EVANGELICAL SPIRITUALITY – GUIDANCE – # 03
(Oct. 7, 2012)
REVIEW:
QUESTION: Why can a person who experiences the new birth be defined as a “Christian Mystic?”
. . . Jesus declared, “. . . no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” . . . . “. . . no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (John 3:3-8).
Definition of a Christian Mystic: “A [Christian] mystic is one who experiences God in trans-rational and non-empirical ways” (The God of Intimacy and Action, Tony Campolo and Mary Albert Darling).
“I cannot really be a Christian without being a mystic. A person becomes a Christian by entering into a personal, intimate, transforming relationship with Jesus Christ who is ever-present, living in us – now that’s mystical!” . . . “Intimacy is at the heart of what it means to be a Christian mystic” (Campolo and Darling).
QUESTION: Beyond conversion, what other non-empirical experiences would reinforce the designation of Christian’s as “Mystics?”
We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned (I Cor. 2:12-14).
THE “CHRISTIAN MYSTIC” AND GUIDANCE
Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe # 1
There exists an inch-by-inch detailed blueprint for my life that is elusive and mysterious, but I somehow [must] discover it to know God’s will for my life (Chad Moore, Sept 23 Sermon).
QUESTION: What propositions in the above statement can you embrace?
God has a blueprint for my life. I need to discover that blueprint to know God’s will for my life. I can discover God’s will for my life. Some aspects of God’s will are elusive and mysterious.
QUESTION: What propositions in the above statement would you challenge?
God does not have an “inch-by-inch detailed” blueprint for my life. God’s will, in general, is not elusive or mysterious.
It is not too difficult to discover God’s will.
QUESTION: What false propositions do you think Chad meant to challenge in the above statement?
Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe # 2
God knows everything about me and has a game plan for my life.
QUESTION: Why would you call this statement “dumb?” Why would you call it “smart?”
GUIDANCE AND THE CHRISTIAN MYSTIC
IN THE BOOK OF ACTS
Chad wisely introduced the idea of the “Prescriptive” and “Descriptive” will of God. The Ten Commandments are “Prescriptive” and for the whole church. It is the will of God that all obey the Ten Commandments. The “Descriptive” is what happened in relation to certain individuals, e.g. building the ark.
If we see the “Descriptive” repeated again and again, can we then refer to these “Descriptive” experiences m as “Normative?”
For example if every believer in God, from Adam on, throughout the Bible was required to build and ark, we might start seeing ark building as “Normative.” If all Christians in the Bible experienced God’s guidance for ministry, we might say that getting guidance for ministry was normative.
THE JERUSALEM COUNCIL (Acts 15:1-28)
The Jerusalem Council concluded their business by sending a letter to Gentile believers that included this sentence, “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and us . . . “ (15:26).
QUESTION: How did the assembly come to such a conclusion? Note vs. 5 (the problem), vs. 6-7a (open meeting discussion), vs. 12 (Peter’s experience), vs. 13 (Testimony of Paul and Barnabas), vs. 15 (Summation by James).
QUESTION: Did God have a game plan for their ministry?
THE CALL OF PAUL
“I am sending you to them (the Gentiles) to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light . . .” (Acts 26:17-18).
QUESTION: Did God give Paul a clear call concerning the focus of his ministry?
GOD’S GUIDANCE IN ANTIOCH
“While they (the prophets and teachers in Antioch) were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them’” (Acts 13:2).
QUESTION: Do you think they had given any thought to a ministry of Paul and Barnabas among the Gentiles? Who directed Paul and Barnabas to go to the Gentiles? Describe the environment and atmosphere where this clear word of guidance came?
A DOOR CLOSED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
“Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia” (Acts 16:6).
QUESTION: Who was keeping Paul and his team from going into Asia? Was it in God’s “game plan” for Paul to go to the province of Asia?
THE MACEDONIAN CALL
“During the night (in Troas) Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them” (Acts 16:9-10).
QUESTION: Was it in God’s game plan for Paul to go to Macedonia?
COMFORT IN CORINTH
“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.’ So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the Word of God” (Acts 18:9-11).
QUESTION: Would you say that according to God’s blueprint, he was to spend 18 months or so in Corinth?
GUIDANCE AGAINST GOING TO JERUSALEM
”After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, ‘The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, ‘Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’ When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, ‘The Lord’s will be done’” (Acts 21:10-14).
QUESTION: Did Paul disobey the guidance of God by going to Jerusalem?
GUIDANCE WHILE IN JAIL
While before the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead” (Acts 23:6).
QUESTION: Was Paul’s statement true?
While testifying before Felix, “Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin – unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today’” (Acts 24:21).
QUESTION: What was the original charge?
“ . . . this is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides he has brought Greeks into the temple area and defiled this holy place” (Acts 21:28).
“The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, ‘Take Courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome’” (Acts 23:11).
It seems that God’s will might be more like a soccer game than a blue print. The coach pulls a player out of the soccer game for an injury or mistake etc and then inserts us again later on.
SUMMARY: Paul and his team did get specific guidance again and again as to ministry direction. Was Paul’s experience just “descriptive” or was it repeated often enough that it might be considered “normative?”
QUESTION: How do we reconcile Paul’s experience with the “Dumb Thing” statements set forth by Chad?
There exists an inch-by-inch detailed blueprint for my life that is elusive and mysterious, but I somehow [must] discover it to know God’s will for my life. . . . . . God knows everything about me and has a game plan for my life (Chad Moore, Sept 23 Sermon).
QUESTION: What are some of the common denominators in Paul and his team’s experiences that may have contributed to their being guided by the Holy Spirit?
They were all committed Christians who were probably very much in prayer and in the study of God’s Word. All the guidance they received related directly to ministry matters.
Two Statements from Chad: It is really hard to know the game plan if you miss the team meetings. It is really hard to know the game plan if you don’t know the play book. And one that I add: It is really hard to know the game plan if you miss the one-on-one coaching sessions, e.g daily devotions.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2).
I believe God may guide us in where we should live, what kind of car we should buy, who we should marry but this guidance will only be clear to those who are much in the Word, much in prayer and live a life focused on Christ, His Word and His glory.
SO WHAT???
1. All who have experienced the new birth are “Christian Mystics.”
2. Total commitment to spiritual formation, living a life in the Word and in the Spirit is essential if we are to experience God’s guidance.
3. Although God’s will is not an inch-by-inch detailed blue print, God will guide us, especially in matters related to ministry as long as we are immersed in His Word and fellowship.
4. As “Christian Mystics” we can be assured that the Holy Spirit will give us guidance as we navigate life.