“Immediately following
the injunction of Ephesians 5:18 to be ‘filled with the Spirit,’ there is given
a description of the normal results of such a filling: ‘Speaking to yourselves
in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in heart to
the Lord; giving thanks always for all the things unto God and the Father in
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ All things are working together for good to
the child of God, and it is reasonable that he should give thanks always for
all things. This can be done through the Spirit who knows ‘all things’ of God.
The living creatures in the divine Presence cease not to cry, ‘Holy! Holy!
Holy!’ It is equally becoming the heavenly creature that he renders unbroken
and endless praise and thanksgiving to God.” He That is Spiritual, L. S.
Chafer.
Last week as many of you know, I gave my notice of
resignation, which will become effective June 1st. As the Business
Meeting closed, there was a quiet hush in the sanctuary. There were no
questions to ask why or even expressions of any sort. I thought it was because a
lot of you might have been taken by surprise. Even throughout our time of
fellowship in the 5th Sunday Dinner, it was unusually quiet. This
was abnormal for such a lively group of people within our church who are always
laughing and interacting with each other.
Please know that for the last year and a half, I have sensed
this call to leave and turn the reigns over to another Man of God that he might
carry on the legacy of Grace Community Church. Even over the last year I have
fought this continual calling away from the church. In fact in the last several
weeks, you might have even heard me misspeak several times throughout the
message. For me to present the last months message(s) was very hard knowing
what I knew and not being able to share it just yet. Especially for a group I
have been so transparent with for the last 13 years. A very select few in
leadership, knew at the beginning of last month to prepare them for the changes
ahead. In the interim, when God began to call me away from Grace, I felt very
sad about the leaving of so many of you whom I have grown too deeply love and
care for here at Grace. But over the last few months now, I have come to a
different understanding of God’s plan for Grace. This reading today, confirms
my thoughts from Chafer’s writing above. Take time if you need to again to read
what he said above in italics.
When we are filled with the Spirit of God, there is an unnatural
unction within us to rejoice in all things that God is doing in our lives. This
is because He is in full control of all things. This also applies to each one
of you at Grace. When God began to call me away, don’t think for a minute He
decided this upon a whim. He already had things in place that are ahead in the
future at Grace. If you are a child of God, remember what Chafer said above; “All things are working together for good to
the child of God, and it is reasonable that he should give thanks always for
all things. This can be done through the Spirit who knows ‘all things’ of God.”
Over the last month, I have found myself rejoicing in what
God has accomplished in the life of Grace Community Church; the salvation's, the
baptisms, the changed lives for the Lord, the recalling of those who strayed,
and the changes He has wrought in the hearts of each of you who I am proud to
call my family. It is uncanny how my sadness has now changed to the excitement
of what lies ahead for the church at Grace. Remember what Chafer said again; “All things are working together for good to
the child of God.” That means what God has in store for your future are
going to be in the best interest and care for you!
As I take this time to briefly explain this, I want you take
this attitude I sense the Lord wants from each of you to praise Him that He is
in charge of what is ahead. Listen to what Chafer says in closing; “It follows, then, that thanksgiving for all
things and praise unto God are the direct products of the Spirit in the one who
He fills. These great realities are foreign to the finite heart at its best.
Not all Christians experience them; but all Christians may experience them as
certainly as the power has been provided through the indwelling Spirit. The
value of this particular manifestation of the Spirit can scarcely be known by
the human mind. Praise and thanksgiving are distinctly addressed to God. We cannot
know what their full outflow may mean to Him, or what His loss may be when this
manifestation is not realized in the believer’s life. ‘Hallelujah!’ ‘Praise ye
the Lord!’ ‘Rejoice ever more!’
And each of us have this power that lives within us to react
in the Spirit’s power and not from the other
unholy spirit which brings sense of loss, discouragement, and even anger.
No comments:
Post a Comment