It's All About His Presence

“God's Presence” is the most fundamental issue in the Christian life, but it's often misunderstood. Since God is everywhere and holds together the very atoms of our being, how can it be implied that His presence has locality? Yet, the Bible commands us to “draw near to God” and to “be filled” with His Spirit, and informs us that God “inhabits” our praises. It's apparent, therefore, that some interpersonal dynamic can separate a believer from God.

Jesus stands outside the hearts of believers, pleading with great anguish and longing: “If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” This is an astounding offer for intimate fellowship with our Creator! However, many shy away because of shame, self rejection, fear or pride, not realizing that His presence is the solution to all problems. But, If we fail to respond to His overtures and exclude Him from our heart we risk hearing, “I never knew you, depart from me.” Every believer in Christ wants to escape hell, but many tragically ignore the intimacy required to secure their salvation.

The Western church tells you to repeat a prayer and invite Jesus into your heart and you will be saved. That's not scriptural. Without radical repentance and a life of unbiased love that only comes from walking with God, your soul is in great jeopardy. The Bible says true son-ship requires continual communion with the Holy Spirit. (Rom 8:14)

God's presence is not some principle or force explained by quantum physics to be exploited. An authentic heart to heart relationship with Him is the true physics of reality. He is a Person with exquisite emotions and deep longings for us individually. We were created to function in concert with the indwelling Holy Spirit, and love is the incentive. Anything else is perverse, and emotionally and intellectually empty.

All human relationships (God included) are based on communication, and are defined by their level of intimacy and truth. “And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater.” (Heb 7:7) This basic relational truth is the key to life. Drawing near to Jesus Christ (communication) automatically imparts the blessings of God. If your interaction with God is superficial and hypocritical, you are not in a relationship that can sustain and empower you.

Our created purpose as a dwelling place for God's presence is called a mystery, and marriage, the epitome of human relations best typifies it. (Eph 5:32) The plan is this: We come to God as a little child; then mature into sons and daughters, which evolves into friendship, and finally we are captivated by His love which consummates in the joy and intimacy of a bride. And like natural marriage it takes deliberate effort and self denial on our part to nurture the union.

Our fallen bodies came from the earth, but our human spirits were imparted directly from God, (Gen 2:7) and we crave to be rejoined to Him. “Deep calls unto to deep.” Either we respond and reunite with God (re-birth), or we disregard that deep intuition and suffer eternal separation. This re-union with God is not some static emotionless state. It's an intentional, passionate and persistent relationship. Jesus called it “abiding” and warned that refusal to abide in Him will lead to Hell. (Jn 15:6) Not because Jesus is offended at your indifference, but because an ongoing relationship with Him is the only way to secure your salvation.

But, if this progressive relationship with Jesus is so vital, how could the thief on the cross gain immediate entrance into heaven? It was possible because abiding with Christ in this life does not earn your salvation. It does, however, keep you from losing your salvation as you traverse this world of gross darkness and warfare. This may offend you, but the assurance of eternal security is not found in a doctrine. It's only found in the presence of the Holy Spirit. If you cease to abide in Him, that assurance evaporates. (Rom 11:22; Mt 7:21)

So, how do I know if I am actually abiding in Christ? How do I discern if my “religious” experience is God, my emotions or demonic? There is much confusion over this issue. One camp totally shuns emotionalism retreating into a void where personal revelation is diabolical and scripture is relegated to a lifeless icon. It is often quoted with great pomp that God has magnified His word above all else. (Ps 138:2) That is a great truth, but He hasn't elevated His word or name above His presence. His word and name represent Him, but they are not Him. The pharisees made an idol of God's word and therefore failed to recognize the Living Word as He stood in their very midst. No where are we told to worship the Bible. “For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.” (1 Cor 4:20) It's all about His presence.

Deception should definitely be taken seriously, but if you fear deception you have neutralized the faith required to discern truth. The idea that pure objectivity is required for Bible interpretation is naive and idealistic. You can't divorce your thoughts from your emotions. The Bible will confound your “objectivity” at every turn. Scripture is not for private interpretation, but there is an interpretation nevertheless, and it bears witness with your spirit. What you sense in the Spirit must agree with the Bible, and what you read in the Bible must agree with the Holy Spirit in you, which in turn impacts your feelings.

It is interesting that the only direct definition of the kingdom of God is “righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Rom 14:17) Notice, two-thirds of the kingdom of God is emotions! Peace and joy are feelings that are found only in the presence of the Holy Spirit. God's peace and joy are undeniably supernatural experiences that vanquish all negative emotions. Without joy you have no strength, and without peace you have no assurance. If you have righteousness, peace and joy nothing in this world can overcome you.

The emotion of God's joy is so powerful that literally “The joy of the Lord is your strength,” and is so transcendent that it's “unspeakable and full of glory.” It is so profound that Jesus endured the cross because of imminent supernatural joy. “In His presence is fullness of joy.” How vastly we undervalue the blessing and power of joy.

“My peace I give to you; not as the world gives.” The emotion of God's peace is the key to discerning His voice and avoiding deception. "God's peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:7) If our thoughts and emotions harmonize with scripture, they will be affirmed by supernatural peace. “The wisdom that is from above is. . . peaceable.” The hallmark of God's presence is peace, but the legacy of this world is its abysmal absence. Thankfully, “He himself is our peace.” (Eph 2:14)

Everything we need in life is found in God's presence. (2 pet 1:3) That is why Jesus made the astounding statement that “Without me you can do nothing.” Nothing of eternal value is possible apart from Him. “With men impossible, but not in the presence of God, for all things are possible in the presence of God.” (Mk 10:27 Wuest) Even the basic virtues of “faith and love . . . are in Christ Jesus.” (1 Tim 1:14) Faith and love are not found in carnal flesh, “For in the flesh dwells no good thing.” They are a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore according to the Bible, life, light, righteousness, wisdom, hope, healing, deliverance, counsel and intercession are found only in the presence of God.

But why is there such little manifestation of these qualities in our lives? If you are born-again God's presence is inside you, but it is obstructed by your flesh which is self-centered and cannot believe. Mercifully, God orchestrates a process within us to release the Holy Spirit. It is called brokenness. The only true platform for communion with God is “a broken and a contrite heart,” because any other heart is pretense. (Ps 51:17) Brokenness destroys the wall of pride that resists God. “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,” and His nearness transforms you.

The narrow path to God's presence is the cross. Not Jesus' cross, your cross. Jesus' cross gave us access to God, that's why He called himself “the Door.” But taking up your cross daily is how you enter through that door. Denying yourself and following Him releases His power into your soul. Drawing near to God requires drawing away from spiritual pollutants, and purifying your heart. To know the power of His resurrection, we must become “conformed to his death.” (Phil 3:10) The cross is humiliating, but only by humility can we experience the enabling power (grace) of God's presence. (Jas 4:6; 5:5)

Entering into God's presence requires deliberate alignment with the atmosphere of heaven through thanksgiving, praise and worship, regardless of your circumstances. This is not a cultural or personal preference. This is normal new testament Christianity. (Eph 5:19) If we do not intentionally and habitually submit our thoughts to the Holy Spirit, offering the sacrifice of praise and communication, (Heb 13:15-16) we will forfeit our destiny.

If you honestly seek God you will encounter the literal presence of Jesus Christ, and you will find faith, rest, joy, peace and grace to walk in righteousness. Because of the pervasive darkness and death of planet earth, it takes perseverance and endurance to apprehend God, but nothing this world offers even remotely compares!

Copyright 2009 by Hayden Humphrey

What's the Deal with Evil?

Why did God create a situation resulting in unimaginable, intolerable, eternal torment for the majority of humanity? (The accuracy of that statement will be addressed in a later post.)

That question, regardless of how you temper it, is the philosophical dilemma of the age, and it will become increasingly pressing as judgment unfolds. Every skeptic wants to know how a loving merciful God can allow evil, and why He apparently even negotiates with evil entities.

I will say this up front: The intellect alone cannot grasp the mystery of iniquity, any more than it can comprehend goodness or love. But, there is a resolution to the anguish in our hearts created by the knowledge of evil.

The apostle Paul spoke “the wisdom of God in a mystery.” Why a mystery? Was he deliberately concealing something? No. It's only a mystery to unenlightened reason. That's why he also said it was “by revelation He made known unto me the mystery.” The mention of supernatural revelation threatens Western thinking, which idolizes objectivity and fears emotions, unaware that both intellect and feelings are inherently corrupt and unreliable. The very destiny of your soul hangs on the realization that your natural mind cannot receive “the things of the Spirit of God . . . because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor 2:11-14)

God is not illogical. But our logic is limited by the scope of our vision, and if our vision doesn't include personal revelation of God, then our intellect will remain unsatisfied. Logic can lead us to God, but it cannot know Him. Intimate knowledge of God occurs in our human spirit not our brain, and such knowing eclipses mathematical deduction. Eternal truth is “not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” (1 Cor 2:13) Human logic cannot comprehend eternal truth, it can only process it by “comparing” information that is spiritually perceived.

Any Zen-like notion that we each define what is real, and that evil is illusory, is a mockery of humanity. Such nihilistic and existential thinking is not a higher level of logic, it's evasive, incongruous and anti-human. My experience of a tree may vary slightly from yours, but the tree does not change! Words are not meaningless and arbitrary, they represent a common experience. And evil is a common tangible experience that will not vanish because we refuse to acknowledge it.

The bible reminds us that the sum total of God's word is truth. (Ps 119:160) If our understanding doesn't include all scripture we risk being deceived. Many Christians don't want to hear anything that is negative, but probably half of the bible is negative. There are lots of disconcerting verses that we tend to avoid because they don't conform to our image of God. But you can only spin the Hebrew and Greek so far before you've violated God's word. The new testament is not a renovation of God's character, but rather it is a revelation of His answer to the problem of evil.

How then, does the new testament resolve such disturbing verses as these? “I form the light and I create darkness: I make peace, and create calamities: I the Lord do all these things.” (Isa 45:7) “I am He, and there is no god beside me; I kill, and I make alive, I wound, and I heal.” (Deut 32:39)

How can I trust a God who creates calamities, kills and allows multitudes to be eternally damned? “Surely God wouldn't allow good people to go to hell.” “Surely Jesus isn't the only way to heaven.” “Surely the path isn't that narrow!” “Surely God's wrath doesn't abide on every unbeliever.”

We must understand that such statements reveal self-ignorance. “Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! . . .You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who has resisted his will?” But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” (Rom 9) God turns the question back to us: “Who are you O man?” “You are blind and arrogant and have trivialized the wisdom, love, and majesty of almighty God!”

Asking such questions is not wrong. That's how we discover truth. But if I demand that God appease the thoughts of my wounded soul before I serve Him, then I have placed myself in the absurd and dangerous position of judging God. I can't even know my own heart, how can I possibly understand God's? (Jer 17:9) “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” (Prov 14:12)

Our bewilderment and anxiety over the question of evil is really aimed at God's character, and invites an excursion into His heart. But we often approach such a quest in the blind arrogance of human nature, creating God in our own marred image, which is idolatry.

The question of evil ultimately reduces to the question of free will. Why did God take the unfathomable risk of endowing men and angels with free moral will, allowing us to reject God and default to anti-God incarnate? I can only speculate about such sublime questions. But the bible confirms our common intuition that a morally perfect Being and evil are mutually exclusive. God may manipulate darkness and create adversity for redemptive reasons, but He cannot sin, nor did He create evil.

The reality is: If you must base your trust on what seems reasonable, then you simply don’t know Him. “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” . . . “For He satisfies the hungry soul with goodness. Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord.” What are “these things” we are to observe that open us to understanding God’s goodness? The context is a hungry seeking heart that cries out to God, praising and exalting Him. (see Ps 107) Such an exercise may seem unnatural and artificial, but it harmonizes and unifies our soul with eternal Truth, enabling us to hear and see the kingdom of God. For the Christian, praise and worship aligns us with the atmosphere of heaven. To avoid true praise and worship is to reject the environment of God’s presence where all answers exist. If you want answers you must open your heart and commune with Him who said “I am the truth.”

Not only is God defined as light, love and good, but He is also defined as “just,” (De 32:4; Ne 9:33) and “Justice and judgment are the foundation of His throne.” (Ps 89:14) In Hebrew justice means “to make right.” To make right or restore all things is an ultimate goal of God’s. The mystery of His will is to “gather together in one, all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are in earth, in Him.” (Eph 1:9-10) Apparently the restoration of all things cannot occur as long as there is an accumulation of unresolved sin in the universe. Justice demands a verdict and a consummation. In eternity things cannot be left undone, the universe needs to be “made right” through justice.

Divine justice manifests as this terrifying emotion called the wrath of God. There is no way to minimize the awful dread of God’s wrath. Paul testified: “knowing the terror of the Lord we persuade men.” Apparently Paul had insight into this aspect of God. But he had far more insight into that place of refuge where the wrath of God will never manifest - Jesus Christ. “Being justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” We can’t understand God’s wrath in terms of corrupt human emotions. Man’s wrath is listed as a work of the flesh, and it “works not the righteousness of God.” To the contrary, God’s wrath is an expression of His righteousness. His love and His anger are pure and holy, and incomparable to carnal human emotions.

In spite of perplexing questions about unrelenting evil and the staggering prospect of hell, there is a reality that is eternal, safe, secure and not defiled. It is only found in Jesus Christ. All the blessings of God are found only in Him. (Eph 1:3) Outside of Jesus Christ are only lies, perversion and death, and if I refuse Him I have every reason to be terrified! In spite of my philosophical problems, I have assurance of God’s goodness because I personally know Him. Remember, the most intelligent and powerful beings in the universe can only bow before God continually crying "Holy, Holy, Holy! (Rev 4:8) How vain is our carnal human reasoning before this unspeakably awesome loving God!

Job did not receive a single answer to his desperate questions, but after his encounter with God they were no longer relevant! After terrible pain and confusion, Job humbly admitted, “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too incomprehensible for me to know.” (Job 42:3) We must concede that any explanation of evil regardless of its accuracy, falls pathetically short of the whole truth, because explanations are nothing more than symbolic attempts to grasp the incomprehensible. There is a great gulf between beholding the Truth, and our feeble attempts to explain it. Explanations may clarify our intuitions, but it’s only by beholding Him that we can be deeply impacted and changed. (see 2 Cor 3:18) Now we know in part, but when we see Him face to face we will declare, "Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God almighty, Just and true are your ways." (Rev 15)

The Psalmist wrestled with questions about evil, but found no satisfaction . . . “Until I entered the sanctuary of God. Then I saw the whole picture.” (Ps 73:17) In the presence of God his philosophical questions about eternal judgment were perfectly satisfied. Where explanations leave you empty, revelation brings assurance and resolution. “A good understanding have all them that do His commandments.” (Ps 111:10) If we walk in the love of God that fulfills all commandments, we will have insight from the Holy Spirit who declares "I am understanding." (Prov 8:14)

The implications of evil and eternal judgment need not distract us. Remember, Jesus was the answer in space and time to all man’s questions about the Father. He is the Word. He is wisdom and understanding. Jesus is the “revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began.” Theology has no part in Him. Yes, doctrinal issues are important, but the purpose of sound doctrine is not to “be right.” The goal is love. “Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.” When we finally stand before God, our doctrine of evil will seem irrelevant. The fiery question will be, “How much did you love?” “And though I understand all mysteries . . .and have not love, I am nothing.”

Copyright 2009 by Hayden Humphrey

Is Jesus Really the Only Way to Heaven?

This question inevitably confronts all Truth seekers. The sacrificial death of an itinerant Jewish sage for the sins of humanity, mocks our logic and sense of propriety. The idea that heaven is accessible only to a believer in Jesus Christ seems outrageously unjust! How can this possibly be true?

Nevertheless, Jesus makes astounding unequaled claims that provoke a response. “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father but by me.” What a bazaar statement! It’s one thing to represent truth, but to declare that you literally are Absolute Truth, Life and the only Way is without precedent.

Yet the Bible actually says that Jesus is the only source of immortality (1 Tim 6:16) and his closest disciple declared that anyone not deliberately joined to Him is dead! (1 Jn 5:12) It is also written that, “there is only one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim 2:5) - not some spiritual entity revealed in successive incarnations, but the man, Jesus of Nazareth. The solitary man, of whom it is prophesied, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of the universe. (Phil 2:9-11) The bible is emphatic: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN given among men, by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

This exclusivity and transcendence radically contradicts all other philosophies and religions. The seeker’s holy grail, that elusive common thread of truth, is totally unraveled by Jesus. Even His enemies marveled, “Never a man spake like this man.” His inflammatory pronouncements leave no middle ground. Either Jesus was God incarnate, the only Saviour of mankind, or the most diabolical of geniuses.

The Bible depicts Jesus Christ as infinitely more than teacher, prophet, or even Saviour. “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible . . . and by him all things consist.” (Col 1:16-17, See Jn 1:3-4) It is also said that Christ is the only source of love and faith.(1 Tim 1:14) He is the alpha and the omega, the I AM who sustains the universe, and He is life itself. If you reject Him, by default you have embraced death.

But what about the Bible? Can that ancient written testimony be trusted? Absolutely, but there’s a problem. The Bible is a veiled book expressing a supernatural reality. It requires insight beyond natural sensual logic. True understanding is a state of the heart, not an achievement of the mind.

When Peter realized who Jesus was, Jesus responded, “Flesh and blood has not revealed this unto you, but my Father who is in heaven.” And Paul declared, “No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Cor 12:3) The entire Bible is a revelation of Jesus Christ, but if you haven’t personally met Him the bible will frustrate you. Apart from a conscious encounter with the Bible's Author, my theology is merely theory. When I become literally joined to the Spirit of Truth, I am one with Absolute Truth, because,“He that is joined unto the Lord IS ONE spirit.” (I Cor 6:17) This oneness offers unassailable insight, perfectly illuminating and validating scripture.

Jesus revealed the key to bible interpretation when he challenged the religious leaders to “Search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” Because those leaders were addicted of the letter of the law they were blind to the spirit of the law, and failed to recognize the Living Word as he stood in their very midst! Sadly, much of the church is blinded by this same legalistic mindset, limiting Jesus Christ to a deficient human concept.

Furthermore, hollow attempts to undermine the Bible’s veracity and historical integrity contradict centuries of sound scholarship, and the testimonies of millions from every culture, who have personally met the resurrected Jesus through mystical encounters, dreams and visions.

But, our heart protests, “What about the masses who have never had such spiritual experiences, or who have never heard the gospel?” The Bible makes this intriguing statement: “Peter...said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that fears Him, and works righteousness is accepted with Him.” (Acts 10:34-35) Is this a contradiction? Jesus said that we’re condemned if we don’t believe specifically in Him. (Jn 3:18-19,36; 8:24) Yet, here it seems to imply that anyone who simply does “good” is accepted by God regardless of belief.

A closer look at the passage, however, reveals that “accepted” is not referring to personal salvation. This verse is an announcement that salvation is no longer exclusively Jewish . . .“ But in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.” NASB Now, all humanity has access to the Messiah. The context of this verse is the gentile Cornelius, who was “a devout man, and one that feared God...gave much alms..and prayed to God always,” but it’s vital to understand that his distinguished piety and devotion could not save him. It did, however, predisposed him to receive the revelation of the gospel.

Without humility and the fear of God you cannot grasp Truth. Jesus explained it this way: “Every man. . .that has heard, and has learned of the Father, comes unto Me.” (Jn 6:45) There are people in every nation, like Cornelius who have “heard and learned of the Father” and when told about Jesus Christ they readily embrace Him.

Yet, what about those multitudes who like Cornelius, have “heard and learned of the Father,” devoted themselves to Him, yet have never heard the gospel? The bible doesn’t offer immunity to a “good” person who has never heard the gospel. The bible is painfully clear. There are no inherently “good” people. Only God is good. (Mt 19:17) Our most noble acts are tainted with vanity and deception, and our pathetic gestures of self-righteousness are as “filthy rags” in God’s sight. (Isa 64:6)

Regardless of Cornelius' exemplary behavior, he was still polluted by sin. Imitating true righteousness is not humanly possible. It must be supernaturally imparted, and it's required for entrance into heaven's holy atmosphere.

The moral bankruptcy of every human is a basic scriptural premise. Jesus was adamant, “Except a man be born again” he can neither “see” nor “enter into the kingdom of God.” He used the imperative “must” only two times as a universal mandate. All must be born of the Spirit and all must worship in spirit and truth. No one, of accountable awareness, can enter heaven without a miraculous spiritual re-birth. There are no exceptions. Even Old Testament believers had to hear the gospel and receive it prior to entering heaven.(I Pet 3:19, 4:6) As offensive as it may sound, the conclusion is inescapable: “. . .If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” This is not some fanciful arbitrary rule to test humans. It’s simply the mechanics of creation.

The entire universe is a manifestation of the spoken thoughts of God. His thoughts are the essence of creation, and we, His created image, are defined by our thoughts. As a man “...thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Prov 23:7) We were designed to live by receiving and processing God's thoughts. (Rom 8:14) That's what believing is! And that's why believing is a matter of life or death. Repentance is to change one's thoughts. When our thoughts harmonize with Jesus Christ who is Life, then and only then, do we possess Life.

This is not some theological exercise. The stakes are unimaginably high! How desperate are you? Seek God with brutal honesty and you will find Him. Nothing else matters!

Copyright 2009 by Hayden Humphrey