Posting

POSTING

Something by no means unique to a particular blog’s subject matter – is the question of what to put in and what to leave out in a post?

I imagine – Too long a post and we lose readers.(?)

Especially in this instant coffee day and age in which we live.

Attention spans have changed.

When it comes to posts with Christian subject matter in pursuit of readers – here’s how it looks to me:

Many are posting. Many send out the Word of God, hoping and trusting that God will use it in ways we know not of. Based on the scripture that tells us: 

Isaiah 55/

For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,

And do not return there,

But water the earth,

And make it bring forth and bud,

That it may give seed to the sower

And bread to the eater,

11 

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;

It shall not return to Me void,

But it shall accomplish what I please,

And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Now of course, for it not to return void (in the sharing of Christian teaching sense) – it must be accepted in the first place by the readers to whom it is sent. Or at least listened to.

For most of my fifty years as a Christian I have sent forth God’s Word – not as prolifically as I would have liked. 

But needing something to describe what I do – I became seedsinmotion. (Preaching, teaching, evangelising, writing)

Most Christians agree that the times we are entering into are times of hardship and a ‘falling away’ is taking place, rather like in the days of Noah.

II Timothy 3/

3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

We are also told that there will come a time when: 

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;…

So some will not even get past the title of a Christian post, before they decide it’s not for them.

The preacher gets his listeners on a Sunday morning. Usually an expected ‘ready made’ audience.

But sending out blog posts is potentially hit and miss for bloggers.

Usually having many genuine readers and not just followers, in my opinion, depends on the interest factor or lack of it.

It is not based (again – in my opinion) solely on writing ability.

It is true for myself also – if I am not interested in a particular post – I trash some of my email notifications without even reading the posts in situ.

So I shouldn’t be surprised if others do the same with me.

However there are those I return to again and again for the opposite reason i.e. I’m interested enough to do so.

Also – perhaps to the chagrin of the ‘poster’ – I sometimes read their post in my emails and don’t sign in to click the like button (naughty I know).

There is no doubt Christian or non-Christian when you read a Christian post – you are ‘exposing’ your mind to content that can be used by God to do something inside you. That is the most important thing when it comes to Christian posts.

Not just primarily that you have been educated or informed intellectually but rather: is God saying something personal to you, that you can take into your being, and because of which you allow Him to bring change?

That’s the question you must ask. There is no way of knowing how many ask this question.

And that is something we (i.e. more specifically I) must leave to Our Heavenly Father.

It’s no surprise to me that often my poetry gets more ‘likes’ than posts with Christian subject-matter (though not always). The following scripture explains why non-Christians do not respond to Christian teaching.

However if they respond to the powerful Word of God – they might stop long enough, to examine the claims of Jesus the Christ, and pursue these claims to find salvation and/or the truth making them free!

1 Corinthians 2:14

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Miscellany

MISCELLANY

This blog started as a 3-fold sharing idea. I would share my paintings, my poems and Christian writing.

I stopped sharing my paintings approximately one year or so ago. I post only the odd one.

I have been preaching/teaching the bible for almost fifty years. Not in the capacity of a full-time pastor as they say – but e.g. as a joint leader in various churches, whilst holding down a job in a local newspaper as a typesetter.

I am like most people who are getting on in years, the older I get, the more I realise that life is extremely short/brief, even if you reach the grand ol’ age of Dame Vera Lynn, who passed away recently.

I would like the same amount of years over again. Highly unlikely I’m afraid.

It’s a bit like The Lord Jesus said: …The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few:…

There is plenty of work still to be done, and the privilege of serving The King of kings would create the desire for many more years to come, in which to do so.

I believe we are all unique. What we do – is often the result of what we are. It is meant to be that way.

The scripture instructs us –

Roman 12/6

…Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us,

Though the context is spiritual gifts – I believe it is not ‘arresting’ scripture to conclude that it also applies to our natural/personality gifts.

I don’t think we should be overly concerned with how good or bad we are in expressing our particular gift, but are meant to do the best we can.

I have been painting since schooldays and writing also.

My poetry is a mixture of all kinds. Sometimes personal, sometimes tongue-in-cheek, sometimes just playing with words, sometimes (I hope) with the injection of profundity, other times I use lightness.

My painting is the same.

My preaching is always with the endeavour to ‘rightly divide the word of truth.’ Knowing that the letter kills but the Spirit gives life.

My expectation of what friendship brings, has somewhat diminished over the years. The realities of life are sobering.

If I did not have a friend I have proven – ‘sticks closer than a brother’ [Prov. 18/24] – I fear to think how empty life would be. (His name is Jesus).

Even when I don’t sense a lot in the spiritual realm – I know Christ’s Word is totally reliable, and it assures me I will never be forsaken by this God/Saviour/Friend I serve.

An observation I have made in life is to notice that there are two aspects of friendship-forming. Two ways if you like that we engage in the human experience of forming relationships.

There are the ‘initiators’ and the ‘responders’.

We are all initiators and responders, to varying degrees.

The percentage break-up of these two activities varies from person to person.

Some folks never initiate anything.

Often they communicate in ways such as: “We must get together for a coffee!” They never do. Or “ We must have you round some night.” But the invitation never reaches the date and time stage.

If you initiate the get together, they gladly respond. And they can be the ‘nicest’ people you know, but they are 90 percent responders and 10 per cent initiators.

There can be all sorts of reasons for this. Some folks are just ‘hyper-active’ and they are always initiating events. It has been said that in a church all the work of service is carried out by 10 per cent of the congregation. Probably their initiation percentage is high.

It causes incredulity to arrive on the doorstep of our minds, when we e.g. take someone out for a treat. ‘Wine and dine’ folks as it is referred to, and they assure us of the wonderful time they had, and how they too wish to initiate such an outing in return.

Only to find that months or longer go by and you never hear from them again.

Now of course the saving grace in this is found in the following scriptures –

Colossians 3/

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

And yet another principle:

Luke 6/35:

…lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

This gives cause for rejoicing when we do good to others, or offer friendship. Much as we have their good in mind – our reward, our satisfaction if you like is that it is pleasing to God and it is the answer of a good conscience to The Lord.

Doing it heartily, and hoping for nothing in return, tests our mettle. 

When people say and don’t do, we will experience frustration, (let’s be real) but what we do with that frustration is turn it into prayer and if we need to – into forgiveness.

A faithful friend is hard to find – David found one in Jonathon. It is as Christ changes us from the inside out – that we shall be able to give love when it is not returned.

This is why He, the Christ of God, shone in His perfection to show us how mankind aught to live.

Praise be to His Great Name!

It’s a Bookshelf World

IT’S A BOOKSHELF WORLD

Heads peer at us – full-screen or to the side

Mouths mouthing every conceivable Covid theme

Experts and not – giving opinion in the rectangular frame

One after the other in different parts of the globe

That global world of mini caves with furniture

 

Furniture – have you noticed? – you bet you have

An insight – a strong conclusion is concurred

[I see much paper is still with print

Books – hard-copy called –

stuffed unceremoniously in bookshelves walled]

 

Backgrounds countless in every private room

Stacked in space-filling fashion

Some neat – others replete – or crammed

All shapes and sizes – arrangements galore

 

Titles curiously glanced at – by you and I

Some titles too small for the human eye

We eagerly look to see their reading habits

 

Yes low and behold –

bookshelves – bookshelves – bookshelves

All in array – everyone has one – has many –

Bookshelves well made and hanging together

Real wood and veneer adjacent side by side

 

Vertical stacked books horizontal as well –

Supported in rickety Mondrian pattern

Or – all displayed volumes in volumetric show

Best of binding don’t you know

 

Bookshelves – all have been exposed

Not things of the past as you might think

Bookshelves on show in a row

Ugly Covid’s by-product bonus for the eyes

 

Glimpses of how the other half live

They all love their bookshelves

We cannot fail to see

They all love their bookshelves

It’s a bookshelf-world made from the tree

 

Bookshelves – bookshelves – bookshelves

Everyone talks in their bookshelf room

Bookshelves – ‘If I ever see another bookshelf…’

Bookshelves on the TV

Bookshelves – it’s overwhelming me

 

I thought you said it’s all computerised?

While there before our eyes

Regardless of the subject-matter discussed

Regardless of Isolation – all locked in – at home –

Have bookshelf will travel –

Books and more books –  bookshelf spree

 

With the all-encompassing comfort-zone-shelf

People – proud – chose that room – to let the world see

They still love their bookshelf – not even tidy

They say it doesn’t have to be

 

The humble bookshelf background –

or are we looking at a shop?

Bookshelves – surely a library is before me?

 

No – that’s their’s – in their home

(most advanced persons of the 21st century)

A bookshelf exposé

 

Bookshelves –

The ones that are not meant to be…

talking to AMSTERDAM

Talking to AMSTERDAM

Once again coming across old literature, caused me to look back on my evangelistic visits to Amsterdam.

Flying to the Netherlands, my wife’s home country.

I would ‘tithe’ a week per year, of my holidays from work, to go on the streets and into cafes etc. to engage in conversations with all kinds of people. Wherever I found a willing, listening ear.

And of course it takes all sorts to make a world.

I took an 8-person team there once for the same reason.

Otherwise I usually went with a friend or a few times on my own. I of course acquired friends who lived in Amsterdam and would sometimes work with others in local churches.

‘Gossiping the gospel’ as it is sometimes referred to.

It’s been a while since I was last there, on such a mission.

I wonder how empty Amsterdam is at the moment?

Those were enjoyable times. It appealed to my ‘hippie’ personality, (if there is such a thing).

Any Christians reading this post, might inform me, if hitting the streets (pre-covid 19) to spread the gospel of Christ, is still on the agenda?

If so, let me know of such outreaches that you know of, so my enthusiasm for the younger-generation-servants-of-Christ, can be boosted, knowing the baton is still being carried.

Putting seeds-in-motion, was my foundational  motivation, in going to the streets of Amsterdam.

The bible tells us that one sows, another waters – but God alone can give the increase of the shared message of the gospel. (I Cor. 3/6)

If there was ever a time (though there always has been), when the good news of God’s love is greatly needed in a world staggering around in zombi-like fashion, needing answers – it is now.

Now indeed is the accepted time (II Corinthians 6/2).

I enjoyed my times encountering all kinds of weird and wonderful people, and of course, had the bonus of going to visit the art galleries.😎

As the old cliche goes: ‘I’m not as young as I used to be…’

But watch me as I slap my wrists and tell myself: ‘That’s no excuse – get out there.’

Anybody want to go with me?

See you post-covid 19!

You ran well…

You ran well…

Galatians 5:7-9 (NKJV)

7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

Paul the apostle is addressing the believers in Galatia.

‘You ran well’ he reminds them.

Followers of Christ have a personal relationship with Him – through prayer.

And all Christians at some point in their experience will fail to ‘run well’.

Shortcomings will ‘take over’, to hinder the race they are called to run.

The conscientious, must quickly return to their advocate with the Father – Jesus Christ the righteous. (I John 2/1)

The whole epistle to the Galatians should be greatly appreciated by all believers. As it warns us of the dangers of falling into legalism and dead religion.

In a nutshell the problem is that the believer ends up with their eyes totally on themselves and no longer on The Lord Jesus.

I’ve been there, and can smell – a mile away – the grave clothes of legalism resulting in morbid introspection, a sense of constant failure, and the curse of the law. (Gal. 3/10-13)

In my early Christian walk, I too went through a period of bewitchment (Gal. 3/1). But Jesus set me free again!

Paul talks here of ‘persuasion’.

They, the Galatians, were persuaded and drawn-away from the true gospel. They had a form of godliness, but where not experiencing the presence of The Holy Spirit as they should.

That’s why, Paul asks them this question in a later chapter: 

Galatians 3:2

This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

God wants us to simply believe and act on our belief, in humility and adoration of the King of kings.

Always returning to communion with the lover of our souls.

I suppose we all run our race, at a different pace than fellow Christians.

At times we all become spiritually lethargic and need a fresh spiritual impetus.

We must never forget and always act upon God’s offered acceptance and forgiveness in The Saviour.

He is exactly what He says He is. And His mercy endures forever.

To arrest an advertising slogan – (God is) and does exactly what it says on the tin.

Be encouraged to take Him at His word and act upon it!

John 6:37

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

 

Our Lucy

Our Lucy at fifteen (now 17). She gets her 15 minutes of fame.

Bleakness

BLEAKNESS

Bleak House –

never read it

But read the title –

A Bleak title indeed

 

Bleak future for mankind

All bottled-up with tight corkscrew

Pop goes the weasel or man blows his top

 

Hair is pulled out at the four

mop-tops Concert

 

Bleakness

 

Long-haired lover from Liverpool

Slides down the charts into oblivion

 

Another crow crows – a lark and a dove

But best of all please let their be love

 

Spray of lawn spray – wets us all – passing by

Laughter fills the air – we have

Got to get it together now

 

But there’s always another –

cup of cold coffee and a piece of cake

 

Sideburns – burnt off now – all gone

No more films – showing on –

The ancient screens of long ago

Bulldozed into – nothing in the air

 

Contaminating atmosphere

And blackening the sky

 

Your careless – my careless – indifference

But what can we do?

One man said: ‘what does it matter anyway?’

 

The world is well spun 360 degrees-times-many

Anyone dizzy? Life’s busy

– though

 

And you don’t have time today

To wile away the hours in strange pursuits

 

Pragmatists say it – like it is

 

Bleak? Bleak as ever when you meet.

 

The pessimist – the former undertaker

Who spun on his heels one day

And thought himself – as good as Fred Astaire

So he took up a new career on the dance floor

He was good at it too

He lost all his former bleakness

Set sail on a cruise ship and never returned

to the bleakness of his apartment

above the funeral parlour

 

He slipped on a tomato sandwich one day

And went overboard into the bleakness

of the ocean below – rescued from the deep

 

Went into deep depression – seemed

Everything was bleak

 

What about “have a bleak day”

Instead of “Have a good day”

 

You may be bleak

But I can see you take comfort in being unique

 

I’ve often said this

So I will not say it again

 

Is it hard to be original?

Not really – just don’t complain

 

Some think it’s a rat-race mess

All this bleakness drives you insane

 

They’ve named a new Row

Bleakness replacing Skid

 

You can see what I did

– there?

 

His final bleak outlook is this:

If I could give a forecast for your emotions

And point at the chart of your internal weather

Would I help you by predicting the rain and fog

of melancholy? –

Would it stop you from becoming a melancholic

Addicted to bleakness?

Invented impressions

INVENTED IMPRESSIONS

Now if I was to impress you

This way or that

Impressed you were with an impression

 

As I dreamt-one-up in fake-guise of invention

Pierced through – is this world with un-genuine

Some take the time

to be as false as can be

Inventions and re-inventions

so that they too are confused

As to who they are and what they believe

Confusion not from God’s hand

 

Barely making it across the roofs

The retreating criminal nonetheless escapes

To ease down from his anxiety

Onto a late night bed

Rising at noon the next day

Living from hand to mouth

Any which way he can

He has lost himself

And cannot tell where to find him

Conscience gone in the pursuit of gain

 

He hopes to impress the girl

With an air and an impression

Of a got-it-together guy

Flashing the cash from ill-gotten gain

False industry – lazy as before

They marry until the money runs out

And the real man appears

As over and over he can’t support

His overworked waitress

with her constant retort

Spring clean continues…

SPRING CLEAN

In the midst of this spring clean session, I’m engaged in, regarding all things written. Notebooks, polly-pocketed sermons, old CD’s, books, old letter copies – trying hard to be radical in dumping and shredding.

I couldn’t help smiling at the idea, the analogy, of the drowning man. They tell me everything of our past life flashes before us.

Well many things that I have come across have had that movie re-run effect.

Old birthday cards kept. Old schedules for evangelistic trips. Old Cd’s given free with bought newspapers – later bought in charity shops. Old manual from a training school in Germany, where I met my Dutch wife to be. Old instructions to go with old mobile phones, cameras etc. Dvd’s of converted videos of my children when young.

And so on and so on.

It’s an affliction I reckon I have inherited from my parents.

Hoarder extraordinaire.

So I continue to clear – but this is only in my house. What about my art studio/shed? I wouldn’t know where to begin.

I can honestly say I have never set my heart on owning a lot of stuff.

And there is nothing of great financial worth in my possessions.

But thank God I have treasure in heaven. In fact I have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.

He paid the price to supply free of charge all He has for mankind. To the whosoever will – He gives eternal life. And it starts now.

Flesh and blood will not inherit His kingdom – and there will be no hoarding problems.

Matthew 6/19

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Ephesians 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

1 Corinthians 15:50

[ Our Final Victory ] Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.

Familiarity breeds…?

Familiarity breeds..?

NB: There is much speculation and differing views theologically regarding the exact connection between Jesus, and those who are referred to in scripture, as his brothers. I hold the view that Mary had a normal married relationship with Joseph giving birth to further children, after the virgin birth of Christ.

Concerning the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ,

we can only speculate how his brothers viewed Him. 

We can only surmise that they all eventually came to the spiritual revelation that He was indeed ‘the only begotten Son of The Living God’.

Literally and ‘metaphorically’ initially his brothers represent all unbelievers (like myself), who then become believers.

We know that one brother named James certainly came to the revelation of who His half-brother really was. It is the same James who wrote the canonical book, or epistle, of James in the New Testament.

If the rest did believe in Jesus as the Christ, it would certainly not have been before a certain time or period in His (Christ’s) manhood.

As they were all younger than He – how they viewed Him in the years that they grew up together, we have no description.

But we are told in the gospel of John:

John 7/5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him.

The old saying: ‘familiarity breeds contempt…’ comes to mind. Although I would imagine ‘contempt’, would be too strong a word.

He performed many miracles. He was moved with compassion for the needy. He supplied food for thousands. He healed the sick, raised the dead, and suffered all kinds of contradictions against Himself. 

Suffering also His brothers spiritual indifference

However we are not certain exactly, how His brothers saw Him as they gazed upon their eldest (half) brother, whilst growing up together as children, seeing Him work with his ‘stepfather’ in His capacity as a carpenter.

We extend the query to His half sisters – how did they view him?

Extending the query further we ask how He was viewed by His local community?

We learn that they did not believe in Him. The few that did – received a miracle of healing!

54 When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, [h]Joses, Simon, and Judas? 56 And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” 57 So they were offended at Him

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour except in his own country and in his own house.” 58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.

His local community was offended by Him. Why?- because (we can safely surmise, they thought): ‘who is this ‘local boy’ that many outside this community are claiming to be someone special?’

We see that they were offended at Jesus, highlighted by the fact that in such a short number of verses we notice there are 6 question marks. Plenty to go around, summing up the consensus of opinion.

No faith – just questions. They had it all figured out – based on His ordinariness – just a man – just a carpenter’s son and so on.

They leaned on their own understanding and ability to figure things out. Even spiritual matters.

Do we realise that the consensus of mankind, means nothing when it comes to accepting Christ as the Son of God? You and I have to make up our own minds, regardless of majority or minority opinion.

Dare we say that the majority of mankind has rejected Him? This fact by no means makes them right. The majority have been wrong before.

The few that did believe, in His local community of rejection – received healing, as a result.

There is no way God wants us to accept sickness. If sickness comes into your life or mine you can own it or reject it.

Even if it doesn’t go away – don’t own it. It is part of the reward of rebellion and disobedience – it is part of the consequences of the fall of mankind. As a Christian you are to receive a full reward, which doesn’t include sickness.

Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have accomplished together, but that you may receive a full and perfect reward [when He grants rewards to faithful believers].

Be careful Christian that you don’t side with the principalities and powers that Christ made an open show of – and over whom He triumphed.

Will we see Jesus Christ through the eyes of his brothers – or through the eyes of faith?

Faith that is convinced by the Word of God that He is the Christ.

Faith that is convinced that His stripes and suffering on calvary and before, represent the total reconciliation of man to God.

If God in Christ took upon Himself the sins of the world, that means He took the penalty of sin, and the fallenness that included resultant sickness.

I Peter 2:

24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose [a]stripes you were healed. 

Not blind unquestioning faith – but faith that is convinced by the sharp two-edged sword of God’s Word.

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (including present or eternal healing).

Christian or non-Christian do no accept sickness as something that God happily allows. But see it as part of the characteristics of a fallen race.

We see a bunch of folks who did not believe He was the Son of God, and a few that He was – we read the result of so believing – they were healed.

As our minds operate and try to grapple with the contradictions our senses present us with (the old debate about how some get healed and others don’t). 

Let us look away in this to what the Word of God says and hold on to it all.

Proverbs 30/5:

Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

Matthew 24/35:

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

Make Some Art

Make Some Art

Make some art

As all appreciation is accompanied by smiles

Is it a dissertation – a poem – a scrawl?

A picture you painted – painted for the wall?

Is it a sculpted piece – minimalist and neat?

Or made of old phone books on a seat?

Make some art – re-contextualise your bed

Or go for a walk placing sticks along the path you’ve tread

Send out your message on blog vlog or instead

Say whatever comes into your head

And shout it out from your veranda

To passers by – like goosey goosey Gander

Make some art

Your appreciation will rise

If you take the time to create in any kind of guise

Splash the paint as your intuition may dictate

You are creative it isn’t too late

You are still in with a chance

To help civilisation advance

What is required?

What is REQUIRED?

Nearing the end of last year I organised an Open Forum. I invited various folks – pastors and others to an event where they were invited to share on the subject: What does God require of us?”

This was based on the scripture in (Micah 6/7-9).

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

Each person had an eight minute opportunity to share. And so everyone got to share, before we knew it, the night was gone.

Some came more prepared than others. And I realised I had not made it clear enough that the exhortation through the invitation and theme was to seek God seriously in prayer and wait upon Him for direction.

I was hoping that I would be educated through God’s members of His church and enlightened further, as to how God wants us to respond to the days in which we live.

My own sense of what God requires is/was UNITY. We are assured that God commands a blessing when there is unity – it is good and pleasant, and fruitful.(Psalm 133)

Unfortunately human nature is prone to wander. Human nature is prone to self-righteousness. Human nature is that which must be subdued and harnessed so as not to hinder the ‘unity of The Spirit in the bond of peace’ – This is what the Lord requires. Only as we seek God, pray, and worship etc can the old nature stay ‘under’.

There is unity in error or unity in truth. Unity among thieves, or unity among the saints.

Light has no fellowship with darkness and therefore has no unity with it.

There is political-type unity or spiritual-unity.

Even the devil by dictatorship has unity in his own kingdom of darkness.

Matthew 12:24-26 (NKJV)

24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by [a]Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”

25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?

Division or unity. There cannot be unity at any cost.

Differences of opinion can only be resolved when believers, laying aside their own ‘pet’ opinions, are willing to wait on God for fresh revelation.

Then having heard together from God’s word, after patience and perseverance, they enter into unity as they hear the same thing from The Lord, they fulfil the condition described below:

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

There are degrees of unity amongst believers. There is however, a greater unity that the church falls short of achieving.

And this unity brings the commanded blessing of God. To my ears – that is what we refer to as revival.

Unity must be wrought by the Holy Spirit amongst believers. It is the unity of the Spirit (Eph. 4/3) – as we hear and speak the same thing together.

No one else left me, at the Forum, with a message that went beyond what the opening scripture upon which the forum was called contributed to our understanding:

i.e. But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

Each (esp. Christian) man or women must answer the question individually, regarding what God requires of them. It is more difficult, however, to answer it as the corporate body of Christ.

What He requires of the church – we continue to search for, in order that we may respond correctly and in keeping with Christ’s proclamation: …I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

In these days when the church may end-up going ‘underground’ – I want to hear from and be part of the genuine followers of Christ, throughout the world, who find the wisdom of God and respond corporately to His requirements.

As what is coming upon the earth purges and perfects those who have not bowed the knee to Baal, I hope I will know many of the true, the genuine, the wholesome, and the sincere. The true members that make up the bride of Christ, the church of The Living God.

What is your hope?