Pastor Buddy’s Blog

Yup,

Yesterday was our weekly luncheon. Done this for several years. Each Thursday, Betty and I meet with our three children and their spouses at a restaurant for a meal and fellowship. In all our busyness this at least gives us a touch point during the week for family get-together.

Yesterday was extra special. We celebrated Andre’s birthday a bit early. What made it extra special is that my three sisters had lunch with us. You would really need to know my three sisters to realize how humorous this can be. My sisters are fun loving just like me — Pickers par-excellent.

Well, after lunch we gathered over at our home. And this is where I just had to get a picture of the five musketters, Mick, Mike, Mustard, Myrtle, and Marcell.

Funning of course. Facing the picture at the very top is my sister, Bonnie. In the center is my daughter, Shana. To the left of Shana is my sweet love, Betty. Next on the right is my sister, Bertie. And at the bottom is my sister, Julia. Aren’t they simply gorgeous! — Of course we have several more gorgeous ‘lady’ musketeers in my family. Have to catch them some other time.

Oh yeah, my sister Bonnie found a figurine of a great dane as a gift for me. When I showed it to CJ, he sniffed at it, tried to bite it, snorted, and then turned his nose up.  Afraid the General did not see the humor at all. 

Ok, let’s pick up another devotional Bible study.

Did you know that the Holy Spirit is sometimes spoken of as the breath of God? Did you also know that the very Scriptures are said to be connected with God’s breath? Did you know that the breath of God connects with the Messiah?

Good questions. Let’s touch on this a bit…

THE BREATH (NEARNESS) OF GOD
by Lawrence (Buddy) Martin

The ancients taught that when two or more men were studying the Scriptures, they are never to be disturbed. The reason was because the Shekinah was passing between them.  The term Skekinah had various meanings depending on how this word evolved over time. But it comes from a word which means ‘to dwell.’ It often spoke to them of Messiah.

It is from this background that we hear Jesus say, “For where two or three have gathered in My name, I am there in their midst.” (Matt 18:20)

The Shekinah was often identified with the Holy Spirit, or with the Messiah, or with what the ancients called ‘haKovod’, that is, God’s glory. The haKovod was God’s manifested glory. For example when Moses went into the Holiest of Holies, there above the mercy seat was a Light. This light was called haKavod. 

John relates the haKovod to Jesus in saying, “And the [living] Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Jn1:14)

When we come to Paul’s letter to the Galatian Churches, we find him speaking of the  Holy Spirit as ‘the Spirit of God’s Son.’ (4:6) The terms Spirit of the Son, voice of the Holy Spirit, and the anointing that abides in us, are all valid expressions of God’s life in believers. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27)

On Pentecost 33 ad, the Holy Spirit, who is also called the Spirit of Christ, took of residence in His new home, the Church. This is the background for the idea of how the Bible is made the textbook of the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit that indwells each believer, is also known as the breath of God.

Let’s tie this together.

Reaching back to the creation of Adam, you recall that God breathed into him the breath of life. We see a prophetic reenactment of this, when Jesus appears to the disciples. It says, “He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” (John 20:22)

What does this have to do with the textbook of the Holy Spirit. What Paul tells us is that the sacred Scriptures were ‘breathed’ out of the mouth of God. This is what the Greek word translated as ‘inspiration’ or ‘inspired’ actually means.

1 Timothy 3:16, says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, etc.” The word “inspired” is ‘theopneustos,’ which literally means ‘God breathed.’

Paul’s point is that the Scriptures contain the voice of God speaking directly to us. Theos is God. Pneustos comes from pneumaticos, which translates as ’spiritual.’ Pneumaticos carries the idea of invisibility and power.

Paul is telling Timothy that the Scriptures are God’s ‘powerful’ speaking place for His people.

Did not David say much the same. David said, “The Law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” He adds, “Moreover by them Your servant is warned.” (Cf. Psalm 19:7-12)

Both Paul and David are speaking of the same body of Scriptures. The only Bible the early Church had was the writings of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms.

And so, it goes without question that the Scriptures are God’s primary speaking place to believers. The Bible carries its own testimony. The prophet said, “To the law and the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.” (Isa8:20 - The word ‘dawn’ is a Hebraism that speaks of the path righteousness.]

God’s Book is His feeding place for His children. He spreads us a wonderful table, and invites us to join Him.

Recall what the two disciples said when Jesus was speaking to them after the resurrection, that is, when he did not allow them to recognize Him? They said, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?“ (Luke 24:32)

Is there Scripture for such a thought of God speaking to us through the Bible?

Yes. God spoke through the prophet, and said, “On that day the deaf will hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.” (Isa29:18)

Paul explains it somewhat like this - In the new covenant as we look at God’s text book  through the eyes of the Spirit, the book reflects the glory of Christ upon our souls. The more of this reflected glory we see, the more our lives transform into the likeness of the One we are looking at. This is what makes up the continual transformation life that causes us to be more like Jesus as we travel life’s highway.

Paul goes on to say that the Book remains a closed book to the unbelieving Jew, but to those, both Jews and Gentiles, who believe, the Book becomes a living oracle. He says, “To this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their [nonbelieving Jew or Gentile] heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” (2Co3:15,16)

As I mentioned earlier, Jesus also gives insight into this area. He said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one can snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27,28)

Jesus said that His sheep simply will not follow a strange (stranger’s) voice. 

There are a lot of strange voices filling the earth today. Too often we assume that someone is born again because they seem to be knowledgeable. This is why it is crucial to know the identifying signs of new covenant salvation. It is too easy to follow a ‘masquerading’ spirit.

One of the greatest sign that a person is born from above will always be the inner peace that comes from having been to the cross. This ‘peace’ is a heavenly testimony that cannot be replicated. It is only available to those who have accepted the Lamb’s salvation.

Old timers called this ‘divine assurance.’ Like the song says, “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. O what a foretaste of heaven divine.”

When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are transferred out of the domain of darkness and into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son. The textbook has come alive. We have received its message. It is a living oracle from that moment on. (cf. 1Co15:3,4; Acts 10:42; Col1:12-14.)

Jesus describes a person who has been to the cross.

He said, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke of the Spirit…etc.” (John 7:37-39)

Notice Jesus said, “As the Scripture said.” There is a dual meaning here. It means the Scriptures have delivered the message of heaven to the heart of the one who believes in Jesus. It is a living message. From this comes the overflowing life. Living water is a Hebraic symbol for the Word or the very voice of God.

But the Lord is also describing a person who has been to the cross and now has within their inner being the life power that can only come from God. This person has ‘found the answer’ and is not looking here and yon for satisfaction. This same believer is now able to share the life of God with others by way of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul refers to this as the ‘Abba! Father!’ experience. It is also called the ’sealed’ life. (The Holy Spirit seals the true believer in Christ (Messiah) and then in turn occupies permanently the heart of the person who is sealed.)

Paul went on to explain this great enlargement of our spiritual life. He said, “But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory.” And, “Things which eye has not seen, etc.” “For to us God revealed them through the Spirit…etc.” (1 Co2)

Paul’s point is that this hidden wisdom is actually found in the Scriptures.

There is a hidden wisdom, a hidden life, and hidden Light that belongs only to the community of the faith. This was what David was speaking of when he said, “In Your light we see light.” If you recall, David prayed, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your Law [Torah.]” (Psa119:18)

Paul said, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2Co3:18)

The mirror imagery is Hebraism for God’s sacred writings.

So it is true that the Bible we hold in our hands contains the living voice of Jesus. There is so much to be said about the nearness of God.

Just wanted to give you something to think about.

Blessings,

Buddy