You Are Not Your Own

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,  for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
 

I have been struggling to live this truth for months now. It is really hard to always acknowledge that I belong to Jesus and that He is the best person to deal with the difficulties I, and we in our family, are having to face, day after day.
 
One of our children is in deep trouble and is not coping at all well. Indeed there seems to be no growth or any kind of movement towards resolution of any part of all the complexity.
 
Trish has asked me to stop offering advice and suggestions as these are beyond being helpful until there is a major change in our (now fully adult) child. Now we simply pray and pour out love.
 
I know that Jesus is present with us always, and this thought renews my hope a hundred times a day. Trish and I also have great testimony of how Jesus has come and rescued both of us in very fraught situations, and this encourages us. But our question remains: "Jesus? How long will this all go on?"
 
It is in remembering that I now belong to Jesus that my hope comes. If I truly do belong to Him, then all my problems are really His problems! This is such an uplifting thought; we know that Jesus can do anything, He already has done everything!
 
Jesus is the Creator of the whole Universe, even of me and of you (Genesis 1:3; Psalm 8:3, 147:4; Colossians 1:16-17). Jesus became human and then died to save all humanity from the big enemies: sin and death (Romans 6:23). This was the "price" Jesus paid for us (Matthew 20:28; Romans 6:10). He defeated Satan and took back the authority Adam and Eve had given away, and this authority He has now given to us, His people on Earth (Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 9:1; Titus 2:11-15). Jesus brought us to His Father asking that we become children of God. As children we are loved and fed and nurtured and will grow and grow "until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13).
 
Coming into the knowledge that I am "not my own" was quite shocking to me. For my whole life I have been taught that I am a unique individual and must grow in learning and character so that I can "be my own man" as an adult, and to take responsibility for myself.

 
We learn to "think for our self" while also "doing the right thing" in our family, workplace and society.
 
We are strongly encouraged to be "true to our self". This sounds fine until we realise that it is the opposite of what Jesus wants for us! Jesus knows that as Christians we have been redeemed, ("purchased / bought back"), from a sinful life in a fallen world (Galatians 3:13) and we need His strength (2 Corinthians 12:9) and the wisdom and teaching of His dear Holy Spirit (John 14:26) to be able to live fully in this world and be ready for the next (Matthew 5:12). So, in truth, He wants us to be true to Him - not to our self!

Jesus wants us to acknowledge that we are now part of His Kingdom, that we belong to Him, even that we surrender our self to Him so that He can truly be our Lord.

"In response to your surrender, God will do for you what you cannot achieve by any effort of your own will: He will renew your mind. He will change the way you think. This includes your goals, your values, your attitudes, and your priorities. All will be brought into line with those of God Himself.

This inner change will find expression in your outward behaviour. You will no longer be 'conformed', acting like all the unregenerate people around you. Instead you will be 'transformed', and begin to demonstrate in your conduct the very nature and character of God" (Derek Prince). 

Here is a testimony about belonging to Jesus:
Shirley married Trish’s brother so is our sister-in-law; after her marriage she met Jesus and became a Christian. Trish and I both saw that Shirley had a real glow after she was baptised; she declared that "it is so good that I now belong to someone". Shirley is Chinese and grew up in a Buddhist family in Hong Kong. She then went to live in the USA with her new husband whose family came there generations previously from Ireland and Scotland and are Catholic.
 
Shirley already belonged to her birth family and birth country, now she also belonged with us, her marriage family, and her newly adopted country. What did she mean:  ".. I now belong to someone"?
 
I believe that her spirit was rejoicing that she (her spiritual self) had been accepted into the most secure place in the Universe, that she had found Jesus, and He brought her to her Heavenly Father who welcomed her to be with Him forever!
 
"For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.  For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's" (Romans 14:7-8). 
 
God's New Covenant ownership of His people is seen in many ways, but never as slavery, or even as coercion (John 15:15).
 
You Are Not Your Own - Sheep Of The Shepherd
 
Our Bible tells us that Jesus is our "shepherd" (John 10:11). This is not like saying that He is our lion-tamer; that he caught us as wild creatures then tamed and domesticated us. No, sheep are not really found in the wild, they have been living with humans for millennia, they are drawn to their shepherd and have a strong relationship of trust and dependence. This is how it is with us Christians and Jesus, we are safe with Him.
 
•  The shepherd knows his sheep, each one (John 10:14).
•  The shepherd gives his sheep a safe place (Micah 2:12).
•  The shepherd feeds his sheep and nurtures them (Psalm 100:3).
•  The shepherd will put his life at risk to protect the sheep (1 Samuel 17:34-37).
 
We find that all this is true of Jesus and us. I have come to love Christian testimony; so many true stories of how Jesus has saved people, rescued them from terrible wilderness lives and brought them "peace" (John 14:27), "fellowship" (Acts 2:42), "life to the full" (John 10:10), "freedom" (Galatians 5:1), and "freedom from fear" (Job 21:9; Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 2:15).
 
I worked as a shepherd when I was young, this included leading the flock to good pasture and helping many mother sheep through difficult births of their baby lambs. It was exciting and satisfying work and expanded my love for the natural world. I see Jesus enjoying all of us, His people, and being satisfied as we grow.
 
Jesus, our shepherd, promises to meet all our needs (Luke 12:22-32; Philippians 4:19). We can trust Him, even in our times of trouble (2 Timothy 3:1, 10, 13, 15-16).
 

You Are Not Your Own - Abiding In The Vine
 
Jesus tells us to abide as a branch in the vine (John 15:4, 5, 6, 7). He is the grape vine and our Father is the vine dresser, the farmer, the one responsible for the vine, and ultimately for the grapes and the wine.
 
"Abide" means "to dwell " or "to live". Jesus wants us to live our lives in Him; He, the vine, will support us, each one, and supply all our needs (Luke 12:22-34), even to ensuring that we will produce "more fruit" (v1), even "much fruit" (v8).
 
We know that a "good tree" will produce "good fruit" (Matthew 7:17); Jesus is the best vine, so after the bad branches have been cut (v6), and the good branches have been pruned (v2), the fruit will be good fruit. The good fruit in our lives will be that which comes from Jesus by His Holy Spirit (Luke 3:9; Galatians 5:22-23), and this fruit will always please our Father (2 Corinthians 5:9) and be in line with His will.
 
As I ponder these verses I see that pruning, though tough, is always good for us, and keeps us in line with our Father's will.
 
Jesus tells us that the object of the fruitfulness is to glorify our Father (v8) and so that "Jesus' joy may be in us and that our joy may be full" (v11). Joy is precious, it is much more than happiness; happiness is always fleeting, it passes. Joy fills us and is robust. Joy comes from knowing the glory of God (1 Peter 1:8).
 
You Are Not Your Own - Going Where Jesus Is
 
Jesus' plans for us are so detailed that He already knows how it will be when we go to Him when we die. He has a place especially for us, each one:
 
"In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also" (John 14:2-3).
 
That place where we will go is in Jesus, indwelling; the most joy-filled and secure place possible (Romans 8:1; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Galatians 2:20).
 
Even though I have a BA degree in theology, I'm not sure I understand all the discussion about the "last trumpet call" and Jesus "coming again" and the "rapture", but I do know that I can trust Him and our Heavenly Father; this is faith (Romans 14). Jesus has already prepared a place for me; a place where there are no tears, nor pain, crying or mourning (Revelation 21:4). We will know true joy: "and those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away" (Isaiah 35:10; 51:11).
 

So if I can trust my future to Him, surely I can also trust my life here and now? And the lives of those I love and care for?
 
Well, I must, for I now know that I am not my own but now belong to Jesus.
 
Yes.
 
".. Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18:25).
 
Yes. Such comfort, such great assurance!
 
Meanwhile our "prayers" continue to be "added" to the "golden bowls" in Heaven (Revelation 5:8), while we "press on" (Philippians 3:12) as we "follow Jesus" (Matthew 4:19) and serve Him and our neighbour.
 
We know that (like Jesus) love is central, and that all our prayers for our children, indeed every prayer we pray, is being heard at the very throne of God, our God, the God of all Creation and of all time.
 
"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things .. so now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:7, 13:13).
 
Favourite Scripture Verses
 
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.  I do not set aside the grace of God .." (Galatians 2:20-21a).
 
"This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God" (1 Corinthians 4:1).
 
"For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil" (1 Peter 3:17).
 
"We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him" (John 9:31)
 
"If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple" (1 Corinthians 3:17).
 
Amen.
 
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Armour Of God: Shoes Of Good News

"And, as shoes for your feet .. put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace" (Ephesians 6:15).

When Paul starts talking about "the armour of God" (Ephesians 6:10-18) he wants to show us that we need the armour "to stand", and that every part of the armour is precious.

Standing is a big part of these "armour" verses, (Ephesians 6 v11, v13 twice, and v14); to stand is necessary for our survival and ultimate victory in Jesus. Paul reminds us that Satan not only has "schemes" (v11) but has many "principalities, cosmic powers, rulers and spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (v12) who are intent on destroying us (John 10:10a); many of these are immensely powerful. Only in Jesus can we "be strong" (Ephesians 6:10) in our struggle. This is a very serious teaching from Paul, for all of us.

Paul tells us to ".. take up the whole armor of God .." (Ephesians 6:13) because we will need all of it. Every element of the armour is Jesus, the "belt", "breastplate", "shoes", "shield", "helmet", and "sword" (see Note 1). As we grow as Christians, (and we never stop growing in Jesus), we will become fully "clothed with Christ" (Galatians 3:27), Hallelujah!

(At the same time, Paul is writing about "the Gospel of peace" (Ephesians 6:15). His peace is another thing Jesus wants to give us (John 14:27). As I go about my days I see that many people are anxious, fearful and depressed, even though their lives look as though they are going well; you know, they are very busy, with good jobs, great phones, nice homes. Yet it seems to me that they have not yet assimilated into Jesus' "Gospel of peace").

We see that "to stand", for Paul, is more than just being upright on our feet. He wants us to be unshakeable (Hebrews 12:27-28) in "spirit, soul and body" (1 Thessalonians 5:23) because we know the truth and the truth is Jesus:

"Sanctify them in the truth; your Word is truth" (John 17:17 - Jesus' prayer to Father God for all of us, and also for each one of us.

As I ponder this "feet shod with readiness of the Gospel" verse I see that it is central to what Paul is persuading us; central because all the other armour depends on our "readiness" in Jesus' gospel, our full understanding of the truth, even our total immersion in it.

Read Your Bible

I see that Paul is saying: "Read your Bible", read and explore, read and find truth, read and ponder, read and grow, read and pray, read and become ready ..

Read all of it. Read about redemption, freedom, love and joy. Read about pain and suffering and perseverance and hope. Read about the virgin birth and the Creation and the miracles. Read about spiritual gifts and healings and our power and life in the Spirit. Read about sin and forgiveness, and humility, obedience, and His strength, not ours ..

"Read your Bible". How often do we hear this today? Often, right? Our Bible class leaders tell us, our prayer friends, our pastors: "Read your Bible". The great Christian writers, down through the centuries, they all say the same thing: "Read your Bible". There are lots of "Read your Bible" Scriptures!

Read everything. See how it all centres on Jesus; we can see Him in the Old Testament and everywhere in the New; He is always the source and the object.

At Bible College we took turns to present a devotion before classes; we would be assigned a Psalm. It was easy to give a summary from a great commentator, but we were being taught to see Jesus as central to life and to history so I would look for Him in the Psalm assigned to me. I always found Him and was able to share from that. So lovely, He is always everywhere.

As you read, see how all the books and stories hold together, the Bible is intelligible, consistent and rational. I believe that what God has given us in His Book is the only coherent guide for life and living ever written. Praise Jesus.

When I asked Jesus "why read my Bible", He gave me these notes in a rush, they are just as I first wrote them down:

• Always continually learning more about Jesus
• How Jesus is central to life and history
• Knowing God's heart
• Finding God's will for me
• Understanding Holy Spirit, and our relationship in Him
• Hearing God's voice
• Understand faith, hope and love
• To learn truth
• Learn to worship in every part of our life
• Learning to forgive - understanding God's forgiveness of us
• Establish - and maintain - our Godly Jesus-centred worldview
• Learning to pray
• Learning to share Jesus with others
• Understanding spiritual gifts
• Know the truth and beauty of the Creation
• See miracles
• Finding peace - overcoming fear, depression and anxiety
• Learning to be grateful
• Understanding who we are in life and the world
• Our unique destiny
• Learning about our body, God's life in us, and His healing
• Learning to be generous, to give and share - and to receive
• Understanding the Cosmic battle
• Learning to be a spiritual warrior
• Family and marriage - and single life
• Understand God's rest
• Understand the fruit of the Spirit
• Why the Gospel is key to everything
   

A godly Scoutmaster used to say that the Bible gives answers to every question regarding life and living; to me, these few minutes of prayer and fast typing show the truth of what he said.

Three things stand out to me:

1. Truth - Jesus is very concerned that His people know truth. Jesus is "truth" (John 8:31-32), He is "the Word of God" (John 1:1). The Bible, which He wants us to read, is simply Jesus in written form (John 21:25).

(On the other hand, Satan, who wants to "steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10a), is "the father of lies" (John 8:44)).

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).

2. Relationships - We are relational beings, made in the image and likeness of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who is the source and essence of relationship. To be complete we will be related vertically, to our Father God, in Jesus Christ, by Holy Spirit, and also horizontally with our earthly family, our Christian family and our neighbour.

"'And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Secondly: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'. There is no other commandment greater than these" (Mark 12:30-3).

Being loved by God teaches us to love Him, and to love others. Love is a "doing" word, and is often very hard work. "Agape" is one of the Greek words for love; it means "unconditional love", sacrificial love, the highest form of love, the love of God for humankind. We can learn to love like this.

I know men who have read "husbands, love your wives" in their Bible (Ephesians 5:25; Ephesians 5:28; Colossians 3:19; 1 Peter 3:7); and have seen that this was something they needed to grow in, in their obedience to Jesus (2 Corinthians 7:15; 1 Peter 1:2). Now they are so grateful to Jesus for showing them this command. Their marriages, their own lives, their families, and even their work lives have been transformed.

I believe that the greatest gift a man can give his children is to love their mother!

3. Salvation and Spiritual Wholeness - We are handmade by God, each one, to live in His family in this life and forever in Heaven.

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life" (John 6:63).

Many of us come to Jesus when we say a "sinner's prayer" from our heart. Then, as Christians, we become a "new creation" (Galatians 6:15) and develop a Christ-centred, Kingdom-of-God focused lifestyle and worldview.

Big changes happen, some immediately and others take years, even decades, ("perseverance" is needed), but remember:
".. he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).

We become a son or daughter of God:
"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).

"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as children, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" (Romans 8:15).

We come alive in the Spirit - God's Holy Spirit:
"And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses" (Colossians 2:13).

We learn that we are no longer of this world:
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2).

We become "sojourners" in this world:
"Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul" (1 Peter 2:11).

Our servant heart grows:
"This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God" (1 Corinthians 4:1).

We are able to put aside our old worldly life:
"The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light" (Romans 13:12).

Jesus’ Coming

The only way we can "hasten" Jesus’ return (Ephesians 5:25-27) is to be a holy church, pure and radiant; Jesus wants to "sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word". Not by great works, big numbers or fervent song; by His Word, by us being immersed in and at one with His Bible.

These are spiritually tough times. We need our "Shoes of Good News" to "stand" (Ephesians 6:11) and also to "go" (Matthew 28:19).

Reading and digesting our Bible is key to being "ready" to share the "Gospel of Christ", any time, "in season and out of season" (2 Timothy 4:2). Even when things seem impossibly bad (Acts 16:25-34). It is such a blessing when glorious Scriptures come to mind in times of stress or trouble!

Thank you Jesus.
Amen.

Favourite Verses

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:10-12 ESV).

"For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace" (John 1:16).

"Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:2).

"And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?" (Matthew 12:26).

"You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence" (Acts 2:28).

Note 1: The Full Armour of God: From Ephesians 6:10-18

• The belt of truth - Truth is Jesus - John 1:14
• The breastplate of righteousness - Jesus is our righteousness - 2 Corinthians 5:21
• Our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace - Jesus is the Gospel, this was a mystery until He gave us the Church - Ephesians 1:9
• The shield of faith - Jesus is our shield - 1 Peter 1:5
• The helmet of salvation - Jesus protects our mind - 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV and Amplified
• The sword of the Spirit - Jesus is our only weapon, the Word of God, invincible in spiritual battles - John 1:1 and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
• And pray in the Spirit - continually, without ceasing - Romans 8:26 and 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

Bless you Jesus.

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Amen.

Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus

What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

These days we are often singing this lovely old song. Mostly someone will spontaneously begin in a pause in a meeting .. "What can take away my sin?" Immediately the whole room will fill with the joy and power and hope that these words bring as we all join in.

Today these truths are very close to people's hearts.

"Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins" (Hebrews 9:22).

Do we love this song because it reflects the essence of what Jesus has done for us? And also its certainty? We know that we were sinners and that only Jesus saved us by His complete sacrifice and from His love. We could easily fall back into sin, but Jesus blood continues to save us, even now. Even today.

Is it because we see that so many are not saved, many who are veiled from truth (2 Corinthians 4:3) or who loudly declare that Jesus is not welcome in their lives and that His ways are not attractive to them? They cannot see Jesus' beauty (Psalm 27:4), nor the freedom He brings "through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross" (Colossians 1:20). 

I know that I sing because I am so grateful that Jesus came to me when I was willful and wanton and disinterested in Him (Romans 5:8). (I was also fully un-aware of the freedoms that Jesus would bring (John 10:10)).

The blood we sing about is an essential theme throughout the Bible. Even as a teenager I knew that "the blood" was very special.

Testimony

When I was aged ten my dad took me to Boy Scouts and I loved it. We were Sea Scouts so I learned to row and sail boats and about ropes and knots, and to build boats and fix them. We regularly went to "church parades" so I got to see how church worked; we carried the flags and sang loudly as boys love to do.

Then when we commenced high school we went to "confirmation classes"; the objective was that we could participate in Holy Communion and be a grown-up in the church. I remember nothing from those classes except that we couldn't wait for them to end; we could then go to the church hall and have hot cocoa, listen to the latest 45 RPM vinyl records and talk to the girls. We also had "Bible class" dances which were truly high points in our lives. I'm not sure that any of us had any interest in Christianity or Jesus during any of those activities.

It now seems strange to remember that I was always moved by the Communion. I would settle right down and think about my sins and selfishness; something in my spirit came alive. I believe that to the best of my knowledge and ability I was not "sinning against the body and blood of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 11:27), but rather that Jesus was using what He had sown in me from my mother: the certain knowledge that "God is" (Deuteronomy 7:9; Hebrews 3:4) and that Communion was a recognition of this.

My testimony as a Christian is that God saved me from drowning three times and from being lost in the mountains twice. Many times He prevented anyone being killed or injured from all our foolishness with cars. God also found Trish, and put us together in the most unlikely, (and romantic), of circumstances, then brought both of us to Himself and gave us six children.

Jesus words were believable, even then, though totally mysterious: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.  Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:53-54).

These promises have proved to be true. (Why I did not act on them as a teenager I do not know). But I have always been aware that I have life in me; that my life has meaning and that I was put here for a purpose.

One time I went into the surf to rescue a colleague who was in desperate trouble. We soon realised that we were in a rip and though I struggled with everything I had we could not reach shallow waters. Then, as the terrible thoughts were going through my mind that I would have to abandon my workmate else we would both drown, and: "Could I even do that?" and with a deep but peaceful sadness: "No, I must keep struggling". Then my foot touched a sand bar and we got out. I am now certain that Jesus moved that sand bar to rescue us; it surely was not there seconds before ..

Blood And Church

I grew up in a fishing and hunting family so saw blood and guts in their primal form. Also, I was a boy and fell off my bike many times and was often recovering from cuts, scrapes and bumps, so knew my own blood intimately. Jesus' words, though shocking, had a deep resonance for me. 

This was long before I knew that "life is in the blood" (Leviticus 17:11) and that every covenant needs blood to be complete (Exodus 24:8; Matthew 26:28), or even what a covenant is. Nevertheless I knew that there was great significance in the Communion I shared at church (where I felt that I neither understood nor belonged). 

Strangely I was not aware that I was "lost" and only nominally a Christian (by culture). That it was Jesus' blood in the Communion, and not that of "Our Father" (Matthew 6:9) just added to the Godly mystery. However, I would be aware of my sins and ask for forgiveness and feel washed clean.

Many years later we would sing the chorus: "To get a touch from the Lord is so real .."

Back in those teenage years I already knew this to be true. From memory I believe that I knew the spiritual world to be completely real, that it is before the physical, intellectual and emotional, and that God is both Creator and Boss. I could not see why Jesus was so important in the Bible; in those post WWII years I knew lots of good people who had made great sacrifices. Still, I am sure that all this had a big influence on my worldview; on how I saw the world, and all reality.

Knowing Jesus

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.  Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:53-54)

Our access to "the blood of Jesus" comes from knowing Him, it is all relational:  

"And Jesus said to the woman, 'Your sins are forgiven' .. 'Your faith has saved you; go in peace'" (Luke 7:48, 50). The woman at the well had come to know Jesus.

"Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). We have to be committed to Jesus, from the heart, relationally, to meet these conditions.

The Bible recounts many stories of seekers after salvation. After hearing Jesus they knew that their present understanding was incomplete: 

"When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, 'Who then can be saved?'" (Matthew 19:25).

I love Christian testimony; people share about their sense of wonder and awe when they learned that they are loved and forgiven, forever! That moment when their spirit comes alive and they are joined into Jesus' family.

The Bible tells of people seeing Jesus or hearing just a word or two (Luke 5:27-28; Mark 5:27-28), and knowing that He was the One who would save them and would be "faithful and true" (Revelation 19:11).

"And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

When Jesus said ".. unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you .." (John 6:53), He was talking about what we call the Communion, or Holy Communion, or The Lord's Supper. In His day Jesus spoke of us eating His body and us drinking his blood as necessary for us if we are to participate in His life.

As a Christian I have come to see this participation as also sharing in Jesus' love and the work He has on Earth (Ephesians 2:10) with all humankind.

Big thoughts. Big concepts. A long way from where I was before Jesus revealed Himself to me and saved me.

So what does it all mean? Jesus spoke of His body and blood while giving His disciples bread and wine. This was at the end of the meal so the bread and wine would have been what was left from their dinner, nothing special, right? Just what was there? How are we to understand this? And how do we relate it to our lives as Christians today?

I have shared in Communion in a great many denominations and local churches, even in cathedrals, and at home or out in the bush with just Trish and me or our children and friends too. Everyone seems to do it differently, with different regularity and dramatically different rules. 

How are we, simple Christian people, to be clear in our heart and mind about our participation in this essential, commanded, Christian activity? (Some call it a sacrament because it was commanded by Jesus and is very important).

Trish and I knew a preacher many years ago in New Jersey. He loved to remind us that the spiritual world is real and is God's domain and that we, as humans, share in that world. He loved to remind us that some things can only be understood Spirit to spirit (Acts 4:31), and that our intellect, emotions and humanity only get in the way of our understanding. Invariably he would go on to say that some things remain a mystery even to the most spiritually aware among us. That lovely, gentle preacher brought the Bible alive to us; he allowed us to accept that we need not understand everything that God does.

At Bible College we studied the various ways of Communion; the different theological and doctrinal views, things which have been pondered for millennia by very clever people who truly love Jesus, His gospel and His church. If they cannot agree on one truth here what are we to do?

Also at Bible College we were taught to ask "what does the text say?" To me these texts are clear in what they express:

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.  Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:53-54).

"Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him" (John 6:56).

I see that Jesus is talking about everyday bread and wine and about His very essence being as one. And at the same time He is telling us that this same essence of Himself will add to us, each one, even unto life beyond this world and for eternity.

"The words eats, drinks, and abides are in the continuing present tense: 'He who continually feeds on My flesh, and continually drinks My blood, continually abides in Me and I in him'" (Derek Prince).

My conclusion? I believe that in some mysterious way which my spirit can understand but not articulate, I can prepare my heart and partake of Communion in any of its forms, and Jesus' command to me is fulfilled .. at the same time I am being brought into "common union" with every other Christian (Romans 14).

Jesus’ last supper was with His twelve disciples (Luke 22:14-20) and, because the Bible is the living Word of God (1 Peter 1:23) it flows to all of us today. I believe that what happens is beyond the laws of physics, chemistry and thermodynamics, it is a miracle and immediately affects every part of us.  He feeds us with a miracle! Jesus doesn't just feed us spiritually, but physically too, (we are such physical creatures).

What can wash away our sin?

What can make us whole again?

Jesus. The answer is always Jesus!

Bless you my dear brother and sister, let us commune together in Jesus and share this spiritual meal as we obey His command, as one. Amen. 

What can wash away my sin?

nothing but the blood of Jesus.

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain:

O precious is the flow

that makes me white as snow;

no other fount I know;

nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my pardon this I see:

nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my cleansing this my plea:

nothing but the blood of Jesus. [Refrain]

Nothing can for sin atone:

nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Naught of good that I have done:

nothing but the blood of Jesus. [Refrain]

This is all my hope and peace:

nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This is all my righteousness: 

nothing but the blood of Jesus. [Refrain]

Robert Lowry 1876 (Hebrews 9:22).

Favourite Scriptures

"Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,   and since we have a great priest over the house of God,  let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:19-23). 

"And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, 'This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!'" (Luke 9:35).

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).

"We have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance" (1 Peter 1:2). 

"And they have conquered [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death" (Revelation 12:11).

Amen.

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Praise Jesus.

Be Still And Know

"Be still, and know that I am God .." (Psalm 46:10a).
 
"still" is the opposite of "agitated". When outside forces threaten us and make everything uncertain we tend to get agitated. We lose our cool, and this causes us to focus on the threat or problem and begin to think loosely. Because we are agitated we don't follow thoughts through as we know we should, neither do we anchor our thought processes on those foundations which are core to who we are, each one, to our own unique worldview. (A worldview is a personal view of the whole world - specifically, a philosophical view of all of reality; it is something individual to each person - everybody has a worldview, even if they do not know it!)

"This Present Darkness"
 
These days many people are saying that, because of "this present darkness", (Ephesians 6:12), they feel more centred on Jesus. They say that He is more in the centre of their consciousness because He needs to be; they need Jesus more: His strength, love, faith, peace, understanding, and even His compassion towards everyone, (including those misguided and lost souls who are turning our societies and our cultures upside down, and increasing their persecution of Christians).
 
The idea that we would "be still" may seem frivolous .. "really, shouldn't I be doing something?"
 
• We already have done something! We gave our body, indeed our whole self, to Jesus as "a living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1). We became a "temple" of God’s "Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:19). We are renewing our mind (Romans 12:2), and now have the "mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16).

 
• Jesus taught His disciples to go to "a quiet place to pray" (Matthew 6:6).
 
• Remember, Jesus is in the boat with us, always. He was with the disciples when the storm came, they became terrified. "Peace, be still" Jesus said. He spoke to the wind and the waves, He also spoke to calm His friends and to all of us, all these centuries later (Psalm 107:23-31; Mark 4:35-41).
 
When Trish and my children were young we had a hobby farm in our Southwest. When things got very difficult I would go up the hill to be alone. I would shout out to God who I saw was making everything so hard for me. Then I could be quiet, I could become still .. Jesus would always bring assurance; not of anything in particular, just the certainty that He is there, and He always cares for me and for all those for whom I am responsible.
 
I recently met Alex, he is a mature age trainee nurse who does caring, caretaking and cleaning to support his family while he studies. This is a big load that will last for years. He says that it is being still with God that gets him through. Cleaning up after other people is hard, but in his still moments with Jesus Alex gains the strength and peace he needs to press on (Philippians 3:14).
 
Towards Jesus?
 
In tough times it is good to pause and take stock; we tend to look ahead; towards what we are doing and where we are going. Where are we going? What is our direction? Towards Jesus? Or, towards the world?
 
"For David says concerning him, 'I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken'" (Acts 2:25).
 
"Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2).
 
Remember all those heroes of Hebrews chapter 11; they all had clear direction: "looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (Hebrews 11:10).
 
".. people look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).
 

Being Still
 
Somehow, when I take the time, (I have to purposefully give Jesus my attention); when I am quiet and still with Jesus, it is as though He puts a barrier between me and trouble. This is spiritual. Jesus truly becomes "my shield" (Psalm 18:2).
 
The trouble is still there, Jesus has not changed my circumstances, but truth is manifest, Jesus, the Spirit of truth, has come (John 14:17) and put everything into its true perspective. "In this world we will have trouble" (John 16:33a); I am assured again that Jesus has "overcome the world" (John 16:33b).
 
Just as we learn to curb our anger when someone cuts us off in their car or uses foul language in public, so we can teach our self to be still, just for a moment. It takes just seconds; we can consciously share this moment with Jesus. Without fail He is calm, there is a warmth, (I often find that, right then, I need that warmth), and it's as though He whispers "my peace I bring" (John 14:27).
 
Jesus and Holy Spirit pray all the time for all us saints (Romans 8:27; 8:34), there is tangible benefit in this. When we "be still" we can "know that He is God", effectively we cast our cares and worries onto Him (1 Peter 5:7). Jesus' "exalted" place "above the nations" takes its right place in our perspective (Psalm 46:10).
 
The Great Exchange
 
Christians have been talking about The Great Exchange for centuries: God gave everything, He gave Jesus in exchange for us, each one:
"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21).
 
Christianity is uniquely different from all the other faiths and religions. The God of all Creation reconciled sinful man to Himself by making His sinless Son the sin bearer. Jesus died in our place (John 3:16). We receive it all "by faith" (Acts 26:18) and "by grace" (Ephesians 2:8).
 
(It is so rewarding to do a New Testament search for "by faith" and "by grace"!)
 
What does Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness" (Romans 4:3).
 
David says: "Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.  Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them" (Romans 4:6-8). We too can believe God, be set free and brought into His family, now and for eternity.
 
Our "Salvation" Moment
 
Do you remember when you were saved? You know, that moment when, beyond any doubt, all your sins had been forgiven by God Himself and Jesus welcomed you into His Kingdom? So many Christians do remember that time, it is still vivid in their mind. This is not surprising really when we consider all that happens in that moment ..
 
My memory is that, even with everything that was going on in the meeting, I knew a stillness and knew that God was God; the God of Creation, and that Jesus had come to me. God was welcoming me into His family. "I was in a cloud of love". I am still learning about God’s many and infinite attributes.
 
He is:
• faithful,
• glorious (infinitely beautiful and great),
• good, 

• gracious,
• holy (unchangingly perfect),
• immutable (He never changes),
• infinite (self-existing, without origin),
• just,
• loving,
• merciful,
• omnipotent (all powerful),
• omnipresent (always everywhere),
• omniscient (all-knowing),
• self-sufficient,
• wise,
and more and more!
  

 

From that salvation moment I began to grow; it was later that I learned that my growth was in Jesus. I was not growing just as me, but uniquely as one of His own, and at the same time being equipped "for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12-13). This is a big promise.
 
The "Rest" Of God
 
Jesus came and "lived among us" (John 1:14) to "defeat sin" and "destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8), to bring "glory to His, [and now our], Father" (2 Peter 1:17), and so that we "may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).
 
The "rest" Of God is a theme throughout Scripture and, I believe, is a part of being able to "know God" (Galatians 4:9) and "have life .. to the full". We can find "God's rest" when we can "be still".
 
"There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,  for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his" (Hebrews 4:10).
 
For years I struggled with this whole idea; it seemed to be so hard for me to rest with this God who had found me, this God who created and now sustains the whole Universe. Jesus brought the change when He taught me how to simply be with Him. Stillness helps. "Be still and know that I am God", yes, I can do that. Spirit to spirit, and face to face. Thank you Jesus, I am so grateful.
 
Not so long ago Trish and I were visiting our son Frankie and his family. Ada, their third, is now a toddler, (she was born during our first big Covid-19 lockdown last year). She came to me for a cuddle.
 
I have been talking to Ada since she was in Anlia's womb, and I am convinced that immediately she was born Ada recognised my voice. That evening Ada cuddled up to me and we had this sweet conversation (even though only I had words); she was content and comfortable in Pop's arms and was soon asleep, snuggling up, warm, safe. What love I felt; here was this little person who so trusted me that she could sleep in my arms. She had entered into the "rest of her Pop".
 
When I seek that stillness I am aware of Jesus being present, right there with me. The thought of being at rest in Him is now quite do-able, and from that I can find the peace that Jesus promises (John 14:27). In today's world this is a rare and precious thing.
 
Thank you my so-very-big God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
 

          The love of God is greater far
          Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
          It goes beyond the highest star,
          And reaches to the lowest hell;
          The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
          God gave His Son to win;
          His erring child He reconciled,
          And pardoned from their sin.
 
          Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
          How measureless and strong!
          It shall forevermore endure—
          The saints' and angels' song.
 
          (Hymn: Frederick Lehman, 1917).
 
Amen.
 

Favourite Scriptures 

"And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:27).
 
"I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me" (Acts 26:18).
 
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8).
 
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,  though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its surging. (Selah)  There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling place of the Most High" (Psalm 46:1-4).
 
"Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply .. Like this: 'Our Father in Heaven ..'" (Matthew 6:6-9 Message).
 
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Praise Jesus.

Holy Spirit: Baptism

"You Will Be .."

".. for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now" (Acts 1:5 Jesus speaking).

Jesus was announcing a complete change in humankind's relationship with God. Until that time a person regarded God as being outside of them self; a distant deity, concerned about and influencing the dreams and struggles of humanity from above.

One would go to the temple or the synagogue to find God’s presence. This Holy Spirit baptism, which Jesus was saying was for "you", for all His followers, would bind God's Holy Spirit with their human spirit; God Himself would come and live within each believer, they would forever after have God dwelling in their body, now His "temple" (1 Corinthians 6:19). We can see why the Bible tells us that we become "a new creation" (Galatians 6:15), and "born again" (John 3:3).

From God on our outside, to God on our inside: Father, through Jesus the Son, by Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit is a person, one of the three persons who are our Triune God. The person of God, in Holy Spirit, comes and dwells in us, each one! We first see this happening at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-41). This is a gift, given by grace.

"Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord .." (John 12:13).

Jesus was reminding His followers that this future pouring out of God's Spirit on His people, this incredible baptism, was prophesied by three of the Old Testament prophets (Isaiah 44:3, Ezekiel 39:29, Joel 2:28-29), and also by John Baptist, as seen in all four of the Bible Gospels:

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" (Matthew 3:11).

"I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit" (Mark 1:8).

"John answered them all, saying, 'I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire'" (Luke 3:16).

"I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit'" (John 1:33).

What? How?

What is Holy Spirit baptism? What is its nature and purpose? How does it affect us? Big questions. Once again, we look to Jesus for answers! Upon our salvation we become a child of God (John 1:12), Holy Spirit baptism is deeper.

Jesus came to a hurting world. For centuries oppressive foreign nations had ruled over Israel who knew themselves to be God's special possession (Isaiah 43:1).

For His first 30 years Jesus lived a (nearly) normal life in a small Jewish town as a son of a carpenter. Jewish people actively followed God, and the Law and the Prophets, as they had been taught since Moses. This was not popular with Rome, their oppressor, and the Jews were persecuted.

Even more than the persecution, since the prophet Malachi there had been no fresh word from God, nothing. We know that period as the "400 years of silence"; a very long time to be without guidance from your God who has said that He loves you, will care for you, and has even made covenant with you.

Jesus' ministry began with His baptism of repentance by John. John knew that Jesus was without sin yet He was to be baptised. Immediately after that Jesus was tempted (without success) by Satan and went out into the wilderness.

Already Jesus' life was extraordinary (Luke 2:52), and over all the days of His ministry on Earth He lived and prayed and ministered as no-one before or since. We know that Jesus is fully God and also fully human. In the weakness of His humanity He was anointed by God's Holy Spirit, He was able to communicate with Father God intimately and always, and able to perform miracles - He could see what the Father wanted to accomplish. Jesus did this by the power of God by this same Holy Spirit that He says we will receive in baptism.

Jesus knew that He was going to go to be with His (now our) Father in Heaven (John 16:16). He also knew that God's love and power still needed to be available on this very troubled planet Earth (John 14:12).

What does this tell us? Wondrous things happen when God's power is applied through human beings in any situation, Jesus expects them to happen through us.

John Baptist told how this would be achieved, prophesying: ".. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" (Luke 3:16).

Holy Spirit baptism fills us, each one, with the Spirit of God, to enable and empower us, each one, to do the will of our Father in Heaven, to continue to do the works that Jesus did while He was here on Earth, 2000 years ago (John 15:10).

A.W. Tozer

The teachings of A.W. Tozer, (1897-1963), still speak today about our need for a deeper life in God. Some years after he was born again Tozer met a godly woman named Kate, he wrote:

"Kate took me aside and had a serious talk with me. It was concerning being filled with the Holy Spirit. I did not quite understand what she meant by being filled with the Holy Spirit. Who is this Holy Spirit?
She said, 'Young man, you must get down on your knees and die to yourself before the Holy Spirit will fill you'. And she explained in detail what this meant, as much as I could understand.

Then it happened. I was nineteen years old when I was baptized with a mighty infusion of the Holy Spirit. Even now, it is hard to explain what happened. I have had years to think about it, study it, and meditate on it, and yet when the Holy Spirit does something in you, it is usually beyond your ability to totally comprehend it, let alone explain it.

I know what God did for me and within me at that time. Nothing on the outside from then on had equal importance for me .. my testimony is simply that any work God has ever done through me and my ministry dates back to that moment".

When Trish and I first became Christian there was much teaching like this. It was an awesome time to be alive and to be Christian. We would talk about "every member ministry" and "Holy Spirit led ministry". Prayer meetings became the centre of our week. We saw very ordinary Christians, just like us, who would pray and see miracles. We would hear from the God of all Creation and have the words to speak to a person or into a situation and see healings. We prayed and God changed things. We loved to read Tozer, and many others, because they spoke of Bible events being replicated in our day, in our city! The Bible became more "real" and more clear!

Derek Prince wrote:

"We read Matthew 18:18, 'Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven'. How do we know what our Lord wants us to bind or loose? God will tell us by His Holy Spirit".

"For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say" (John 14:26).

Trish and I still read, study, pray and minister. Not just us, many around us, lay people, even new Christians, leaders, pastors, missionaries, teachers, intercessors - Jesus' people, His ecclesia, at work on Earth, doing (present tense continuous) the Father's will (Matthew 12:50).

Each Christian And All The Church

When God's Word speaks of baptism with Holy Spirit it is often in the plural. Just as each of us is a "temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:19), we are all together the temple; we are each a stone which together make up the structure of Jesus' house, His temple, His church:

"You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5). 

Each one personally, and all of us together are one body (Romans 12:5). Together we are a part of one another (Romans 12:10; Galatians 6:2; Ephesians 5:19; Hebrews 10:24; 1 Peter 4:10). Can we even imagine how this will be?

Many Views

There are many views about baptism with the Holy Spirit; about what it means, when it occurs, how we know that we, or others, have been so baptised. I believe that all the views contain truth and yet none of them are complete. When Jesus ministered on Earth He seemed, (at least to my reading of Scripture), that He did almost everything in a unique, or one-off, way, as Father God required. As we study His healings there is love and compassion always present, there is an awareness of Father God always present, but there clearly was no set method of healing. Likewise with wise words of help, with teaching, mentoring, rebuke or deliverance from evil spirits. Mystery is present in our Christian life. So with baptism with Holy Spirit.

Each of us knows when spiritual changes occur on our inside. There is no mistaking the change from total human weakness and powerlessness to an understanding that God, and God's power, is within us, that Jesus is leading us into His work, that Holy Spirit is providing words or other needed resources: "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you" (Acts 1:8). The growing "fruit of the Holy Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-23) in us shows that this is true.

Praise Jesus. Amen.

Favourite Scriptures

"You yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed:  how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him" (Acts 10:37-38).

"Paul said, 'John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus'. On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all" (Acts 19:4-7).

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Amen.