According to Paul in Ephesians 1:3, “God the Father has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” For Paul to write “has blessed us” means the Father has already been blessing us – and since the blessings he gives us are in the heavenly realms, then we must be experiencing heaven already.    

But how can we experience heaven when we’re physical humans living here? And if it is possible, how do we know we’re experiencing it?  

Paul says we can know, because we can see “the things that are unseen” 2 Corinthians 4:18. But how is that possible too? How can we see something that’s invisible? 

Paul offers an intriguing clue in Romans 8:16, where he writes, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” 

Working backwards through that verse, Paul is saying we can know we are God’s children. It’s real to us, even though we have no visible proof of it, and no human terms to explain it. We just know.  

But how do “we just know”? 

Working backwards through verse 16 again, Paul says we have a “spirit” in us. And being “spirit” it acts like a wall socket for the spiritual realm to plug in to. Which is what the first part of verse 16 covers, because it’s the Holy Spirit testifying with our spirit – or plugging into our spirit – that opens up a circuit through which the invisible spiritual dimension can flow. 

Our spirit, then, is like a portal for the Holy Spirit to connect the realm we’re living in here to the heavenly realm. A circuit is created that turns the lights on, so to speak, to enable us to see the unseen. The invisible becomes real. We can see, for instance, that we are God’s children.

Which really opens up the heavenly realm to us, because as God’s children we’re being “blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). And we’ll be able to see what that’s like because, thanks to the Holy Spirit plugging into our spirit, those heavenly blessings are happening to us already. And enough for us to know it. 

“Yes,” some might say, because in Hebrews 10:26, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we’ve received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.” 

But didn’t Israel in the Old Testament deliberately keep on sinning after they received the knowledge of the truth, and didn’t Paul ask, “Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all,” Romans 11:11. 

Two complete opposites, so which one is true? Or can both be true? – taking into account Paul’s statement later on in Romans 11 that we “Consider therefore the kindness and the sternness of God,” verse 22. 

So there are two sides of God to “consider,” not just one or the other. On the one hand, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows,” Galatians 6:7. So God is stern, all right. He’ll “give to each person according to what he has done,” Romans 2:6, and in verse 8, “for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger” when “the day of God’s wrath, his righteous judgement will be revealed,” verse 5. 

So to those who think God is all compassion and love, and he happily offers amnesty for all our nonsense as though it never existed, think again, because God lets the full weight of our stupidity and rebellion land on us, so we get the point that there are consequences.

But back in verse 4, Paul sounds a little testy when he asks, “Do you show contempt for his kindness and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?” Hey, don’t forget that side of God too, that God in his kindness wants us to wake up to our nonsense and stop doing it, so there aren’t any more nasty consequences. 

So there are two sides of God to consider, and both mentioned together in Isaiah 40 in his dealings with Israel. He starts off in verse 1 saying, “Comfort my people, speak tenderly to Jerusalem” – so here’s his kindness. But why is he being so kind? It’s because Israel’s “hard service has been completed, her sin has been paid for, she’s received double for all her sins at the Lord’s hand,” verse 2. 

God in his sternness didn’t let Israel get away with anything, even doling out double the dose of punishment they deserved. But never did his mercy, kindness and patience fail them either. So we’ve got both points to consider when asking, “Is God’s punishment forever?”

In John 14:13-14, Jesus says he answers our prayers: “I will do whatever you ask in my name,” and “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

But Jesus also says in John 15:16 that “the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name,” which sounds like it’s the Father who does the answering, not Jesus. On the other hand, in John 16:15, Jesus also says, “All that belongs to the Father is mine,” so whatever the Father gives us in answer to our prayers comes from Jesus as well, so now it sounds like both of them are answering our prayers.

John doesn’t make things any clearer either, when he writes in 1 John 3:21-22 that “we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask.” No mention of whether it’s the Father or Jesus answering; just “God.” And it’s just “God” again in 1 John 5:14, when John writes of “the assurance we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

John doesn’t separate the Father and Jesus as to who answers. But the process by which our prayers are answered does separate them, because in John 15:16 Jesus directs us to the Father as the source of every answer, but in John 3:35, “The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands,” so Jesus is the agent of every answer. All answers to our prayers, therefore, originate with the Father, but they come to us through the Son. 

That’s why we pray to the Father, in recognition that everything comes from the Father originally, but we also pray in Jesus’ name, in recognition that everything is now being administered by Jesus, with the Father’s full authority and approval.

We’re also acknowledging the relationship of the Father and Son, that they’re both in this together for each other as well as for us. The Son, for instance, wants to give all glory to the Father by answering us exactly as his Father wishes, and the Father wants to give all glory to his beloved Son by giving Jesus full power and authority to make his wishes happen.

So who answers our prayers? The Father does, and so does Jesus. They’re in this together: the Father as the source and Jesus as the agent.

On the one hand, God doesn’t let anyone get away with anything (Romans 2:5-6). But there’s also Psalm 145:9, that “God is good to one and all; everything he does is suffused with grace” (The Message).

But horrible things happen to people in natural disasters and wars, and the animal world isn’t exactly nice either, with predatory animals knocking off other animals in gruesome ways, and viruses, flies, maggots and other nasties doing things you don’t dare watch on TV while eating. 

Such is the world God created. He intentionally “subjected it to frustration,” stuck it “in bondage to decay,” to the point that “the whole creation has been groaning in pain” all through the ages (Romans 8:20-22). So how can Psalm 145:13 say that God “is gracious in everything he does”? It was written by king David too, who had all sorts of horrible things happen to him, and yet he could write in verse 17, “the Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.” 

David could say that, though, because in his own experience, “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth (who really mean it),” verse 18. 

David had learnt that by throwing himself on God to meet his needs, God “fulfills the desires of those who fear him,” and “he hears their cry and saves them,” verses 18-19. David learnt through good old practical everyday living that God really “is near” and he does listen. 

But what happens to people who don’t take advantage of that, and don’t turn to God in their lifetimes? Is that it for them – opportunity missed, too bad? Not so, David says, because God will “satisfy the desires of every living thing,” verse 16. No one misses out on what God has in mind for us, nor does the whole creation. That’s because God is creating an “everlasting kingdom” in verse 13, with all the time in the world to fulfill that promise. This life is just the beginning, so if people don’t turn to him now, there’s lots more life to come for discovering God later. 

Which is why ”your saints tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might,” verses 10-11, because the saints know firsthand, like David, that “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love,” verse 8. The saints know that God is “faithful to his promises and loving toward ALL he has made,” verse 13. They know, therefore, that God is – and will be – good to one and all.  

I must have used Matthew 18:20 dozens of times to keep our spirits up if our church attendance has dwindled down to a faithful few. “No problem,” I could say, because Jesus said: “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

Being a “small group,” therefore, was no different to being in a large church or cathedral, with its huge pipe organ making your tonsils rattle, and the choir belting out an emotional favourite, and all sorts of familiar rituals being acted out. A pity for some, perhaps, to miss all that, because that to them was “church.” But nice to know that Jesus would be just as much in attendance if we’re meeting in a home instead.   

Which I’m sure he is, but Matthew 18:20 wasn’t about that. In context, verse 15, it’s what to do when two believers have had a falling out over an offence caused by one of them. There was a process to follow. First of all, have them get together to sort it out, and hopefully the one who caused the offence listens and accepts he was at fault. 

And “If he listens, you’ve made a friend,” verse 15 (the Message). Good. But “If he won’t listen,” verse 16, “take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again.” 

And if the offender still doesn’t care, or gets all defensive and chucks in a few ridiculous accusations of his own, then “If he still won’t listen,” verse 17, “tell the church.” Announce it to one and all. And if that doesn’t wake the offender up to the seriousness of his actions, then “treat him as you would a pagan or tax collector,” verse 17. Have nothing to do with him, in other words.

Refusing to admit to an offence is that serious. So serious, in fact, that when the church decides to have nothing to do with an uncaring offender, their decision is “bound in heaven,” verse 18. It has the backing, Jesus said, of “my Father in heaven,” verse 19, as does anything in church where “two of you agree about anything you ask him for.” Agreement among us is that important.  

And that’s the context of verse 20, that Jesus is certainly in attendance with two or three of his followers when they want to sort out a problem and come to an agreement together.    

Part 10, Ahaz conclusion (Part 9, March 3)

When Jesus cried out in John 7:38-39, “Whoever believes in me, streams of living water will flow from within him. By this he meant the Spirit,” it harks back to the “stream of water” flowing down from the Upper Pool to the Fuller’s Field in Isaiah 7:3. 

Because what that stream of water pictured was “the blessing of the most High” (the meaning of ‘Upper Pool’) flowing down to the fullers who used the water to clean their woollen cloth and turn it into something strong and long lasting. And here’s Jesus in John 7 – who really is “the blessing of the most High” – talking of “streams of living water” flowing out from within people because of the work of the Holy Spirit in them. 

And for the same purpose too. The blessing of the most High flowing into Ahaz would have transformed him from being a scared child into a strong, confident leader, so he could stand before his people and cry out, “I know God will strengthen and help us, because he did it for me.” This was the opportunity God offered Ahaz, including whatever sign Ahaz wanted that would prove what God was promising both him and his people was true. 

If only Ahaz had trusted God, then, because what a different story it would have been. And how frustrating it is for us too, that Ahaz didn’t grab what God was freely offering, because now we’re left hanging not knowing what might have happened instead if he had. 

So, what was the purpose of that story if we’re left with no idea of what sign Ahaz would have asked for, and no amazing story of God responding? But what if it was written in preparation for God offering the same opportunity again, so that those it was being offered to wouldn’t make the same mistake? 

Because through Jesus that’s exactly what he’s done. He’s re-created the scene all over again. We’ve got a stream of water too, also picturing the blessing of the most High flowing into us, and for the same reason, to transform us from being frightened and frail human beings in scary times into a force of strength, confidence and courage for those we care for. 

And with an amazing sign to prove it, the Holy Spirit “within” us doing in us what God would have done in Ahaz, so that we too can say to those we know are having trouble coping in these scary times in 2023, “I know God is real, because he’s proved it again and again to me.” 

Because what have we got to offer people if we haven’t got that? If I have no story to tell that God is real, I’m just another typical human being who gets all stressed out and looks to worldly methods for coping, just like Ahaz, none of which will give me, or the people I care for, the peace that only God can give. 

Which makes the story of Ahaz highly relevant for us today, because it shows us that God is more than willing to make himself real to us in our scary moments, so we can be a fearless strength for others.

Part 2 – Luciferian (Demonic on March 2)

The word “luciferian” describes ego and pride. Witness the ego-driven attitudes of those in government, the medical profession, mainstream media, and many others who careened through the pandemic making decisions that have since proved to be disastrous – who cannot or will not admit it. 

They’re too proud for that. So was the king of Tyre in Ezekiel 28:12, whose “heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendour,” verse 17, “by using it to get worldly fame” (The Message). 

So here was a man who ended up with a gigantic ego because of his impressive looks and brilliant mind. He stood out as someone people naturally looked up to, and he used it to get a name for himself. We had people like that during the pandemic too, who were looked upon as saviours and saints. 

But as new facts now emerge that hint at some ghastly mistakes made in policies quickly implemented without proper evidence, resulting in considerable damage to physical and mental health, and to the economy, and to trust in hallowed institutions, no one who was instrumental in causing these problems has apologized or admitted fault. Rather than say, “We blew it and we’re deeply sorry, and we’ll do anything we can to heal and help,” they call the people who are criticizing them nasty names.

But that’s the luciferian attitude in Isaiah 14:12. It’s where the word “Lucifer” came from, translated in Latin from the Hebrew for “the morning star.” It describes the attitude of the king of Babylon (verse 4), who believed he was a god, expressed in statements like: “I will raise my throne above the stars of God,” and “I will make myself the Most High” (verses 13 and 14). It highlights how pride and ego can consume those in leadership positions, including, as we’ve seen, Christian leaders too.  

To such people God says, “Because you think you are wise, as wise as a god,” Ezekiel 28:6, be warned because “You will be but a man, not a god, in the hands of those who slay you,” verse 9. So a luciferian attitude is not a good place to be, because “pride ends in humiliation,” Proverbs 29:23 (NLT).    

God’s mandate for all governments is Romans 13:4. They are all “God’s servants to do you good.” So the focus of anyone in a government position, or any position of authority, like a policeman or teacher, is the good of the people they are serving. And the “common good” too, meaning what is best for everyone, not just the most vocal few. 

So the goal of anyone in a position of authority or responsibility is to find out what is best for everyone in their care. Unfortunately, many governments of late have been enacting legislation without the consent of their citizens, but claiming “We’re doing it for the common good.” But how do they decide what the common good is? 

If it’s “common” then it must be what most citizens agree to, right? So what mechanism have those in government positions put in place to find out what the common good is from the people’s perspective? Government can’t just decide what the common good is if it has no idea what the people are thinking. But nowadays we’ve even got non-elected officials with no government authority deciding in their globalist huddles what is best for us. 

But how do they know what’s best for us? Or have they simply taken it upon themselves to decide by their own definition what’s best, because, they claim, “The people don’t know what’s best for them, so they need us to decide for them.” I actually heard a Prime Minister say that back in 2008 during the last mess we were in. 

I’ve come to realize that both elected and non-elected individuals in our present system of influence and authority don’t know what’s best for us, because they’re not living in the real world we’re in. I’ve only had one politician visit my home for a chat before an election, and it was just an infomercial for their party platform, and not one question about what I thought. So much for searching out “the common good,” or knowing what it was from me.  

I’m so glad I found out the meaning of ekklesia as the word used for “church” in Scripture. Because it meant a town coming together to debate and discuss what was the right course to take in the best interests of all. And the people together did that, not some official deciding for them. Hopefully, then, it’s in God’s church that we see how good government works. 

Thousands and thousands of people around the world are waking up to the dreadful and disheartening realization that the institutions we trust in to serve us and keep us safe and healthy are heavily administered by people who’ve been corrupted and made stupid by their myopic obsession with power and money, and their own pious, moralizing public image. 

It’s been quite a shock comparing the world today to what it was three years ago. One has to wonder, then, that if it’s this bad already, how bad is it yet to become, thanks to those in the medical profession, the media, the government, the schools and universities, and of course the profiteering drug companies, who have all ignored facts, hidden facts, resisted facts, and refused to admit they’re wrong when obvious facts are revealed.  

It may be a shock, then, that the entire world seems to have gone crazy, but it’s nothing new. Paul wrote a shocking description of his world in Romans 1:29-32, as “filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity.” So he too had to witness people in positions of power and influence who were “full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice.” And all over his world too, people were “gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful.” And he too had to put up with people who seemed to take pleasure in “inventing ways of doing evil” because they were “senseless, faithless, heartless, and ruthless.” They simply didn’t care what damage they did to other people. Psychopaths without conscience.      

So what we’re going through isn’t some new phenomenon that’s never been experienced before. It’s jolly helpful of Paul, then, to explain why it happens, and why it keeps on happening. 

It happens, he writes, when people “do not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God.” And God does not take that lightly, because “he gives such people over to a depraved mind,” verse 28. They cannot think straight, like those piously demanding net zero carbon emissions in just seven years time, who haven’t even considered the vast changes necessary to make that happen, or the damage it would do to poor people. 

But what about those who DO “think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God”? What’s in store for them? Paul goes on to say in Romans 2:7, that “To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honour and immortality, he will give eternal life.” One day, waking up to a wonderful world.  

We’re in a world that hides information if it doesn’t fit the prevailing government narrative, or if it proves what government did was wrong and damaging, or it exposes the real motives of corporations that continue to sell us a bill of goods as “safe and effective,” while understating and even ignoring the multiple millions of people known to be suffering from adverse effects. 

The creativity and ingenuity these “hiders” give to excuses, cover-ups, and lies is formidable. So for someone seeking accurate, up-to-date research and data to enable INFORMED consent, he or she soon discovers it’s a minefield of censorship, accusations of spreading misinformation and hate, being publicly branded as a racist, extremist, terrorist, anti-science activist and conspiracy theorist, or of being a white supremacist Nazi, a threat to the economy, and amazingly even a misogynist.      

You can’t help but be suspicious, therefore, that with all this aggressive vitriol the powers-that-be are trying to hide something. 

But let’s give governments and corporations the benefit of the doubt and assume they have our best interests in mind. They have a problem, however, because what they believe to be in our best interests may not be what we believe or agree to. And that risks protest, panic and even revolution. So I can see why they feel justified in not making their plans too public. 

But they can’t hide what they’re doing forever, because their dream of some sort of global, planet-saving utopia will involve massive change and a lot of people will suffer, as many already are. And that means the hiders have to get even more creative in their cover-ups. 

But give them credit, they are very good at it. History also shows, however, that we’re not that difficult to deceive: I mean, we think celebrities and politicians – and even the media (gasp) – are telling the truth. 

So I accept I can be deceived too – and Jesus did warn us that we could be (Matthew 24:24). But there’s a warning for the hiders too, in Hebrew 4:13, that “there is no creature hidden from God’s sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”