Posts

Can Two Walk Together?

/0 Comments/in /by

Ephesians 1:16-19 I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.17 [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him,18 By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones),19 And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength,…

Several things are mentioned in this prayer of the Apostle Paul. He prayed they would be given wisdom and revelation to grasp, experience and understand: 1) intimate knowledge of God; (2) the eyes of their heart flooded with light to know and understand; (3) know and understand Hope; (4) know and understand their calling; (4) know and understand their inheritance; (5) and to know and understand His Power that was in them.

I could take a long time to unpack each of these for you but let me make this concise by stating Paul is not seeking to be poetic, allegorical or metaphorical in his prayers. (He’s praying to the Father. Why would that need to be symbolic?) These are experiential realities available to all followers of Jesus. You may ask, Then why aren’t we experiencing these realities? A.W. Tozer answers this question: “Many people in the churches who profess that they have an interest in the subject of how to cultivate the Spirit’s companionship are not really willing to give up all to obtain all. They are not willing to turn completely toward God and walk with Him. You may remember that John Bunyan, in his great allegorical writings, often mentioned Mr. Facing Bothways, and we ought to know as well as he did that there are a great many Christians who try to accomplish the difficult task of facing in both directions at the same time. They do want Christ, but they also want some of the world. They allow the Lord to disturb their way, but they also disturb the Lord’s way. There is no use talking about being filled with the Spirit and walking in the Spirit, unless we are willing to give up all to obtain all! Now, this old question in the text, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” is a rhetorical question, equivalent to a positive declaration that two cannot walk together except they be agreed, and the affirmation that if the two walk together, they must in some sense be one. These two, in order to walk together, must agree that they want to walk together, and they must agree that it is to their advantage to have this companionship together. I think you will see that it adds up to this: For two to walk together voluntarily, they must in some sense be one. They must be unified on the important issues of their walk and companionship and direction if they are going to be committed to traveling together.”

A.W. Tozer summarizes the condition of the average Christian answering why the prayers of Paul are not a manifest reality in their Christian experience. What’s extremely sad is that those who have sought to walk in two directions at once have become the theologians, seminary professors, and shepherds of the Lord’s sheep leading them into their own dark, and cold hearted experience of information gathering without experiential reality. Thus, the average church goer has become an information gatherer in part, or in some cases, and information hoarder. Therefore, to borrow from A.W. Tozer and the prophet Amos, Have you agreed to walk with Jesus? Are you seeking His companionship? Are you willing to pay whatever price to be one? Another simpler way to express the question would be to simply ask, Are you committed to going in Jesus’ direction? That will always require an adjustment to be made on your part. When that occurs Paul’s prayers from 2000 years ago will begin manifesting into a reality that you could never imagine.

Milk and Meat of God’s Promised Land

/in /by

Judges 1:1-3 After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the Lord, Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites to fight against them? 2 And the Lord said, Judah shall go up; behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.3 And Judah [the tribe] said to [the tribe of] Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my allotted territory, so that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with you into your territory. So Simeon went with him.

There are several ways to interpret the writings found in the Bible. Some are literal, like commands, instructions, and teachings. Others are inferred, like following the examples set before you. Still others are historically, and literally true, yet there is an allegorical, or symbolic meaning behind their narrative. For example when you read the parables of Jesus, or the Book of Revelation, most are not to be read literally, but symbolically. Participants in the New Covenant, primarily get their spiritual “milk” (a metaphor for the Word of God) from the New Testament. We can read and ascertain clearly what we are to do and not do. (which explains why most New Testament readers scratch their heads in confusion when they read the Parables of Jesus or the Book of Revelation). Unfortunately, or fortunately, when it comes to reading the Old Testament you will need to come prepared to read most of it allegorically, or symbolically (although it is literally, and historically true). You will need to see the message behind the message.

The passage in Judges 1:1-3 is just such an example. You can read it literally, and historically but it doesn’t make for much of an in-depth Bible study. As a pastor-teacher I could make the obvious point (which we all know and need to be reminded of) that when it comes to conquering our enemies we can’t do it alone. We need to call on others to help us achieve our goals. Which is a nice devotional thought – what the Apostle Peter, Paul, and the writer of Hebrews would call spiritual milk. But if you want some spiritual meat added to the meal you would need to ask for revelation from the Holy Spirit. He would reveal the message behind the message. You could begin with the Hebraic meanings of the words for the two tribes that partnered together: Judah, and Simeon. Judah means to praise, or give thanks, which is a form of worship (serving or ministering to the Lord). Simeon, on the other hand, means he who hears or a man of listening; or one who hears and accepts what is heard. Now, what’s the application? When I, or the church, partners in praise, thanksgiving, and worship (serving and ministering to the Lord) – with hearing and listening (to God) – accepting what has been heard – I, or the church, can defeat enemies. Not only can you defeat your enemies you are empowered to possess the manifestation of His Promised Inheritance. The real challenge comes when you ask, Is He calling you to partner with another – to see the manifestation of His Inherited Promises – in your life and theirs? Another thought, even more challenging, would be to ask, Do you want me to lay down the promises You’ve specifically given; the inheritance you have prophesied was mine; the dreams, and prophetic words You have given – so another can inherit theirs? Now, all of that taken together has enough milk, to wash down the meat at the table He has prepared for those who are spiritually hungry. But that table has only been prepared for those who have made the Lord their Shepherd.