March 13, 2012
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"Happy are they who can say..." ~ J.C. Philpot | Letter 139 on assurance & fighting for joy
In Ephesians 1, the apostle Paul writes:
15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.Paul has heard of the faith of the Ephesians, and he's thankful to God, and he's certainly rejoicing in their salvation. However, Paul isn't sitting content in knowing these saints at Ephesus are saved from eternal condemnation and have become children of God.
Of course, because they're saved, the Ephesian Christians have already been enlightened through the work of the Holy Spirit; they've had their minds opened to the light of the glory of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 4:1-6). However, above and beyond all that, Paul is now praying for these believers to be further enlightened. He has a great concern about the quality of their daily life since they've become Christians – and that ought to be the concern of all those who are entrusted with shepherding the flock of God. Paul has a holy and jealous zeal for their souls – he is passionate that they would come to know the blessings and riches and power which God has made available to all His children. Do you have such a desire for your own soul? Do you have such a desire for the souls of other believers? When was the last time you prayed such a prayer? Have you ever prayed such a prayer for yourself or for another? How does the content of your prayers compare with that of Paul's prayer here?
And notice there in verse 19 how Paul phrases it: what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe... Toward us who believe! In other words, and contrary to what we may be tempted to think, this deeper knowledge of our inheritance isn't just for a few like Paul, but it's for all the saints – all who have come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit enjoys taking the deep things of God and revealing them to the children of God! Why? Because He loves to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ!
John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.Paul is praying that the Ephesians would come to know the blessedness of the glorious inheritance God has given them, so they would truly know what is the hope they've been called to (v. 18). He doesn't want them stuck in an all-but-faithless monologue like this (and I don't want you stuck in this either):
"I hope God loves me. I hope God is working all things for my good. I mean I'm pretty sure He is. I know the Bible tells me these things, and I know I ought to believe them, but honestly, I'm not really sure at this point. My hope is pretty faint, well – it's pretty much slim-to none right now. I know a lot of these truths in my head, but I don't have any real assurance of these Biblical truths in my heart."In other words, Paul's desire is that these believers enter into a greater knowledge of God in Christ, for it is through such experiential knowledge they will begin to enjoy strong encouragement/consolation (Heb. 6:18) and full assurance of faith (Col. 2:2; Heb. 6:11 & 10:22), and, as a result, be empowered to live above debilitating and paralyzing guilt, fear, doubt and despair.
I'm more than convinced that Joseph Charles Philpot's experience described below is an answer to Paul's prayer:
Although, as will have been seen, my father [J.C. Philpot] attached supreme importance to a knowledge of Christ 'in the light and by the power of His blessed manifestations', he was himself, unlike William Tiptaft [a fellow minister who was one of Philpot's best friends] extremely reticent in recording his own experience, and the following is the only explicit account I have been able to trace. One morning in November 1844, after he had been confined to bed for three weeks, he was thus blessed. 'I saw nothing', he writes, 'by the bodily eye, but it was as if I could see the blessed Lord by the eye of faith just over the foot of my bed; and I saw in the vision of faith three things in Him which filled me with admiration and adoration. 1, His eternal Godhead; 2, His pure and holy Manhood, and 3, His glorious Person as God-Man. What I felt at the sight I leave those to judge who have ever had a view by faith of the Lord of life and glory, and they will know best what holy desires and tender love flowed forth, and how I begged of Him to come and take full possession of my heart. It did not last very long, but it left a blessed influence upon my soul; and if ever I felt that sweet spirituality of mind which is life and peace, it was as the fruit of that view by faith of the glorious Person of Christ, and as the effect of that manifestation. Happy are they who can say by a sweet revelation of Him to their soul, "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true; and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life" (I John 5:20).' ¹I hope you noticed when God brought this wonderful blessing to Philpot – after he had been confined to bed for three weeks – a humbling reminder to us how God may use those very circumstances at which we balk and we often question – our afflictions, our sufferings and our broken hearts – all for the good of our souls ~ Romans 8:28!
If you are Christ's, my prayer for you is that
you would not rest satisfied with the knowledge of God you already have, but He might give you . . .a holy discontentment and a holy desire to know in increasing measure the infinite riches of the glorious inheritance God has given you,a fervent spirit to pray with importunity toward that end, and
a greater hunger and passion to spend time with God in His Word,
and God might be gracious to you, so you would come to experience and enjoy life and life more abundantly that Jesus came to give you.Along with J.C. Philpot, may God grant you entrance into a felt experience of the knowledge of God, so you might taste and see the Lord is good, come to know God as your perfect and all-satisfying portion, and begin to enjoy that supreme, blessed, celestial happiness that excels and surpasses any and all happinesses of an earthly sort.
Such a spiritual sight of Jesus Christ will impart a song to your heart so you can rejoice in the Lord in times of plenty and want, sing in prison like Paul and Silas, stand in persecution with the face of an angel like Stephen, and quicken your footsteps like Habakkuk while you travel on pilgrimage as a stranger and exile in this fallen world...
Habakkuk 3
17 Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
19 GOD, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer's;
he makes me tread on my high places.
To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.
Reference: ¹ Joseph Henry Philpot's "The Seceders: The Story of J.C. Philpot and William Tiptaft" (London: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1964), page 125.Photo credits:
Work found at http://www.truegospel.net/Philpot/ - where you can also find sermons and meditations from J.C. Philpot, who was a gifted experiential/experimental Calvinistic preacher. Both Philpot & Tiptaft left the Church of England in the 1830's, hence the name of the book, "The Seceders."I edited the photo found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Deer_running.jpg / PD
Related posts:
my posts on dealing with past sins and guilt
my other letters on assurance & fighting for joy including...
- Letter 1 on assurance and fighting for joy
- Letter 2 on assurance and fighting for joy
- Letter 3 on assurance and fighting for joy (Jesus' desire vs. Satan's desire)
- Letter 10 on assurance and fighting for joy (joy is for ALL!)
- Letter 18 on assurance and fighting for joy (my testimony of joy)
- "I thirst! I thirst!" Whitefield's experience of joy (letter 51 on assurance & fighting for joy)
- John 3:36a Whoever believes in the Son HAS eternal life (letter 64 on assurance & joy)
- "give me also springs of water" - Will you be an Achsah? (letter 66 on assurance & fighting for joy)
- The Lord of bliss offers us bliss today (letter 79 on assurance & joy)
- Do you know the LORD as your portion? | a hymn by John Newton - letter 80 on assurance & joy
- The flags unfurled ... Christ's eternal banner | Lloyd-Jones ~ a third type of assurance ~ Letter 118
- Fear not, little flock (Luke 12:32) | letter 123 on assurance & fighting for joy
- Have you experienced "joy, joy, joy, tears of joy" like Pascal? | Letter 129 on assurance & joy
- five years ago ~ for your joy (AND an inheritance | Richard Sibbes & the Sealing of the Spirit) ~ Letter 136
- Canaan's Cluster, Eschol's Vine | Letter 138 on assurance & joy
- The Father's Inheritance (Eleven days' journey ~ A lamentation & an exhortation)
Finding pleasure in Him
"...it is a pleasing thing to walk with God." (George Whitefield)
Moderation in pursuing God? An answer from Jonathan Edwards
Moderation in pursuing God? An answer from George Whitefield
How's your spiritual appetite? (Jonathan Edwards)
Linger, linger, linger – so you might know God's love
this earthly manna ~ the Christian hedonist's plea
Phebe Bartlet – a child put in our midst ~ "Do you love Me?"
Where do you go when the world is unlovely? (Psalm 84 & the theology of Biblical counseling)
As a deer pants ... Is your soul panting for God? (Psalms 42 & 43)
postcards from England: are we excited over a dead fish and a car wreck? (considering the glorious possibilities)
The Christian should not just believe the truth, and know it..." | the Father's assurance
In hope against hope believe, Blessed are all who believe
Advent # 5 WHY HAS JESUS COME? So we might draw near to God | Even a Vapor
Advent # 7 WHY HAS JESUS COME? So we might be satisfied with Him
Why not pray for the baptism of the Holy SpiritScripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Comments (5)
Good Morning, Karen
That is one of the really neat things about becoming a Christian--leaning more about Christ. I am still in awe of Colossians 2. I have shared it with my wife and son. I get yawns from other family members. lol
It is kind of amazing--that Holy Spirit thing--like John 16:13 and others on prayer. It is all amazing.
Like I said before, I hear God much more clearly lying on my back in the hospital near death. lol He knows how to get my attention.
Paul wrote sublime things to the Ephesians, but also told the Corinthians that they should not sleep with a father's new wife. It reads like Jerry Springer TV show script. We have the amazing Ephesians who lost their first love to the incredibly worldly Corinthians and Paul only tried to get these unruly Gentile Believers to shape up and try to behave---poor Paul. He founded the Corinthian church. lol
Galatians mixed law and grace.
Thessalonians got mixed up over the second coming.
Peter warned is about rotten church teachers.
Paul told the Philippians not to loose their amazing joy in Jesus.
In one way---we are taken to the heights of spiritual life with the wonderful Philpot, but alas, there are Believers like me.
Anyway, loved your post this morning. It was like part of my devotions which are getting to short. However, I bought a new Bible during my visit with Pam. I like reading new Bibles and see what the author thinks about certain scriptures.
Anyway Karen, have a nice day.
frank
Yes, totally agree. I think many pastors fail to preach this..they 'let it go' at being saved. But Paul (and Abba) want so much more for us--The quality with which we live out our salvation is so important not only to us, but to others (faith w/out works is dead). He wants us to really know Him--to build that relationship. And, yes that is what will help us get through those oh so tough times. Thanks for sharing this.
@ANVRSADDAY - Hi Frank, I loved your quick overview of the NT letters. We need to keep reading these portions in Ephesians as well as other Scriptures, plus the accounts of the saints, so we might be reminded of the "glorious possibilities" of the Christian life (as Martyn Lloyd-Jones put it), and then humbly ask God to manifest Himself to us as He wills. There's the mystery there: we are to seek – and yet these blessed visitations of the Spirit of God are sovereign.
@stephensmustang - You're welcome, Elizabeth.
"But Paul (and Abba) want so much more for us--The quality with which we live out our salvation is so important not only to us, but to others (faith w/out works is dead)." - Amen to that! I didn't really touch much on that portion "to others," but that's it! If we are so obsessed with ourselves, if we continue to be mired in doubts and guilt, if we remain fearful and downcast, how can we be salt and light in a saltless and dark world?
@naphtali_deer - Learning to be open to experience God is something that isn't much taught because so many are fearful of the excesses of emotion or deviating from true doctrine. I was like that for many years, and only began to know experientially the things I had in my heart by learning of the Holy Spirit's desire to magnify and glorify Christ.
Some of those crisis situations are when we are looking for a tangible message or visitation from Him, but certainly we don't want to shut ourselves off from experiencing Him when things are going well for us...."I Need Thee Every Hour!!"
(What a great picture of the deer running!)
@quest4god@revelife - No, we shouldn't ever shut ourselves off from experiencing God's presence at any time, but we must continue to seek God's face at all times, and ask Him to pour out in His time for His glory and our good and upbuilding. He is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him. God has continued to bless me abundantly above all I could have asked or imagined – and I know that's not even a smidgen of what's possible.
Psalm 107:9 For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
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