He lives, He lives.

A number of years ago I filmed a documentary to promote the ministry of the Crossroads Christian Fellowship to the Disabled in Newcastle, New South Wales. 

As I filmed one of their gatherings, I was moved to tears by about 50 persons, some quite severely disabled and many obviously in great pain, singing with gusto and enthusiasm, some with slurred voices, others with distorted facial features, some with contorted bodies, most in wheelchairs unintentionally advertising their disabilities.

 

And what were they singing? "He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart."

 

---  Lionel Hartley

Praying in the Spirit

Praying in the Spirit

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. Ephesians 6:18 (KJV) 

What does it mean to Pray in the Spirit.

Most commentators and many translations (such as the King James, above) translate the Greek as “Pray in the Spirit” (Spirit with a capital ‘S’).

But is this true to the original language and consistent with the rest of Scripture?

Those of Charismatic persuasion often place tremendous emphasis on being, walking, praying and living IN the Spirit. This focus on IN the Spirit is epitomised by glossolalia – speaking (tongues) in the Spirit. The verse that is often used in argument of this is Romans 8:9 – “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit…”

There is a semantic problem with this, and that is the difference between being in and having in (within). Building a doctrine on semantics is a very dangerous thing. Proponents of this view neglect the second part of the verse which goes on to say, “… if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you…”

So to focus solely on us being IN the Spirit or IN Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30, 4:15, 15:18-19, 22, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 1:22, 3:28, Ephesians 1:1, Philippians 1:1, 1 Thessalonians 2:14, 4:1, Philemon 1:8, 1 Peter 5:14) without considering the necessity for us to be filled personally, is considering the Holy Spirit to be the vessel and our human spirit the power within. We are the vessel (Isaiah 64:8, Jeremiah 18:4-7), God is the potter and the Holy Spirit is the oil that fill us (Matthew 25:1-13) so that we may be lights to the world (Matthew 5:14).

James S. Hewett writes in Illustrations Unlimited (Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, Wheaton, Ill. 1988, p303), ‘One Sunday on their way home from church, a little girl turned to her mother and said, "Mommy, the preacher's sermon this morning confused me. The mother said, "Oh? Why is that?" The little girl replied, "Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. Is that true?" The mother replied, "Yes, that's true, honey." "And he also said that God lives in us? Is that true Mommy?" Again the mother replied, "Yes." "Well," said the little girl, "if God is bigger than us and he lives in us, wouldn't He show through?"’

If you placed a bath-sponge in a container of water you could legitimately say that the sponge is IN the water. But as the sponge does what all sponges do (soaks up the water), it would be more accurate to say that the water is IN the sponge. This does not negate the former, but focuses our attention upon the latter. When we daily invite the baptism of the Spirit, we become baptised (literally fully immersed) in Him, and like the sponge, we become fully absorbed with Him.

A second consideration when considering the argument for ‘Praying in the Spirit’ is that when the phrase ‘in the spirit’ is used in Scripture, the word ‘spirit’ does not necessarily always refer to the Holy Spirit. In some verses it is obvious that God’s Spirit is being referred to (see, for example, Ezekiel 37:1, Revelation 1:10, 4:2, 17:3, 21:10).

John the Baptist being ‘in the spirit’ in Luke 1:17 refers to the spirit power (pneuma dunamis) of Elijah. Undoubtedly this came from God, but the verse does not claim that John was ‘in the Spirit’. In Galatians 5:16 and 25, Paul talks about living and walking in the Spirit, but the development of this outward habit requires inward habitation (of the Holy Spirit).

I wrote to a theologian colleague to ask for a peer-to-peer comment on this concept, and this is what he wrote in reply (Email 10 Dec 2008):

“It is very brave of you to argue with the scholars and commentary writers, but I must concur – your argument alleviates my anxiety over the divinium mysterium. Your erudition has me kicking myself for not seeing it that way it first.”

– Dr Arthur N Patrick (BA, MA, MDiv, DMin, MLitt, PhD)

So let us focus, not on being and doing IN the Spirit, but focus on inviting the Spirit’s being and doing in and through us. We cannot ever smugly assert that we are in the Spirit or that we walk and  talk in the Spirit. But let us humbly ask the Spirit’s help for us to empty ourselves and be filled with Him.

– Lionel Hartley

Chronicles in the Life of Peter Blank, Part 12

Episode 12: Peter Misses A Train
Peter, escorted by his nursing-qualified bride-to-be, was to go to a distant
town for special tissue x-rays to aid the physicians in the treatment of a
cancer which was invading his body. The journey was to be by car to the
nearest railway station and then by train to the particular town. The X-ray
rooms were on the outskirts of the town and they would need get a 'bus or
taxi from the railway station to their final destination. With a limited
train schedule to work around, you may well imagine their frustration when
their car transport was delayed and they arrived at the station in time to
see only the end of the train snaking away in the distance. A conversation
with the stationmaster confirmed what Peter imagined to be fact -- that the
train they had just missed was the last for many hours. However, to his
surprise, the stationmaster asked them to wait on the platform. Obediently
Peter and Mary waited on the deserted platform while the stationmaster
walked along the tracks and out of sight around a bend in the line. Within
minutes a freight train was slowly rumbling past and mysteriously the
guard's van shuddered to a stop right in front of the bewildered pair. From
along the line the voice of the stationmaster called for them to board the
train before he waved it on, and then he waved to them as the train rumbled
passed him. A puzzled guard in the dirty caboose, embarrassed at Mary's
presence due to the female-nude postered walls, asked how the train happened
to stop for them to board. Their explanation carried little weight as he was
quick to advise us that the train did not go right into the town, but would
pass the passenger train along the journey and arrive sooner but on the town
outskirts at a railway freight siding -- nowhere near a railway station!
Undaunted and convinced of God's leading, Mary and Peter sat on a wooden box
for the rattling journey.
The junket ended in a railway siding and concluded with instructions from
the guard to cautiously cross the many criss-crossed tracks to a small gate,
which would lead to a main road into the town.
Peter and Mary, now close to the town earlier than they had planned, were
already thanking God for His helping hand when they passed through the gate
and saw the X-ray rooms immediately across the road. A train fare saved, a
'bus or taxi fare saved, and then to be early for the appointment! There was
little doubting the providence of God, although the lesson for Peter is not
finished yet.


-- Lionel Hartley, Not Finished Yet -- Chronicles in the Life of Peter Blank
"This serial saga, although novel, is not a novel. It is merely a series of true-life episodes highlighting the extraordinary working of an extraordinary God in a very ordinary life. Each episode contained a lesson for Peter Blank, a lesson we can all learn, from a lesson-book life that is not finished yet."
As first appeared in FreEzine Magazine July 2000 ff

Chronicles in the Life of Peter Blank, Part 11

Episode 11: An Attack Upon A Tumour.
An infected cyst on the top of Peter's head saw him in the local medical centre preparing for a local anaesthetic to have the pesky lump removed. His symptoms were few: dizziness, blurry vision and only a little pain. A nurse who tactlessly quipped that he was going bald shaved a small saucer-sized patch of hair from the top of his head. A surgical operation was commenced, but very soon interrupted as the physician rushed away to an adjacent room for a few moments. He reappeared with another physician who anxiously confirmed his observations. With a feigned calmness, the first physician advised the supine Peter that the cyst appeared to be, in fact, a tumour with strands extending into the fissures of the skull. However the operation had already commenced -- he would have to continue, and Peter would be expected to "bite the bullet", while the physicians crowded in to finish the procedure. Ideally, he flatly informed his patient, the scraping and chiselling should be done under a General Anaesthetic. However it was too late for that and a second injection was given to the site to numb any pain. Pain it did numb, but Peter was still very much aware of the pricking, pushing, probing, prodding and patching. After what seemed eons, he was taken home to await a biopsy report on the pea-sized squid-like object that the surgeon had proudly showed him before he left the surgery.
No more than two days had passed before he was urgently summoned for admission to a country hospital for the removal of any further traces of this pervasive demon. The report of the biopsy had added a certain compulsion to respond to the appearance of a cluster of further growths in the same site, and further surgery was planned without delay. An overnight stay in hospital in preparation for surgery the next day, saw the rapid growth of a number of additional surprises around his neck. This time a General Anaesthetic gave Peter no recall of the surgery, although the row of suture sites around his neck and the "whopping" turban-like bandage around his head left no doubt that at least something dramatic had happened during his nap that day. It appeared that the radical surgery was successful as his week-long stay in hospital was not accompanied by any more growth surprises.
However, less than a week later, two more "lumps" appeared. This time, he was subjected to a battery of tests that even a guinea pig would find a chore, and the prognosis he received was that further surgery would be futile because the growths were too rapid and widespread. Peter was told, bluntly and coldly (in spite of the choking compassion in the voice of the tidings bearer), that he could expect maybe two more weeks at the most to "set his house in order" and prepare to "meet his maker".
Never the less, another operation was planned and Peter was to be escorted by a paramedic to his country of birth as soon as a flight with provision for a supine cot could be arranged. (The operation was to be there because it was anticipated that it would not be successful and it seemed only appropriate that he be with his family at the time.) A long drawn-out week intervened before Peter could travel, and until the day before travel when he was to spend the night at a City hospital for preparation for travel and sedation if necessary.
This attenuated week was one filled with the prayers of many on Peter's behalf. One of the most earnest petitioners was Mary, who had promised him her hand in a marriage, which it appeared, would no longer eventuate. She began the week praying that God would spare her beloved, reminding her Lord that he had brought them together in the first place, and He surely wouldn't whisk this new friend away so soon! Towards the end of the week, however, this prayer had changed as she told the Lord that she was prepared to let Peter go if that was what God required of her.
Peter felt no anxiety about dying, excepting that he could foresee the pain it would cause those who loved him. He knew that God had spared him in the past and that he had done so for a purpose. Peter's only question to God was in regard to having fulfilled that purpose -- what had he done for his Lord? -- had he done it without even knowing it?
Peter prayed. He waited. Hundreds of supporters prayed. And waited.
The long week was pinnacled as Peter advised the surgeons at the City hospital that he believed he was cured and that neither the nurse escort to his homeland, nor the aircraft cot would be required. Knowing that a feeling of well-being often precedes the "very end", grave faces accepted his proclamation with sympathetic unbelief. However, Peter's assertions were soon confirmed when an examination revealed that, not only had the lumps disappeared, but there had appeared in their place what resembled the aftermath of skilful surgery and weeks of healing.
Peter did return home, unescorted, in a conventional aeroplane seat, and then weekly X-rays, blood tests, and physical examinations for the six months following, revealed no trace of the cancer.
With courting continuing by mail, the planned wedding took place the following year. And a CAT scan eight years later revealed still no trace of the gremlins involved in the strange incident, which brought Peter closer to both his God and his bride. Nevertheless, the lesson for Peter is not finished yet.


-- Lionel Hartley, Not Finished Yet -- Chronicles in the Life of Peter Blank
"This serial saga, although novel, is not a novel. It is merely a series of true-life episodes highlighting the extraordinary working of an extraordinary God in a very ordinary life. Each episode contained a lesson for Peter Blank, a lesson we can all learn, from a lesson-book life that is not finished yet."
As first appeared in FreEzine Magazine July 2000 ff

Chronicles in the Life of Peter Blank, Part 10

Episode 10. Peter Finds A ComPETERable Match.
Determined that the bachelor life had lot going for it with its freedom for selfishness, Peter frankly admitted that not one of the many young ladies with whom he had acquaintance (he had never regarded any with girlfriend status) as being suitable as a marriage partner. He conceded that this might be because he had never had any romantic notions or feelings. However, this Cold-heart was in for a shock, as was his family who knew of his bachelorial resolve. For into his life stepped Mary. No, it wasn't one of these "love-at-first-sight", bells clanging, stars twinkling, or heady walk-on-air encounters. On the contrary, they had met and talked several times before he even noticed her. Because Peter was not seeking a match, he failed, at those first encounters, to see the immense beauty in Mary. It was not until one day when she took the time to speak to him that Peter felt, for the first time in his life, "noticed". This is not to minimise the wonderful love and understanding he had received from his kin, but here was someone -- a wonderful combination of both inner and outer beauty -- bearing a caring smile and a soft voice. Peter, however, was still somewhat hardened, for he did not (at this time) feel any romantic inclination. Instead he felt strangely drawn with a desire to get to know this person as a friend. He perceived she had need of friendship and, if he would have been honest enough to admit it, he may have confessed that his need for friendship was equally great. Peter, with a smug self-righteousness began to fool himself into thinking he was doing her a favour by offering friendship. But as he got to know her, as he saw her inner beauty, her outer beauty became more apparent, and he began to realise his great need of her. Soon he was smitten with the "think-of-her-all-of-the-time" syndrome, and the "must-tell-her-how-I-feel-about-her" condition. It was in the actualisation of the latter that he learned that she considered him an answer to her prayer for friendship, and he was forced to admit that he too had pondered his unvoiced loneliness and wondered upon a God who answers a yet unspoken prayer.
The engagement, which followed, amazed them both almost as much as their kin who could not imagine marriage as the item of agendum.
The years have passed quickly since then, and yet Peter will still unequivocally claim that marrying Mary was one of the best things he has ever done. However, the lesson for Peter is not finished yet.


-- Lionel Hartley, Not Finished Yet -- Chronicles in the Life of Peter Blank
"This serial saga, although novel, is not a novel. It is merely a series of true-life episodes highlighting the extraordinary working of an extraordinary God in a very ordinary life. Each episode contained a lesson for Peter Blank, a lesson we can all learn, from a lesson-book life that is not finished yet."
As first appeared in FreEzine Magazine July 2000 ff

Salvation comes through gratitude

"You cannot persuade a person to conversion by instilling a feeling of guilt. No one ever made a permanent commitment based on guilt. If all it took to be saved was feeling guilty, then everyone would be saved, for we have all experienced guilt at one time or another. No, salvation comes through gratitude, recognising and acknowledging the sacrifice that was paid by Christ to take away not only the guilt, but the sin which caused it."
-- Lionel Hartley, The Beatitudes, Philadelphia Publications, 1977

Chronicles in the Life of Peter Blank, Part 9

Episode 9: Outback Evangelism
A pilot and an evangelist planned an outback evangelism campaign and asked Peter and two young ladies to assist. A small Cessna aircraft airlifted the team to Mungindi, Collarenabri & Burke. At each venue, the campaign was much the same with the young ladies singing at the beginning, and Peter singing during and at the close of each programme. Although the mission was successful, for Peter the trip was memorable for a few events of apparent greater magnitude than the campaign.
For example, at Mungindi, the airstrip was (and maybe still is) on an isolated part of the property some ten miles or so from the homestead. However no-one was there to meet the team when they arrived. With no way to get to the homestead, they waited patiently for some hours until the lengthening shadows warned that maybe they had better start walking. This was not a welcome prospect as they carried a certain amount of luggage in the form of musical equipment, a large slide projector & screen and a public address system, as well as their personal items. It was about this time that the pilot, who had been examining the condition of the airstrip in closer detail, invited the others to uncover an old rusting truck he had discovered in the long grass to one side of the runway. Miraculously the truck engine responded to a little coaxing and the team began the bouncing ride towards the homestead. As the sun set the team sang their way across the open plain and the truck made it without incident. The unbelief of the locals when they were told of the journey by truck educed a story of how that, many years earlier the truck had "died" and was abandoned to the elements. None could understand how the vehicle could have possibly worked after all those years, and the sight of the vehicle in daylight reinforced that belief. Even Peter was at a loss to explain (apart from Divine intervention) how a decayed vehicle with most of the engine parts rusted and seized could possibly have been driven the night before. And yet, there it was! The lesson for Peter is not finished yet.
-----------------
Collarenebri, being a small community, was hand-billed door to door by Peter and the evangelist in a single afternoon - they having divided the town according to a map and taken half each. One household is well remembered, for as Peter reached a hand over the gate to unlatch the fastening, a tiny dog - no larger than a kitten - chomped at him. Although no skin was broken, the dog refused to release it's treasure and as Peter raised his hand to investigate, the dog hung suspended in mid-air.
Peter, with his hand still fastened in the clutches of the little dog's mouth, proceeded to open the gate with the other hand and venture up the path to the house. It was a most astonished householder who opened the door to view Peter's up-lifted, out-stretched, puppy-dangled hand, and Peter asking, "Does this belong to you?" Amid profuse apologies and poorly concealed mirth, an invitation to the meeting was given.
That night, a couple came up to Peter after the meeting and with a gesture resembling that of Peter's out-stretched, puppy-chomped hand asked, "Remember us?" How strangely God works to bring people to hear about Him! The lesson for Peter is not finished yet.
-----------------
Collarenebri is better remembered by the pilot. For it was there that the team found, to their dismay that a new fence had been built (that very day) around the perimeter of the rear of the hall - and the only key that had been provided to access the hall was for the rear door within the fence. A padlock, left presumably by a workman, secured the gate and made entrance an almost impossibility. Almost, that is, excepting that the pilot was of a disposition to emulate youthfulness and climb the fence. Access to the building was gained and a front door opened for the rest of the team to enter a little more gracefully.
Following a most successful and Spirit-filled meeting, the equipment was brought out to the footpath and the pilot returned to the building to lock it up for the night and to climb the fence once more.
As the team waited in the semi-darkness for his return, the evangelist pointed out a supposed alcoholic crawling along in the darkness on his hands and knees. It was mentioned that the presence of such poor souls in that town reinforced the importance of the soul-calling work the team was doing. Then, as the figure moved into the light, it became immediately necessary to change the course of the conversation, for the figure was none other than the pilot! And, rather than it being inebriation which had rendered him prostrate, a broken ankle following a fall from the fence explained this out-of-character behaviour.
Upon return to their lodgings, the ankle was ice-packed and a splint applied. However piloting a plane the next day with a broken ankle was not a comforting prospect. Nevertheless, come morning, they all boarded the plane and prepared for a return journey. Peter recalled the sincerity of the prayer for safe travel which preceded the journey that day, and the pilot not only flew the plane, but simultaneously gave instructions to the evangelist in the co-pilot's seat as this untrained reluctant assistant operated the foot controls for them. God brought them home safely - but the lesson for Peter is not finished yet.


-- Lionel Hartley, Not Finished Yet -- Chronicles in the Life of Peter Blank
"This serial saga, although novel, is not a novel. It is merely a series of true-life episodes highlighting the extraordinary working of an extraordinary God in a very ordinary life. Each episode contained a lesson for Peter Blank, a lesson we can all learn, from a lesson-book life that is not finished yet."
As first appeared in FreEzine Magazine July 2000 ff