Jared Longshore's Blog, page 14

Worship in Spirit

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). So here’s an exhortation on worshipping God in spirit. Now we worship God by the Holy Spirit and we also worship the Holy Spirit Himself. But I am referring to your spirit at the moment. You must worship God in your spirit. He wants more than your hands and vocal chords. He wants more than your ears attending to words and your brain processing the nouns and verbs. You will come to eat bread and drink wine. But you must taste more than bread and wine.

You really have a spirit. Is it well? Are you bringing your spirit before the Lord today or is only your shell here? “Now, ” someone will say, “does this pastor think that my body can be present and my soul somewhere else?” It is not matter of geography. But, yes, the Lord said, “These people draw near to me with their mouth but their heart is far from me” (Isaiah 29:13). You must avoid that today by coming spiritually face to face with God. You must hear with the ears of your soul and see with its eyes.

There are angels in our midst. Is your spirit mindful of them? We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, who have gone before us. Does your spirit see them? Our Great High Priest sits enthroned before us. Does your spirit hear Him speaking?

When Elisha’s servant woke to see the Syrian army surrounding them at Dothan, he could not see that the mountain was full of heavenly horses and chariots of fire. But that fiery host was every bit as much there before God opened up the servant’s eyes as they were after he did so.

So it is with you right now. But do your eyes see? Do your ears hear the song of the seraphim? Will the tongue of your soul taste and see that the Lord Himself is good? Confess your sin and all of this is promised to you.

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The Cross Taught

The cross taught all wood to resound his name, Who bore the same.

His stretched sinews taught all strings, what key

Is best to celebrate this most high day.

George Herbert, Easter

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It Doesn’t Hurt Anymore

Scripture tells us to forbear with one another and forgive one another. And this directive comes to us alongside an exhortation to longsuffering. So we must not only forgive, but we must forgive when the offender has offended us before. But what if the offender has not only offended us before, but has offended us several times before and in the exact same way? Yes, even then, we must forgive.

If you are tempted to call this an injustice, and be honest, you are tempted, then take to heart what this table says to you. God’s command is to forgive as Christ forgave you (Colossians 3:13). Christ has forgiven you in His blood, and you held the spear that pierced His side.

The bread we taste here is not sour bread. And the wine we drink here is not bitter. Bitterness flees from this table. It is a table from which forgiveness flows freely. And the only thing you have contributed to this feast is your sin. Sin from you and grace to you. Corruption from you and substance to you.

As Christ has forgiven you, likewise, forgive one another. When asked for forgiveness from a genuine offender, why should you render peace back when all you have received is clamor? This question must be answered with another. What did you render Christ? Clamor, deception, lust, greed, bitterness, and a thousand other evils.

But what about your loss? What about your wounds? Genuine damage has been done to you and what, are you just supposed to forget about that harm? Well, yes, you must forget about the harm. You must forget about the sting. The sting was removed at the cross. But you can use those wounds as Jesus did. You can use them as proofs of resurrected forgiveness. Come reach out your finger and touch his pierced hands. Thrust your hand into His side. It doesn’t hurt anymore. Come in faith and welcome to Jesus Christ.

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A Word About Those Heavenly Beings

When it comes to the celestials, we have the two traditional ditches. On the one hand you can think far too much about them and on the other you can think nothing of them. It is usually a minority that is enamored with the heavenly beings and to them we want to say with one of the host, “Worship God, not the angels.” But if I had to pick the more widespread error, I would go with those who think very little to nothing about the heavenly beings. Indeed, the saints should not bow down to them. After all, God told Israel of old that He was their inheritance so they could not worship the hosts of heaven. They belonged to the unbelieving nations: 

19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the Lord thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.[1]

But this causes us to pause mid sip of the coffee. What in the world does that mean? More about that in a minute.

Celestial Hierarchy

Let’s begin with the celestial hierarchy, and yes there is one. Hierarchy exists even in the heavens, as a starry testimony to the folly of egalitarianism and every woke intersectional scheme. Those who want to tear down hierarchy will find they have pulled down deep heaven on their heads. 

Aquinas went to great lengths spelling out a nine part hierarchy of the celestials. You don’t have to buy every category he is selling. But you should buy some of it because it arises from basic Bible reading. Aquinas laid out nine categories of celestials which unfolds in three subcategories.

Highest Hierarchy (contemplates the ideas of the things in God Himself)

Seraphim – Relevant texts are Num. 21:6; 21:8; Deut 8:15; Isa. 6:2, 6; Isa 14:29; Isa 30:6. These seraphim are closely associated with fiery serpents. They have six wings. And given the association with fiery serpents, it is reasonable to think Satan, the snake-dragon, a fallen seraph. Cherubim – Relevant texts are 2 Sam. 22:11; Ps. 18:10, and Ezek 10:1. By examining these and other texts we find that God rides the cheribum. They appear to be chariot thrones, often near those wheels within wheels. They protect the temple of God appearing in Eden and on the mercy seat. They, like the seraphim, have wings and dwell near the Lord of hosts. Thrones – A relevant text is Colossians 1:16 where “thrones” are listed alongside principalities and powers in a text referring to things created in heaven and on earth.

Middle Hierarchy (contemplates the universal causes); universal disposition of what is to be done.

Dominions – Relevant texts are Eph 1:21; Col 1:16.Virtues – This category comes from tradition rather than a biblical text.Powers – Relevant text is 1 Pet. 3:22.

Lowest Hierarchy (their application to particular effects); application of this disposition to the effect.

Principalities – A relevant text is Eph 6:12. These principalities are more familiar, as we saints wrestle not against flesh and blood but against them.Archangels – Relevant texts are Jude 9 and 1 Thess 4:16. While we only know the name of one of these creatures, Michael. It stands to reason that the others indeed have names. Angels – Several passages of Scripture tell us of the angels and in none of them do they have wings.

While I might not follow the medievals on every point of the celestial hierarchy, it is beyond doubt that there is such a hierarchy. The seraphim and cherubim dwell in the throne room of God. The principalities clearly rule over earth. And the angels are depicted in Scripture as delivering messages. They are at least five for nine. As a side note, there is a UPS guy in town who I’m a little suspicious about. He just has a way about him and let’s say I wouldn’t be surprised if when he drops off packages I’m entertaining angels unawares (Hebrews 13:2).

Their Nature

But what about their nature? We know they are ministering spirits (Hebrews 1:14). But do they have bodies? Well, yes, heavenly ones. All flesh is not the same flesh, after all.

39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption.[2]

If you’re still suspicious about heavenly beings having bodies, I’d put Jude 6-7 out there:

And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them, in like manner giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.[3]

Remember what the men of Sodom and Gomorrha tried to sleep with? That right, angels, strange flesh (Genesis 19). 

Divine Council

After their order and nature, the question naturally arises concerning what they are up to. Some things are plain. They worship God. They minister to the saints. They war in heaven. But there is also a few pictures of them serving at council with the Triune God. They’re doing something like that in Job, when Satan himself appears before the Lord. They do the same when Micaiah the prophet testifies, “19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left” (1 Kings 22:19). While Calvin doesn’t buy this interpretation of Psalm 82, the text does refer to the mighty ones in the congregation of the Lord as elohim—

God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; He judgeth among the gods. How long will ye judge unjustly, And accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. Defend the poor and fatherless: Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: Rid them out of the hand of the wicked. They know not, neither will they understand; They walk on in darkness: All the foundations of the earth are out of course. I have said, Ye are gods; And all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, And fall like one of the princes. Arise, O God, judge the earth: For thou shalt inherit all nations.[4]

That sounds a whole like lot heavenly principalities. Bad ones. But principalities nonetheless.

Over Nations

This leads us to the question of the rule and reign of these principalities and powers. In Daniel 10 a heavenly being appears to Daniel and refers to three princes. Michael, who is readily identified as an arch angel and whom the heavenly being identifies as Daniel’s prince. We also hear about the prince of Persia, who warred against the heavenly being, along with a prince of Greece. It should not surprise us that the fallen principalities had jurisdiction over the nations of the earth. Satan is called the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). He tempted our Lord with all the kingdoms of the earth, which were under his jurisdiction. And Deuteronomy 4:19 tells us that the LORD divided these very beings to all the nations under the whole heaven, save Israel—

19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the Lord thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.[5]

Related to all of this, Augustine goes to great length in the City of God to demonstrate that Rome’s false, demon gods corrupted them and were responsible for the fall of Rome. 

Heaven, On Earth, and Under the Earth

But these fallen principalities and powers only held sway for a time. Christ triumphed over these principalities and powers at the cross (Colossians 2:15). After descending into Hades and announcing His triumph over those spirits in prison (1 Peter 3:19), He rose from the dead and declared that all authority in heaven and on earth had been given unto Him (Matthew 28). It is no surprise then to see Scripture testifying to heavenly calamity and celestial destruction anytime a nation falls:

Babylon and Edom – Isa. 13:1, 10; 34:4, 5Jerusalem – Matt. 24:29Egypt – Ezek 32:2,7Northern Kingdom – Amos 8:2, 9Pentecost – Joel 2:30; Acts 2:17-21

The ultimate shaking of the heavens and the earth came at the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ as He planted a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3). 

In sum, don’t worship these heavenly beings. But do rejoice that the wicked ones have been conquered by our Lord and the righteous ones are very much on our side. In short, there really are angels in the outfield.

[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Dt 4:19.

[2] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), 1 Co 15:39–42.

[3] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Jud 6–7.

[4] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Ps 82:1–8.

[5] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Dt 4:19.

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You Are Mine

Many saints live without assurance of God’s promises. They live as if his covenant love is in jeapordy, perhaps they will receive it, or perhaps they will not. Then some, knowing they should have confidence in God’s mercy, proceed to build that confidence upon themselves. But in baptism we have a sign and seal from God. He assures his saints of his covenant grace with this water. He tangibly marks them off as his own, saying to them, “You are mine, you’re one with my Son, with sins forgiven, and a new life in front of you marked by grace and mercy.”

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Like a Chameleon in a Bag of Skittles

Imagine a modern micro managerial type, a High Priest of Process, trying to endure the first few chapters of life after Christ’s resurrection. He’s with the disciples in a closed room and Jesus walks through a wall. “No, No, Jesus, there’s a way to enter a room. You’re supposed to knock.” Then, there’s Pentecost. And our poor High Priest of the Procedural Pantheon takes the Spirit aside to say, “You know, you’ve caused many in the audience to think the disciples are drunk. Do you know how many phone calls I’m going to have to make to explain this to our donors? And I don’t even want to think about how I’m going to tell my mother in law.” 

Then, in the early days, he’s with Peter when a lame man asked him for some money. While our fellow is still running the math and checking the money bag, he hears Peter tell the lame man, “Look at me. Silver and gold have I none.” “Well,” our fellow thinks to himself, “we do have a few coins. Not a lot. But we could probably pull something from the Home Equity Line of Credit.” His thought is interrupted as Peter says, “But I do have this, in the name of Jesus, get up.” As the healed man leaps and praises God, our Oracle of Order leans over to Peter and says, “Did you consider what kind of precedent this is going to set?”

Plans are fine. But faithless plans are not. Plans are fine. But make them remembering your life is the steam vanishing over your coffee. And when it comes to what’s going to happen tomorrow, you’re as clueless as a penguin in the Sahara. You’re as puzzled as a chameleon in a bag of Skittles.

But God knows. And He will do all that He pleases. And you can guarantee that it will most likely not be according to your plan.

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If at First You Don’t Succeed

An author who expects results from a first novel is in a position similar to that of a man who drops a rose petal down the Grand Canyon of Arizona and listens for the echo.

P. G. Wodehouse, Cocktail Time

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Pentecostal Unity

The unity after Pentecost was a thick unity. And it is a unity that we not only want to replicate but have a warrant to replicate. We still live post-Pentecost, with the Spirit being poured out on the church in power. A key to our unity is that we communion with Christ and each other at this table. Every covenant brother is your brother. And God has made promises to him as much as He has to you. As you come, trusting God’s promises to you and your household, come also trusting God’s promises to your brother and His household.

This is a remarkably helpful question when there is crackle between brothers. You do not like something that a fellow saint is doing. OK, “Has God promised to sanctify Him as He has promised to sanctify you?” It is impossible to say, “No.” And it is quite hard to say, “Yes, but I’m not happy about that.” At least with a straight face. The question reminds you immediately that, whatever the trouble is, God has promised to sort it out for His covenant people in due time. 

In other words, faith is the key instrument in our unity. And you will find that bitterness and division have to leave the premises when faith arrives. Related to all of this is the truth that you should just let some things go. You think that you are not quite on the same page with your brother. And you are quite right about that. But who said that has to be a road block to your fellowship? Love really does cover a multitude of sins. And a childlike faith doesn’t protest that every member of the body agrees with you about a particular skuffle in order to eat and drink together. Trust the Lord to fix the splinter you see in your brother as you trust Him to fix the two-by-four impaled in your rib cage. Come in faith and welcome to Jesus Christ.

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The Baptism of Eve

As our Father gave Adam his wife, Eve, so has He given our Lord Jesus Christ His bride, the church. Baptism is a sign and seal that the baptized has been added to the one body of Christ, which comes down out of heaven as a bride adorned for her husband. The God who gives this sign to his bride will be faithful to His covenant promise to her. And that covenant promise is the forgiveness of sins, life forevermore, world without end, and amen.

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The Lust for Respectability

The lust for respectability is a subtle and damnable sin. Jesus said, “How can you believe when you seek honor from one another and not the honor that comes from God.” This sin is particularly aluring in times like ours. Our civil leaders and civil discourse has reached unforseen levels of immaturity and so many rightly want to be mature. But true maturity will always have something light and lowly in it. John said I must decrease so that he might increase. And the one to whom God looks is the humble and contrite man, who takes sin seriously but doesn’t take himself seriously at all.

So here is your exhortation: you must not seek the honor that comes from man. You must not care when crowds squawk at you, be they unbelievers or believers who care far too much about Ahab and Jezebel’s perception. You must not care what the new politically correct say about you or your people. When the Dignified Duchesses of the world, like David’s Michal, inform you that you have debased yourself. Tell them that that you will become even more vile in their eyes, but you will be praised by the faithful. After her encounter with David, we’re told that Michal had no child until the day of her death, likely because she was too distinguished to sleep with her husband. We could say she came from a line of those who were Celibate by Superiority. But, of course, such Prim Princesses consider themselves to be the end of the matter and in so doing become the end of the geneological line.

They signify the covenantal disloyalty that always attends those who lust for respectability. Such people cannot abide Elijah’s high school boy humor as he mocks idols. They are always wanting to take Jesus aside and explain his approach might have been more effective had he left out that bit about his listeners being sons of the devil. And they make sure to put some distance between themselves and Ezekiel when he says that the people of God lust after idols like a whore lusts after her lover whose members are like those of donkeys and whose emissions are like horses. Such talk is unfit for those who would be righteous, in the world’s eyes.

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