Category Archives: Belong Believe Become

Giving Thanks

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.  (1 Thess 5.16-18)

“You expect me to do what?!”  My friend seemed incredulous.  She was deeply upset.  We were discussing her distress and she was seeking my guidance.  My suggestion confused her and, I gathered from her demeanour, angered her.

“How could you expect me to praise God for this?”

She had been expressing the lingering pain from a relationship breakdown and I was attempting to help her break the cycle of bitterness that was evident in her language – although she was unaware of this evidence.  My suggestion was that she simply begin thanking God for his goodness every time she experienced a painful memory.

This is a practice I have been attempting to form into a habit in my own life.

Many years ago, I wise friend guided me through the reasons for being intentional in giving thanks to God in all circumstances.  I had experienced a deep hurt which had impacted every area of my life.  The pain and confusion would regularly return and, it felt, I would never really ‘get over’ it.  One of the significant healing moments was when a friend asked me, “Is God only worthy of your thanks when things are going well?”  

His question made me realise that when I focused on my own hurt, I did not relate with God very well. In fact, I usually forgot he was with me.  When I felt the pain of the memories, I became self-absorbed.  I would often repeat the conversations and each replay provided further reasons to feel justified in my hurt which increased my anger, which led, I’m sorry to admit, to a growing bitterness.  My friend’s question forced me to realise that not only was I behaving very selfishly, but I was also ignoring God at a time I needed him the most.

Since that realisation, I have attempted to practice the three instructions Paul gives the Thessalonian Church:  Rejoice, Pray and Give Thanks.  These three practices, taken as a group, are a wonderful way, I have found, to break through the walls of bitterness and dismantle the infrastructure of self-reliance.   

Rejoice always.  I have much to celebrate.  Even if life throughs me a curve ball or I come up against an unforeseen obstacle, there is great freedom in remembering that all things will work out for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose (Rom 8:28).  And, the act of rejoicing, even in difficult times, is quite different from optimism.  While optimism may be broader trait, or tendency of personality, rejoicing is a decision, an intentional act.

Pray without ceasing.  I will not pretend to have grasped this but the writings of Desert Fathers, and contemporary mystics have created in me a thirst for a life of prayer.  Daily habits of scriptural meditation, scripture memory and trigger prayers are helping form within me an ongoing awareness of God and interaction with Holy Spirit.  The more I am able to consciously work toward this unconscious consistency, the less I find myself able to indulge in the harmful negativities of life.

Give thanks in all circumstances.  To grasp the import of Paul’s instruction more fully, it is essential that we move beyond merely having an attitude of thankfulness.  Having an ‘attitude of gratitude’ may be helpful baseline, but I believe we must learn the discipline of actually giving thanks – of verbally expressing thanks – in all circumstances.  

This is where I felt the challenge from my friend all those years ago.  It is easy to thank God for a situation that has worked out well, a particular blessing, or a joyful experience.  But it is not so easy to give thanks to God in a difficult situation.  Even though I would say he is always good, when I’m in a difficult situation it can be hard to stop and remind myself to give him thanks.  But doing so, gives him honour, helps me keep my eyes off my circumstances and helps me realise that the entirety of my life is bigger than what I feel in this singular moment.

The fact that we are in a singular moment in time leads to possibly the most important principle to the act of thanking God in all circumstances.  Regardless of how long it may feel, the time we spend in a struggle, a painful experience or a loss is a relatively short period of life.  I am learning how beautiful it is to give God my thanks and praise when I’m in the middle of difficulties.  My intentional choice to verbally thank God for his goodness while I’m hurting, confused or struggling is a gift I will never be able to give God once these emotions pass.  Once the moment passes, I will be able to thank God that he was there while I was in the challenge.  But when I’m in the challenge, struggling to find a way through the fog of confusion or wrestling with gut-wrenching disappointment, my ‘sacrifice’ of thanks expresses my thanks for his goodness with a genuine authenticity and humility that I’ll never be able to recreate.  I want to become a man who can honour God with the glory he is due, regardless of how I may feel in challenging circumstances of life.

 “I’m doing much better.  I feel a new freedom and my relationship with the Lord is more real.”  It had been several months since I’d seen her, and she looked like a different woman.   “I’ve been trying to give thanks in all circumstances, and it is changing my perspective.”   

She, too, is learning the blessing of rejoicing always, praying consistently and giving thanks in all circumstances.      

Sean Copeland, September 2023

Experience & Becoming

In my job I do a lot of driving.  I may be visiting customers or trying to gain new ones, but I will often drive to locations I’ve never been.  In recent years I’ve become a fan of Google Maps.  Not only does it give good directions (apart from mispronouncing Irish names & locations!) but the ability to switch to street view is real benefit. Being able to ‘see’ the geography around the customer’s location makes the last few minutes of a journey much easier.  Seeing a photograph of the entrance to the building before I arrive helps me know what to look for which saves time and potential hassle.

But, no matter how beneficial a photograph may be, I would be foolish to presume I know all there is to know about the geography around the location.  For starters, the photo may be several years old and the environs may have changed.  Even if it hadn’t changed, there are any number of things which could make my experience different from the perceptions I made from a photograph.

Just because I ‘see’ something doesn’t mean I understand all there is to understand about it.  Even if I know the destination from photos, maps or descriptions of others, I won’t actually ‘know’ it until I’ve experienced it for myself.

This principle is applicable to so much of life and it is especially true of our relationship with God.  Just because someone shows us a picture, or tells us a story, about God does not mean we have a full, complete, understanding of who God is.

One of the biggest challenges for Christians today is the access we have to content about God.  It is possible that we could be the most biblically educated generation in history.  That may be an overstatement but the prevalence of teachings, books, devotionals, variety of translations, on-line videos and smart phone apps means we can be exposed to as much biblical material as we desire.

Yet, I still wonder, how much do we truly know of God from our own, personal experience of Him?  How deep have we gone with him in the privacy of our own prayer closet?   How intimately do we know Holy Spirit’s voice?  How responsive are we to follow, simply because we recognise it is Him speaking?

I don’t want to be someone whose history with God is based on the stories told by someone else.  I don’t want my experience of Him to be reliant on a ‘photograph’ of a destination taking by someone else.  Nor do I want the extent of my experience in Him to be curtailed by the limits of others.  I have never been one to settle for the status-quo and I refuse to accept mediocrity in my journey with Jesus.

I will pursue His Word and the life-giving promises He’s given.  I will seek to believe, to learn and to understand all He has spoken so I can live worthy of the calling I’ve received.  I will seek the presence of His Kingdom that I might know the whole measure of His fullness within me.  I will pursue the growth of my faith through the declaration and demonstration of His love, power and wisdom.  Where my faith is lacking or my understanding falls short I will fall on the grace and mercy of the One Whom I believe.

I extend an invitation to all who share similar desires.  Let’s explore the possibilities of faith together.  Let’s ask Holy Spirit to stir up a hunger and passion for more of Him.  Let’s commit to encourage and support one another in this journey toward transformation. And let us know the One we believe so we can become all He desires us to be.

 

 

Exploring IN Christ

When I was about 8 years old my family moved house.  Along with a bigger garden the house had a full basement.  I remember the day I discovered the ‘secret room’ in the basement.  Looking back now, I don’t remember how long we’d been in the house before I discovered the secret room, but it must have been a number of months.  I remember the surprise at realising this room had always been there, I just hadn’t seen it.  There were two mains areas of the basement.  In one my parents had installed the washing machine & dryer so it was called the ‘utility room’.  Off this room was a door that led to the ‘furnace room’ where the air conditioning and water heater were kept.  This room was off-limits to us kids.

But one day, I explored.  To my surprise, on the other side of the furnace was another door.  I knew I shouldn’t be there but I couldn’t resist.  I opened the door to see a labyrinth of my grandfather’s word-working tools.  It almost a Narnia-type entrance into another world.  This is where my granddad would disappear for hours at a time.  This is the place those shelves were made, doors were repaired and picture frames were crafted.  I loved the smell of the timber, the feel of the natural materials and the concept that this is where an idea could be fashioned into reality.  This became a new hide-away for me.  My granddad knew I was exploring his ‘workshop’ but he never let on that he knew.

The discovery of this room has similarities with our current discussion of the presence and purpose of Holy Spirit.  I’ve always known He’s in me, with me and guiding me.  But, the wording of many Scriptures is leading me more deeply into rooms of the house that are yet undiscovered.

“In Christ all the fullness of God lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ” (Col 2.9f)

 “All things are yours… and you are of Christ and Christ is of God.” (1 Cor 3.22)

“When he has put everything under his feet…then the Son himself will be made subject to him [God] who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.” (1 Cor 15.28)

“…that you may be filled to the whole measure of the fullness of God.”  (Eph 3.19)

 

These statements from Paul are reminders of Jesus’ declaration in his prayer before he was crucified:

“… just as you are in me and I am in you; may they also be in us… I have given them the glory you gave me that they may be one as we are one…” (Jn 17.21-24)

There is much to discover in these verses.  Let us not be constrained by false boundaries that restrict us exploring the depth and meaning of what it means to be ‘IN Christ’ or what it means for Christ to be IN us.   Let us not fall into the temptation of resting in what is theologically familiar.  Rather, let us embrace the desire to explore the fullness of God’s promises.  Let’s unite our hearts in faith and spur one another on to pursue the depths of what it means to live IN the fullness of God.

 

Foreshadows IN Christ

The Old Testament story of God’s people wandering around the wilderness provides many lessons for us today.  There are many aspects to our relationship with God that have a foreshadow in the Old Testament.  Scholars use the term foreshadow to describe an event or situation that finds its fulfilment in the life and ministry of Jesus.  One such significant foreshadow is the fact that God dwelt among the people – He dwelt with them.

In God’s earliest interactions with Abraham, Isaac & Jacob He revealed Himself TO them.  Each time He spoke to them, He revealed a little more of His nature and character.  But, it was always at a distance.  Even His conversations with Abraham were at intervals of several years.

When Moses first encountered God, he had to ask, “Who are you?”.   Through the confrontations with Pharaoh Moses learned to trust God.  So much trust was gained that when God gave Moses the job of leading the people out of Egypt, Moses said, “Not unless you go with us.”

God honoured that request.  Not only did He go with the people, he gave instructions for a special tent which would be a dedicated space for God to dwell among the people.  It became known as the Tent of Meeting.

Our familiarity with the story could result in our overlooking the significance of God dwelling with the people – but, that would be to our detriment.  God chose to, somehow, locate Himself among the people.  In so doing He was there to guide their movements, give instruction, provide for their needs and initiate relationship.  God dwelt WITH the people.  This was a foreshadow of what God intended to reveal through the person of Jesus.

Jesus was God in the flesh (Jn 1.14).  He came to perfectly and completely reveal the Father’s nature, character and desires (Hb 1.3).  Jesus lived with the people, he grew up in a family, he was one of them – yet He was without sin (Hb 4.15).  In Jesus, God revealed Himself WITH the people.

So, with the Patriarchs, God revealed Himself TO people. But through Jesus, He revealed Himself WITH people.

The implications of the foreshadowing go even deeper.  God did not intend to only reveal Himself WITH people – His intention was to reveal Himself IN people.  His intention was that the Tent of Meeting would be a representation of His interaction within the spirit of each of His children.  His intention was to always be available to guide our movements, to instruct us in life’s decisions, to provide for our every need and to maintain intimate relationship.

From the release of His presence on the day of Pentecost, Holy Spirit has been available to enter the spirit of every believer and reveal Himself IN us.  This presence of Holy Spirit is the deposit which guarantees our inheritance; the seed which brings to life all things spoken by the Father and provision for our access to the fullness of God.

God is revealing Himself IN the believer.

 

Basic Principles of the World

The Greek word for Believer comes from the same word which means ‘faith’ or ‘trust’ and is translated largely based on its context.  The term ‘believer’ is only used a handful of times in the New Testament, but its use to describe a follower of Jesus has become quite common.

I like this word.  Believer.  It carries the definition of who we are as Christians.  We believe therefore we are believers.  Belief, trust and faith are the fundamental building blocks of our DNA.  This is why I find it so important to revisit belief.

Sometimes, we can lose the confidence of our belief.  Sometimes, our hearts become crowded with the day-to-day which can lead to a dilution of our relationship with Holy Spirit.  And, unfortunately, we can sometimes allow our thinking to be influenced by those who are not believers – even though we may not be aware of this happening.  As a result, we can become lulled into thought patterns and systems of belief that are not Christian.

Paul reminds us of the importance of protecting our hearts.  “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy that depends on human tradition and the basic principles of the world, rather than on Christ” (Col 2.8).

I am reminded of an old tree which has become hollowed. 

On the outside it is tall with a lot of limbs, branches and budding leaves.  It gives the impression of a sturdy tree with internal substance and strength.  But, a large gap is at its base and one can see straight through the tree.    Hollow and deceptive.  The deception is in the assumption the tree is strong, substantial and robust.  The reality is the inside is hollow – weak, of little substance and fragile.   Just like many of the philosophies that shape the culture in which we live.

For example, there is a world-view that demands open-mindedness – yet insists on silencing those who differ.  There is a pervading push toward inclusivity – but it labels those who disagree as having a phobia or being hateful.  There is an increasingly common world-view that says there is no such thing as ‘wrong’ – just don’t do wrong to me.

These, and many other philosophies, are based on purely human ways of thinking.  While there may be an appearance of wisdom or even an element of truth within the initial premise, the conclusions are inconsistent and the implications are unsustainable.  Most of these philosophies are based on human ways of thinking or on the basic principles of this world.  As such, the popular views of culture fall far short of the principles of heaven.  Yet, the believer can be influenced by the current trends of thought.

However, as we’ve been reading in Colossians, the Believer is in Christ.  We have been rescued from the dominion of darkness (Col 1.13) where we were once alienated but have now been reconciled (Col 1.21-22).  Jesus is the supreme authority and he is ‘in’ every Believer (Col 1.27).  As such, we have access to fullness of God in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority (Col 2.10).  Through this relationship with Jesus we have died to the basic principles of this world (Col 2.20) and they no longer have mastery over us.

 

 

Belief in the Fullness

I became a Christian in my teenage years.  I won’t tell you my age… but I now have teenagers of my own.  Even after all this time of being a ‘Believer’ there are a lot of things in the Bible that I find hard to believe.  It’s not that I have an active unbelief toward these things.  It’s more that I am simply unable to comprehend their magnitude.  As a result, they aren’t included among the first things when I describe things I believe.

Take, for instance, this statement from the Apostle Paul:  “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ…” (Colossians 2.9-10; NIV)

Even though my heart burns within me as I read this statement, the implication remains somewhat of a mystery.  It just sounds so BIG.   So unimaginable.   So unbelievable.

I am comfortable with – and even believe – the theological concept that God Himself dwells within Christ.  Hebrews 1.3 tells us that Jesus is the perfect representation of the Father.  And, in many other places, the Bible tells us that Jesus and the Father are One (see Jn 14.10).  Though I may find it difficult to explain, I have a reference point for this.

But, how could it be possible that I have fullness in Christ if, at the same time, God is fully manifesting Himself in Christ?  It feels a bit incongruous.  He’s perfectly pure and I’m…. not.  Some days when I read this scripture I find myself wanting to buy into it wholeheartedly.  But, other times, I sit uncomfortably on a train of thought that leads me to doubt.

Is this tension and lack of clarity a sign of unbelief?   I don’t think so.  Quite the opposite.  Using the analogy of the fence (see posts), I think I’m discovering a fence I didn’t realise was there.  Or, maybe more likely, I’m coming up on what I thought was a boundary only to discover it is an entry-point into a new horizon of faith.

The clue that gave it away was the fact that my heart continues to burn when I read and consider this passage.  That tells me Holy Spirit is highlighting a truth – even if it is hidden.    I have often held onto the truth that God has chosen to make known the mystery of Christ in us (Col 1.27).  But recently Holy Spirit has been highlighting that in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2.3).  My heart has been lit aflame with this idea and I have been seeking these treasures with zeal.  So, I will continue pursuing the hidden treasure of what it means for me to have been given fullness in Christ.

I cannot yet articulate all I’m sensing.  Nor do I know the extent of what lies on the other side of the fence I’m dismantling, but I’m praying that I will have sufficient courage to explore the fullness of these new realms.

Boundaries of Belief

The house I lived in as a small child was on the corner of two roads.  The house was set in from the smaller road so it meant our back garden (back yard) bordered each road up to the intersection.  A fence created the necessary safety for my siblings and I to play freely in the garden.  I was very young and I don’t remember being tempted to venture beyond the fence.  But I have clear memories of my mother sternly warning us not to go outside the fence.

Fences provide a boundary.  Sometimes they keep things in.  Sometimes they keep things out.  Fences can be used to keep people, pets and property safe.  They give an indication of a property line or even a geo-political border.  Whatever way it is used, a fence is a visible, physical manifestation of an invisible line; a demarcation between two realms.  The extent to which one is allowed travel.  The limit beyond which one is unable to go.

Sometimes we create boundaries where none were intended.  More often we assume a boundary exists because someone, somewhere, implied that it does.

When I was a teenager, I remember being told that God no longer works miracles; that all miracles stopped after the time of the Apostles.  Even though this didn’t make sense to me I allowed that thought to become a fence that cut through the middle of my spiritual prairie.  I’ll never forget the season when I dismantled that fence after experiencing God’s healing power.

Similarly, I grew up in a tradition which did not practice prophecy or pursue the voice of God for practical, relevant life direction.  This, too, became a fence which corralled my yearning for the tangible presence and voice of God.  Again, it was a joyous endeavour uprooting those fence-posts after learning to hear the voice of Holy Spirit.

Those are examples of substantial life-changing lessons.  But if it was possible to have such large fences in my life for many years, is it possible that I may still have fences of which I’m not fully aware?

Recently I find myself asking, what are the small fences that still limit me from experiencing the fullness of all God has for me?  What are the beliefs that limit my relationship with the Father?  Do I have beliefs that undermine the One Whom I Believe?  Are there incorrect or miss-placed boundaries on my beliefs?

He Gave the Right (pt 2)

I am an American.  I was born in the USA.  Graduated high school in the late 80’s and finished college and seminary in the early 90s.  Having lived in Ireland for 23 years, I’m married to a wonderful Irish woman and have 4 kids who find it amusing to be ‘half’ American.  A number of years ago I was granted Irish citizenship.  The exchange of citizenship was made official when I received my Irish passport.  But the benefits of citizenship would mean very little to me if I do not exercise the rights of citizenship.  When a right is bestowed on us, it is something we must embrace and choose to exercise.

“To all who receive him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”

Understood in this way, it is interesting to note that the Greek word for ‘right’ is actually ‘exousia’.  This Greek word is translated as ‘authority’ in other passages.  For instance, when Jesus sent the Twelve to preach and heal the Bible says he gave them power (dunamis) and authority (exousia).  This wider context of the use of exousia sheds deeper meaning on the ‘right’ God extends to enable us to become His children.  Specifically, in the same way authority must be exercised to bring God’s truth into a situation, the rights of family must be exercised to experience the relationship of a child with a Father.

As we’ve seen (see post), the act of receiving Him is an integral component to becoming His child.  Believing in His name is the other crucial component.  We can only ‘receive’ the One in whom we believe.  Through being ‘receptive’ to believe, we are able to put our trust in Him.  And through trust we learn to exercise our right (authority) to BE a child of God.

Exercising the rights of a child more easily flow from a place of belief – where love, faith and trust are deeply rooted.  A child learns trust from infancy.  Since we are children of the perfect parent, we have the opportunity to learn to trust Him from the moment we receive and believe.  It is through love we obey Him.  The more we obey, the more we learn trust.  As we learn to trust him, we develop our understanding.  As we become more understanding of Who He is, we grow in wisdom (see post) and become more like our Father (see Col 2.3).

“To all who receive him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”

 

 

He Gave the Right (pt 1)

When we talk about God or church in intimate, family terms it can sometimes be a little uncomfortable for people.  But, when discussing those who believe, the imagery and language of family is used throughout scripture.  The family of believers.  God as Father.  God as Daddy (see post).  The believer as a child of God.  Believers as brothers and sisters.  One verse that clearly articulates the reality of the believer as a child of God is John 1.12.

“To all who receive him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”

The clarity of this statement carries significant meaning and promise.  It states that being a child of God is available to anyone – to all who receive him.  But, it also indicates that becoming a child of God requires a response from us.  He has cleared the way.  He has made it possible.  The invitation is open to all.  But in order for someone to become a child of God, they must first come to a place where the heart is open to receive and then ready to believe.

“To all who receive him, to those who believe in his name…

There are steps in the process toward belief.  Rarely do we simply arrive at belief.  The path toward belief is a journey.  Some people may traverse the path quickly.  Others seem to explore the path more cautiously; and some examine the path judicially.  But along the journey to belief, we go through the process of receiving him (see post).  In order to receive Him, we must first be receptive.  Open and willing to receive.  Then, once we’ve opened ourselves to receive Him, the path toward belief is made clearer.  Our hearts cannot be open to believe Him if they are not yet open to receive Him.

Believing and receiving introduces a Right. 

Then, once someone has arrived at belief, God extends to them the right to become a His child.  The RIGHT.  The idea of us having a Right to become His child adds a layer to what I’ve previously understood about how God brings us into His family.  Namely, that being identified as His child was an automatic part of believing & receiving.  The act of Justification (Jesus’ righteousness conferred on us) is a theological principal that defines a supernatural, spiritual reality.  We were crucified with Christ (Gal 2.20); re-born by the Spirit (Jn 3.5-6) so he old has gone, the new has come (2 Cor 5.17).  Becoming a child of God occurs within this new exchange.

Yet, this idea of us having a RIGHT to become children of God introduces another dimension.  At one level becoming a child is a spiritual reality that occurs as part of a miraculous supernatural process.  On another level, becoming a child is a right we must choose to exercise.