us analytical tools to discern reality.  He has given us the tools to distinguish between theory and fact.  In the physical realm, those tools include thousands of specialized measuring instruments.   In the theological realm, God has given us the Gifts of the Holy Spirit to discern what is so.  The Old Law in the Old Testament was based on ten simple principles (not, "The Ten Commandments", but "The Ten Words).  God was not commanding us to do or not to do ten things - He was telling us how things were.  The Old Law developed into an intricate and convoluted set of laws and regulations because Jesus had not yet brought the Holy Spirit and made the Gifts of the Holy Spirit available to every believer.

Legalistically closing your eyes to what is around you is crippling.  You build fences that are unnecessarily limiting.  You will miss many of the wonders of the world around you.  Your efforts will be wasted on needless crusades over issues that may not even exist.  Figuratively, you will walk out into traffic without looking.

Southern Baptists are missing many of the analytical tools that they need to discern theory from fact because they have rejected the pentecostal manifestation of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.  Their particular edition of the King James Version of the Bible in English does not supersede the interpretation of the original Hebrew or Greek that it was written in!  And the original document, even though it was inspired by God, still reflected the limitations of the original (non-technical) languages and the understanding of the original (non-technical) authors.  What is revealed to us in the Bible is NOT WRONG - but it was never intended to be a physics textbook or a complete, detailed, technical manual on the whole universe.  God has left us the tools and discretion to determine those things for ourselves.  Use them!

The Real Battle

     Sometimes it seems like all of life is a battle.  The apostle Paul told Timothy to “fight the good fight of the faith,” and to “endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”  A Christian does not fight because he wants to, but because he has to.

     Everyone experiences different kinds of battles in life.  Each type of battle has a different purpose.  In spiritual battles we must learn to resist the devil.  In situational battles we must overcome circumstances beyond our control and learn to trust God on a deeper level.  In emotional battles we learn to handle personal tragedies, family crises, and emotional traumas.  In moral battles we face the temptations and confusion of the world around us.  In intellectual battles we face the skepticism of our day.  We see the world becoming invaded with cults and false religions – each one claiming to offer solutions for all of our problems.  We must learn to confront this falseness with the truth of God’s word.

     All of the various types of battles in life have an underlying spiritual conflict.  Therefore we must be spiritually prepared for battle.  Like the apostle Paul, we are ordinary, weak human beings, but we must not use human plans and methods to win our battles.  We must use God’s mighty weapons, rather than those made by men, to knock down the devil’s strongholds (2 Cor. 10:3,4).

     The visible difficulties confronting us are not the real enemy.  The real enemy is the devil and the evil spirits under his control – stirring up the divisiveness and unrest in the whole world.  Only with God’s power and God’s armor can we stand against the overwhelming numbers of evil spirits who rule so much of this world.  If we fight our daily battles using our own strength and our own methods, we will lose.  If we use every piece of armor that God has given us, we will survive.  Our belt is God’s truth.  Our breastplate is our relationship with God.  Our shoes are the Good News that there is peace in God.  Our shield is our faith in God, which can deflect any assaults from those who accuse or revile us.  Our helmet is our salvation through Jesus Christ and our sword is the Sword of the Spirit – which is the Word of God (Eph. 6:10-17).

     Three times, Satan tried to tempt Jesus to sin.  Each time, Jesus responded only with God’s word (Matt. 4:4-10).  After three unsuccessful tries, the devil left him.  When we are attacked, we must respond in truth, confidence, and compassion – knowing who we are and discerning the true enemy.  Very often, the true attack is not from the person in front of us, but from the larger spiritual conflict in the world around us.

     Our only defense against the invisible, spiritual attacks against us is our relationship with God, His word, and His Holy Spirit.  “So give yourselves completely to God.  Stand against the devil, and the devil will run from you.  Come near to God, and God will come near to you.” (James 4:7-8a NCV)

The Marketplace Ministry Move of God

     When evangelist Billy Graham was recently asked where he saw God moving today, he described what is becoming known as the marketplace ministry movement of God.  In contrast to his crusades, he said, “today, I sense something different is happening.  …the Holy Spirit is working in a new way.  He’s moving through people where they work and through one-on-one relationships to accomplish great things.  They are demonstrating God’s love to those around them, not just with words, but in deed.”

     All over the world, men and women are taking Christianity to work with them – but not in the traditional manner.  They understand that Christianity is not a performance or demonstration of religious beliefs – it is a lifestyle which permeates every action, every minute of every day.  Christians are called to be influential in society.  Marketplace Christians desire for God’s kingdom to come and God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

     For most of His life, Jesus had a marketplace ministry.  Although Jesus is both our King and our Priest, He spent much more of His life as a carpenter, than as a minister.  When Jesus did become publicly known, He chose fishermen, a tax collector, and other common tradesmen – none of the disciples were priests or scribes.  Jesus taught in the marketplace, and Jesus chose to call his disciples from the marketplace.

     There are people who will never hear the gospel because they will never enter a church building.  As Christians, you and I may well be the only representative of God that they will ever encounter.  Our work is our service to God when we reflect His life through our life and work.  Whether it is in Christian mission work, or working at the local hardware store, God calls each of us to our vocation.  He wants to use us where we are, while we are doing what we are doing.  God’s interest is not simply that we do holy activities but that we become holy people.  God created us to reflect His glory in whatever we do.  Whether you own your own business or work for someone else, you please God when you exhibit Christ-like attitudes of love, humility, grace, & power in your daily work. 

     God wants to use Christians in all areas of their life and work.  Marketplace Ministry proclaims Christ to the world by demonstrating God’s love and power to people who are all around us, wherever we are.

Daily Release from Oppression and Burdens

BDOTS

Rev. Harold Max Curtis, Rev. Jeanne Grace Curtis, Ministries For Christ, Inc.

It is important to be frequently cleansed and released from the burdens that we have taken on.  Sometimes, when we have become over-burdened, our minds may become clouded and confused.  Even though we are knowledgeable of the burdens, defilements, oppressions and transferences that we are exposed to, we sometimes have difficultly remembering how to pray to be released from them.

Because of the Internet, we are always hearing “dot” something, so we put together BDOTS as a reminder acronym.  The priority is to get the prayer to God as quickly and concisely as possible – trusting Him to apply the appropriate actions to the appropriate needs.  We condensed 15 minutes worth of detailed prayers of deliverance, release, cleansing, and absolution into this one quick, easily remembered blanket prayer that can be repeated as often as necessary throughout the day after we encounter people and situations:

Father, in the Name of Jesus, we ask you to cleanse us, free us, release us from all of the:

 Burdens

Defilements

Oppressions and

Transferences that we have picked up.  Please forgive us of any

Sins we have committed.

Strengthen us, guide us and give us wisdom to carry only that which You assign to us.  Refill us with your Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Don't Cry Anymore

   Most Christians understand (intellectually, at least) that there is a distinction between happiness and joy.  Joy is somehow a spiritual characteristic and happiness is carnal.
   The Cathedral Quartet put it most dramatically in the song Romans 8:28:
       Now Satan can rob me of my happiness
       But he can't take away my joy
   But most people would be hard pressed to give a clear example of the distinction.
   In 1992, I was driving through a run-down neighborhood.  I passed a little girl who was sitting on the curb with her head in her hands.  This song immediately came to me:

Don't Cry Anymore

       Don't Cry Anymore,
       Everything will be all right.
       Jesus loves you,
       And He wants you to know,
       That you're special to HIm.

       So dry your tears,
       And give your fears to Him.
       __ ___ ____ ___
       And let the healing begin.


   The song came to me as fast as I could write it down -- with the exception of the one missing line.  What was missing?  What else do we have to do to enable God's healing?  I could not come up with an answer.
   About a week or two weeks later, I was almost killed in a car wreck.  I was in the hospital for 21 days.  I was in a lot of pain most of that time and there had been a significant possibility that I might lose a leg.  My personal foundational scripture has always been Romans 8:28, "All things work together for good to them that love the Lord and are called according to His purposes."  Naturally, I was asking fervently, "WHY HAS THIS HAPPENED TO ME?" and "How does THIS work to my good?"
   Immediately - when I asked, "Why..." - the missing line in the song came to me:
       "Release your JOY
       "And let the healing begin!"
   The physical healing process took over a year.  But as far as I was concerned, I was spiritually healed immediately.  I have rarely felt as close to God as I did during those 21 days.  I was certainly NOT happy.  But I was never without joy.
   The Apostle Paul wrote letters to many of the churches while he was in prison in Rome. On several occasions he attempted to convey the dramatic distinction between happiness and joy.
   He was so excited by the joy of his relationship with God that forgot where he was and said, "I wish everybody could be just like I am."  [dramatic pause...]  "Oh... Except for these leg irons and this prison cell."
   I could honestly say, "I wish everyone could be just like me."  "Oh... Except for the crushed leg and all the pain and stuff..."
   The dramatic point that the Lord was trying to make was that joy comes first!  Our natural assumption is that the joy comes because of the healing.  But, that's not joy - that's happiness.  Joy comes straight from the Lord, regardless of the situation.  What God was saying was that Joy has to ALREADY BE THERE for healing to take place!

     Don't Cry Anymore,
     Everything will be all right.
     Jesus loves you,
     And He wants you to know,
     That you're special to HIm.

     So dry your tears,
     And give your fears to Him.
     RELEASE YOUR JOY!
     And let the healing begin.


     Don't Cry Anymore,
     Everything will be all right.
     Jesus loves you,
     And He wants you to know,
     That you're precious to HIm.