Inspirational Bible Verses
Wednesday, 27 August 2008.

January News

Welcome to the latest offering from the Exousia Press. We continue by returning to a series of meditations on a variety of practical topics in the weblog. This month, I'm working on an occasional series based on John's Gospel.

Future Developments

The next three months will finally bring about some of the changes I have been working on behind the scenes. At times, progress has been painfully slow, but I'm continuing the work on a number of different fronts, and am beginning to see progress.
I'm now planning to make some Biblical meditation and study resources available from this website in the spring. I'm thinking that worksheets in .pdf format would be easiest to handle. Another possibility would be to add a few meditation podcasts here - even if just thematic collections of positive Biblical confessions - if you're interested, drop me a line via the weblog.

An Inspirational Bible Verse for January

Acts ch.1 v.8 contains an important promise with a purpose to it. Jesus has a gift for His disciples: power! But not just any old inspiration - this power will transform them into courageous partners with Him in the important task of sharing the good news of His resurrection; first with their neighbours, ultimately to the ends of the earth.

The nature of what they experience convinces them that this is something He has promised for all - see Acts ch.2 v.39 - not merely a special, selected few or to people of a mysterious golden age; for everyone. This includes you and me.

This promise of supernatural power is valid for us today. All we need to do is experience His Holy Spirit filling, cleansing, renewing and transforming us - now. But there is a price. With the promised gift comes a renewal of purpose, a change of direction. We are empowered to serve the Knig of kings; not to remain in idleness.

An Inspirational Bible Verse for August

In Matthew ch.28 v.20, Jesus promises His disciples that He will be with them - even to the end of the Age. We too count ourselves as disciples, therefore the same promise of His presence is one that we can rely on.

In practical terms, it is through the presence of His Holy Spirit working through each of us, making us more like Him that this promise is fulfilled on a daily basis for us.

However, the implications of this promise are far-reaching:

Firstly, we have an automatic right of access into God's presence at any time. We do not need to wait for specific holy days or rely on intermediaries. The honour is ours.

Secondly, we have a helper, constantly by our side. There is therefore an answer to any fear we feel rising up. It can be dealt with swiftly, because Jesus is bigger than any problem we could ever face.

An Inspirational Bible Verse for March

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not upon your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. Proverbs ch.3 v.5-6

There's an awful lot to unpack here. The first keyword here is trust - the basis of a relationship of faith.

Secondly, the degree of trust is to be absolute. Partial trust has a limit - beyond which we reveal the depth of our unbelief. A partial trust lmits our concept of the faithfulness and infinite power of an all-loving God.

This is where the contrast lies - the point that the writer is trying to make us understand. We're not called to be mindless zombies denying reality in a vain attempt to force the universe to be a nicer place. But when we're in a position where we have a clear choice between relying on our limited view of a difficult situation, or trusting in the benevolence of a faithful God to reveal His will to us, the spiritual response will be the practical way forward.

An Inspirational Bible Verse for February

Hebrews ch.4 v.12-13 this isn't an isolated reference to the word of God, a new and startling teaching. Instead it's a theme that runs right through both the Old and New Testaments.

I shall probably list some of the more familiar passages over the next few months in the weblog.

An Inspirational Bible Verse for January

Zechariah ch.4 v.10 - an old missionary friend once told me. "You know when there aren't many people in a church meeting. You could be blind, and still not miss the hint. It's when a deacon stands up and prays 'Whenever two or three are gathered in my name...' at that point you don't need to look round to see the empty seats behind you!" Zechariah ch.4 v.10 is like that. We all like to quote verse 6. 'Not by might, nor by power but by my Spirit' says the Lord - it's comforting because it relieves us of responsibility.
 
But verse 10 is even better. We don't need to organise something big and impressive. If our big plans come to nothing, we can just smile and relax and say to eachother, "Well, as the Good Book says - do not despise the day of small beginnings..."
 
Behind all the game-playing here I have two important points to make. The angel speaking to Zechariah is not giving us a couple of monumental cop-out verses here. He is laying down two essential principles that we dare not forget.
 
First of all - as His work is conducted through the power and person of His Holy Spirit, we have a holy obligation to develop our relationship with Him in order to be able to work alongside Him. To do otherwise is to risk the probability that He will work despite us and in opposition to us in order to achieve His purpose.
 
Secondly - small beginnings do not stay small. There is a natural progression. We're reminded of this clearly through the incarnation. The Creator of the Universe Himself dwells amongst us, taking on human form in order to redeem us. But He does this by entering our world as a baby who grows into manhood.
 
Abraham was just one man when God confronted him with a vision of what He could do, starting with a small beginning, ending with a family of faith whose members would be so numerous, they could not be easily counted. A small beginning leads to a glorious end. But, as Abraham discovered, there are noshort-cuts.
 
From a small beginning, there is organic growth - not mere enlargement through being forced out of its correct time and season. But that growth will amaze and startle those who did not think it possible, and bring joy to those who know that the Lord who inspired the Bible will be faithful in seeing His word fulfilled in the ay He promised.