Beyond the carnal and the usual there is a spiritual warfare

 The weapons of spiritual warfare are not carnal and there is wickedness in high places. Evil exists and it thrives when good people do nothing, look the other way and pass on by without care or concern. 

When Jeffery Epstein's properties were raided it was well known that tapes, videos, films and surveillance footage were in many places.  All the files have not been released. Lame excuses have been given and it is suspected that powerful people are being protected. They are no doubt wealthy, influential, wily worldly individuals with immense power.  Darkness and dastardly deeds are expected to be revealed on the films and in the files etc. But will they ever see the light of day? Probably not because the dark ones have the power and influence to prevent the exposure. Powerful people in high places are not allowing the truth to come out. Their reach is far, wide and deep.

Some properties associated with Epstein have not been fully investigated and neither have key associates who worked closely with his sex trafficking operation been arrested or revealed.  

It is amazing that such a sophisticated sexual criminal enterprise has yielded so few perpetrators.

I sense that there is something diabolical behind the whole Epstein criminal affair.

So which Charles do we believe? Both are adulterers and probably liars too.

King Charles III, his majesty, and Charles Spencer,  formerly Viscount Althorp now 9th Earl, see details of the death of dear Diana very differently.  Both are now reaping the serious consequences of adultery and immorality. We reap what we sow, and when we sow seeds of carnal sins, such as adultery, then we shall reap corruption. Galatians 6: 7-8 teaches us that sin, heinous sins, have dire consequences.  They are both reaping a harvest of corruption and unhappiness, without blessing and peace. There is no peace for them in their present condition. Roots of bitterness are continuing to grow within their souls. Hebrews 12:15 applies. 

The Madness of Sarah Mullally ?

There are calls for the current Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, to resign over her disastrous decision to give the Hubert Walter award to a prominent Muslim cleric from Pakistan who supports sharia law and vile blasphemy laws which are used to persecute Christians in Pakistan. He also supported Bin Laden. The treatment and persecutions of Christians in Pakistan are horrendous. They have been well documented by Open Doors and Barnabas Aid. The Pakistan legal system is woefully corrupt, and mobs have killed Christians.

The appearance of the wife of this Muslim leader dressed in a fully covered body by Burka is an insult to Lambeth Palace's Christian values and tradition.

This award to the Bin Laden supporter was at the time of the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. He has not been known for acts of reconciliation and building bridges. He has never condemned jihadism, Islamic terrorism. On his watch Christians have been suffering painful persecution. His track record is dreadful.

 

What a failure of judgment. 

Does Hell exist?

 I have been thinking about death recently and what happens when we die. Memento mori. It is poignant in view of those dear friends and colleagues from my youth and student days who are no longer here, being dead and in eternity. Some have died recently.

There are those who claim to have had experiences of the afterlife, glimpses of paradise and heavenly encounters, angelic visitations.  I have reservations about these claims, but hope that folk have their reservations in a mansion prepared by the Lord, as mentioned in John 14:2-3. These abodes must be magnificent. Another relevant passage would be 1 Corinthians 2:9-10.  Deep mysteries above and beyond our pay grade?

So do those who are lost, those rejected by God, (who says Depart from Me, you cursed), send folk to hell?  It would appear so, according to Jesus' teaching on Gehenna in the Gospel. It is a place of torment, Luke 16:33, weeping and wailing, gnashing of teeth, (Matthew 13:32) deep regret and separation from God. Jesus spoke uncomfortable words about eternal fire, unquenchable fire, outer darkness (Matthew 25:30).  

How could there be outer darkness if there is eternal fire? Well if you are blind you would know that there could be darkness even when there could be fire all around you. The spiritually blind in hell would be aware of their torment in the eternal fire in that dreadful darkness.

Some years ago I wrote in a journal, Hell exists.  It is not a torture chamber constructed by a despot. It is a place of regret, of weeping and wailing, of sadness and despair. It is a place where sins and the consequences of sins are felt, experienced and painfully known. It is a place where the sinner understands and realizes their folly, stupidity and failure. The people of Hell gnash their teeth when they see their sins and selfishness destroying them. Hell is hopelessness, existing without God.

Now I may be wrong about Hell. I may see this important issue incorrectly. But I believe that it is in the Gospel message,  that we are all  hell deserving sinners that Christ has come to seek and to seek, to redeem us and keep us away from the dreadful end. By His grace He has brought salvation, eternal life to all who respond to Him in repentance and regeneration by the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 2:8-10. John 3:16.

For me, the crucial question is, where will you spend eternity?

What happens when Christians die?

 I recently saw the funeral service and thanksgiving for the life of Dr Max Turner on YouTube. I remember Max when he was strict librarian at London Bible College in the 1970s, when I was an undergraduate.

I read much later his theological writings on Luke/Acts, the Holy Spirit and charismatic issues. Spendid scholarship.

As a New Testament scholar Max was magnificent, so I was particularly interested to hear his views on the afterlife when they were shared at the service on 3 September. His daughter read from his message given at a funeral for a relative.

Max believed that when a Christian dies they go to paradise, "the Eden garden of peace...all awaiting our resurrection...before that explosive day of resurrection. "  Quoting from Martin Luther, Max believed that we shall rise in a moment and be with Him for ever...not knowing how we came into death in that glorious peace.

Deep serene sleep, that wondrous sleep, total rest would therefore be experienced.  Some would call this soul sleep until the Great Day of the Lord, Yom Yahweh.

27.09.26. Yet the thief in paradise with Jesus would have been conscious and in fellowship with Jesus. Absent from the body on the cross but present with the Lord, enjoying His presence?

Did the Charismatic Movement of the late 20th Century fail?

 I once discussed this question with an elderly Canon of the Cof E. His answer at that time was that the charismatic movement failed to be charismatic enough, in failing to allow the Holy Spirit to bring more charisma, more spiritual gifts and graces. It failed at times to be genuinely charismatic and truly manifest the power and the provision of God.

Sadly the charismatic movement produced some leaders who were self serving and self aggrandizing. It is also produced some Word of Faith hucksters who preached prosperity theology and also some tele-evangelists who made false claims about healings, miracles and how wealth should be acquired.  Some leaders associated with the charismatic movement abused their positions of authority and influence. There were sexual scandals, false prophecies and wicked manipulation of young people. The horror stories and evidence of these sad scandals and sexual sins are recorded on YouTube videos.  These vile acts were perpetrated by well established preachers and prophets.

Some people began to identify as post charismatic because they had been harmed by their experience of charismatic Christianity. They were clearly scarred emotionally and spiritually. The wounds were deep and devastating.  It spelt disaster for some of these high profile preachers and prophets.  There is still a lot of fall out and ongoing problems as a result of these malignant ministries.

Despite the damage and these disasters in the charismatic movement, there are thousands of Christians throughout the world who can testify to the value, benefits and blessings of charismatic renewal, genuine charismatic experience.  They would say that the Holy Spirit has led them in spiritual realms, into a deeper reality of Christian living. This may be manifested in spiritual gifts, in healing, in holiness and a closer walk with the Lord, and often a new boldness in sharing and declaring their faith, power to live the Christian life as God intended. 

Holy Communion is more than a remembrance

 Holy Communion, also known as the blessed sacrament, the Lord's supper, is more than remembering that Jesus Christ died for us. It is far more than reflecting on what he accomplished on the cross at Calvary. 

It is fellowship with God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit in participating in a love feast, a time of celebration.

In the Holy Communion service, the Eucharist, the giving of thanks, there should be:

confession

contrition

connection.

But there may not be because the service of Holy Communion is rushed, rapidly conducted without due care and attention, without due diligence.

According to Corinthians, the Eucharist, the Lord's supper should never be taken lightly or without discernment.  It is for God's people to participate in a holy event, a sacrament, a divine encounter, a proclamation. 1 Corinthians 11: 23-34 explains the majesty of this mystery, this sacrament of grace.

Continued on 12 September 

To expand the three points, confession, contrition and connection, I would say that they come together in communion, in fellowship, in koinonia with the triune God. His children are welcome to the table of blessing. It is a time of worship and wonder, when we are able to participate in a holy event, a divine encounter.

God is holy and almighty, a consuming fire and faithful Lord. Therefore He should be approached with reverence and awe. Confession is appropriate. We should confess our sins and seek His forgiveness, knowing that He is faithful and just in cleansing us from all unrighteousness through Christ Jesus. 1 John 1:9 applies. Some find the words of the General Confession helpful, even necessary.

That brings us to contrition. This is more than being sorry for our sins. Criminals in prison are sorry for the mess that they have done and the pain that it has caused family, friends and fellow criminals, but there is no repentance or contrition. And this can be true of people at church, who may have no intention of changing their lives, habits, harmful devices and desires. Contrition means a commitment to change and putting away everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. Hebrews 12:1.

So the third point is connection. Do we in Holy Communion connect with God? Are we in fellowship with Him? Do we find intimacy and enjoy the amazing grace, hesed, abundance and benefits of His love. 

I shall conclude with the words of Lord in Revelation, the Apocalypse, 3:19-20

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.

Look here! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come right in and I will dine with him, and he with Me.