(Letter 166 in my series of letters on assurance and fighting for joy)...

"Those to whom Christ is precious, will long that others should taste of that preciousness. Those who have buried all their anxieties and all their terrors in the sufficiency of the atonement, will long that the knowledge of a remedy so effectual should be carried around the globe."

~ Thomas Chalmers, quoted by Stuart Piggin and John Roxborogh in "The St. Andrews' Seven" by  (Banner of Truth Trust: Edinburgh, 1985), 44.

* * *

I praise You, O my God, for not letting me stop satisfied with the initial sip of grace You offered me thirty-one years ago, on November 5, 1982. O, Holy Father, I confess how I wandered about for over twenty years content with a cursory, superficial, distant, and clinical knowledge of You... Though Your light had shone in my heart, and though Your Gospel was no longer veiled – yet, like the blind man at Bethsaida, I was seeing men, as trees walking – I was still greatly oblivious to the glorious reality – the Summum Bonum:  that the Lord Jesus Christ died to bring me back to You – that I might sup with God ~ to experientially know and to taste Your preciousness! John 17:3  And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 

John Newton's words reflect my own experience:

I cannot consider myself to have been a believer, (in the full sense of the word,) till a considerable time afterwards.

I confess though I knew You, yet my faith was weak and faint – and I knew it not! Like Martha, though I was occupied with many religious activities, my appetite for You was severely stunted. Like so many in the day of Your incarnation, though I had studied Your Word, I had not truly begun to learn what it meant to come to You to have life.

Thank You and praise You for demonstrating Your Fatherly love for me by chastening me:  bringing me to the end of myself and bringing me to my senses. Bless You, Abba, for graciously shaking up my soul in mid-life, for leading me through higher and higher waters, and through hotter and hotter fires – so I might not rest content until I found in Christ's atonement strong consolation for all my soul's anxieties and terrors, and until You worked "to break [my] schemes of worldly joy, that [I] might seek [my] all in Thee."¹ Thank You for bringing me teachers like Jonathan Edwards and Martyn Lloyd-Jones to help me begin to see my lukewarmness and to see "the great and glorious possibilities of the Christian life," so I might not stop satisfied with an abstract and detached knowledge of You, a so-called "life" devoid of the inner witness and blessed communion of the Holy Spirit. Bless You for showing me mercy, for choosing me and lifting me from the ash heap to bring me near to You so I might begin to taste of Your preciousness – to drink experientially the living waters and begin to know sensibly the happiness of communion with You, the only true God through the Lord Jesus Christ!  And now, having tasted and having received of Your fullness, keep me thirsting for even more of You, so I might receive of Your fullness grace upon grace upon grace upon grace ... !

"But the communications of divine favour and grace will satisfy, but never surfeit. A gracious soul, though still desiring more of God, never desires more than God. The gifts of Providence so far satisfy them that they are content with such things as they have. I have all, and abound, Phil. iv. 18." ~ Matthew Henry on Psalm 36:8.

And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the LORD... Deuteronomy 33:23 (KJV)

Psalm 65
1  Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion,
and to you shall vows be performed.
2  O you who hears prayer,
to you shall all flesh come.
3  When iniquities prevail against me,
you atone for our transgressions.
4  Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,
to dwell in your courts!
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
the holiness of your temple!
5  By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,
O God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas;

Ah, but my Redeemer, though I have been privileged to dwell in Your courts and to taste of Your supreme blessedness and all-surpassing satisfaction – hear now Your Word and Your exceeding great and precious promises – have You not written them? – "to You ALL flesh shall come" – and "WE shall be satisfied"? Can I be content with the blessedness of dwelling in Your courts and the satisfaction of Your goodness, for it is written that You are not just the hope of Karen, but You are the hope of all the ends of the earth and the farthest seas? Woe to me if lapse into ease here in Zion (Amos 6:1)! God forbid I be numbered among the complacent daughters (Isaiah 32:9-11)!

As I press on to finish the race set before me in the strength You provide, may I be used by You to help other souls to taste Your preciousness. Continue to pour out upon me the Spirit of grace and supplications, that I might be a faithful and alert watchman on the wall, pleading day and night for You to shine Your face again upon Your people, to pour down Your Spirit upon Your Church for her reviving, that we may comprehend the breadth, length, depth, and height of Your love that passes all understanding – for it is only as we begin to count You as precious will we long for other souls in all the nations, other sheep all around the globe  – including those in the olive tree (ethnic Israel ~ Romans 9-11), to come and taste of Your preciousness along with us. Surely, still there is room in Your courts for all who are thirsty!

Psalm 67
1  May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
2  that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.
3  Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!
4  Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
5  Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!
6  The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, shall bless us.
7  God shall bless us;
let all the ends of the earth fear him!

"Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of hattle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:  but it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night:  but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea:  in summer and in winter shall it be. And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one." (Zechariah 14:3-9, KJV)

How delightful to piety and to benevolence to have the divine assurance of a period of light awaiting the Church and the world! — the light of knowledge, and purity, and felicity, triumphing over, and chasing fully away the darkness of ignorance, unholiness, and misery! The glory of God is dear to piety; the happiness of men is dear to benevolence. Amidst all that may be strange and perplexing in the present position and aspects of the Church, amidst the partially cheering and the partially disheartening and alarming, let us still be looking onwards to the coming day, — when, amid the gathering shadows of the evening, "the Sun Of Righteousness" shall shine forth in unclouded splendour; — when "the light of that Sun shall be as the light of seven days." And, having drunk of the "living waters" ourselves, and experienced their life-giving virtue, let us seek, by every means in our power, to send them forth in all directions, for the revival of the Church at large, and for the healing and life of the nations. When blessed ourselves, it is that we may be a blessing. And while we open channels for these "waters of life" in heathen lands to water "the desolate heritages of the Gentiles," let us not overlook the sacred duty, of seeking a channel by which we may cause them to return to the land from which they originally flowed; that the people to whom we owe them may share with us in the joy! Meanwhile TO YOU "the Spirit and the bride say. Come. And let him that heareth say. Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

~ Ralph Wardlaw in Ralph Wardlaw’s “Lectures on the Prophecies of Zechariah” (Second Edition 1869, ed. by The Rev. J. S. Wardlaw; (Stoke-on-Trent: Tentmaker Publications, reprinted 2002 & 2007), 387, 403-404, boldface mine.

¹ From verse 7 of John Newton's "Prayer Answered by Crosses"  (I Asked The LORD That I Might Grow)

Related:

God works through bad economies for good: A retrospective - my testimony
“I cannot consider myself to have been a believer (in the full sense of the word)”
birthday reflection: “the great & glorious possibilities” ~ “Now therefore, give me this mountain”
Once More I Entreat (the Former AND the Latter Rain) ~ a birthday exultation
Remembering the pit & bog so I might rejoice in Him & you might also! (Psalm 40:1-3)
An humble attempt for my rejoicing ~ O! for thousands upon thousands! ~ Edwards, Sutcliff, myself
the unexpected transport of joy ~ seeing the travail of His soul
Reformation Day reflections ~ A.W. Tozer “the doctrine of justification by faith has … fallen into evil company…”
Advent # 5 WHY HAS JESUS COME? So we might draw near to God | Even a Vapor
Advent # 8: WHY HAS JESUS COME? “so that [we] might be WITH HIM” ~ Mark 3:14
Advent # 9 WHY HAS JESUS COME? Adoption: the highest privilege the gospel offers ~ J.I. Packer
Why do you watch the same movie over and over?

July 10, 2013 was the 504th anniversary of John Calvin's birth.

Many Christians are perplexed (understatement!) at how Calvinism / Reformed theology can result in a vibrant engagement in evangelism and missions.

A brief review... the acronym TULIP is sometimes used as a brief summary of Calvinism/ Reformed theology. I realize there's much more to it than this, but here goes:

1. TOTAL DEPRAVITY
2. UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION
3. LIMITED ATONEMENT
4. IRRESISTIBLE GRACE
5. PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS

(Please see here for more on TULIP.)

In April, between bronchitis and a sinus infection, I was privileged to attend the Ekballo Midwest Conference in DeKalb, Illinois. The organization To Every Tribe (http://www.toeverytribe.com/) is grounded in Reformed doctrine (see here for more on their vision, mission, distinctives and core values). There are plenty of Christian conferences out there, but this one caught my eye in particular as I noticed that the first conference talk was on prayer. (If you're been reading my blog here, you know that has been something God has laid on my heart over the past few years. (For more about that, please see my posts Naphtali News: the Ministry of the Word & Prayer (the second portion) and Silent Night - Not! ~ "Prayer also will be made for Him continually" ... day and night.)

The Ekballo Conference was one of the most Christ-centered and God-glorifying gatherings of believers I've ever been a part of; that's why I said I was privileged to be there. The conference name Ekballo is taken from the Greek word for "send out" in Matthew 9:38:

35  And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36  When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38  therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

1544 ekballo ek-bal'-lo from 1537 and 906; to eject (literally or figuratively):--bring forth, cast (forth, out), drive (out), expel, leave, pluck (pull, take, thrust) out, put forth (out), send away (forth, out) ~ from Strong's Concordance.


Over the next few days, Lord willing, I'm hoping to post the three plenary talks (audio only available) from the conference:

Scott Anderson -Friday, April 19 - Ekballo Plenary Session 1
Ekballo: The Essential Nature of Prayer in the Gospel Mission
http://youtu.be/fuA3p5X32sE

David Sitton - Saturday, April 20 - Ekballo Plenary Session 2
Ekballo: Propel the Church, Harvest the Nations

Dalton Thomas - Saturday, April 20 - Ekballo Plenary Session 3
Ekballo: Martyrdom and the Eternal Purpose of the Church

If you are a Christian, I ask that you would make the time to listen to all of these messages. I pray God would give each one of us a holy, glorious ambition for lives –– that we might not settle for and waste our lives on shoddy, cheap ambitions. May God conform us into Jesus' image:  transforming our hearts to that of Jesus' compassionate heart, and transforming our desires to His desires; that we might not be lukewarm and lethargic about the great commission, but rather we might press on to take hold of that for which Christ has taken hold of us, not loitering –– but having a single-eyed passion to press on for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus –– that we might be made willing in the day of His power (Psalm 110:3) and present ourselves to Him as holy sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2), ready to be used however and wherever God desires in His mission of taking the Good News of great joy to all the people groups of the world for the sake of His name ... far as the curse is found ... that ALL the earth might be filled with knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea ... that ALL the peoples might praise Him! ... According to Joshua Project, there are currently 7,183 unreached groups, with a total of 2.9 billion souls ... So long as Jesus tarries, still there is room at His table, my brothers and sisters –– room for more souls to come and feast along with us on the Lord Jesus Christ!

Today there was an explosion of joy throughout much of Scotland, as native son Andrew Murray won Wimbledon.

In the 19th century, native son William Hepburn Hewitson (1812-1850) was longing for the Christians in Scotland to know the highest and purest and most excellent Joy, so that the Good News of Great Joy might spread to the ends of the earth... "far as the curse is found."

On December 22, 1846, Hewitson wrote the following to a friend in Edinburgh:

"I just write you a few lines to bid you farewell before I leave Britain [for Trinidad]. Miserable it is to live with the name only, and not with the reality, of being in Christ. Blessed it is to be really in Him. No awakened soul should stop short of a realisation and experimental enjoyment of union with the Lord. No converted soul should rest satisfied, till it think every thought and speak every word in communion with Jesus. This would seem to a carnal professor, or to a child of God who is still a to great extent carnal, a standard far too high; but to have a lower standard is to be ignorant of our standing in Christ—of what we have in Him, of the closeness of our union with Him, and of the character we should maintain to be in keeping with our profession of faith in His name. My impression of the godliness of Scotland has been somewhat modified since my sojourn in Lisbon and Madeira. Scottish Christians, in general, seem not to realise everywhere—in all companies, and at all times—the presence, the indwelling of the Lord Jesus Christ,—not to realise in any great measure that they are not of this world, but sent into it by God as messengers with a message from Him. But if this remark applies to Scotland, to what land does it not apply? Where is godliness more flourishing? Where profession more rife? Where the Church more conspicuously set on a hill before the world's eye? There being within our reach no means of Church-purification, we are called on to attend to the work of purifying our own hearts, of shining in our own homes, of carrying, wherever we move, a circlet of Divine light with us through the dark world. So will we spread the truth, diffuse the savour, glorify the name, of Christ. Christ dwelling in us—that is light, life, fragrance, holiness. Many seek Christ within before finding Christ without, and so cannot attain to peace; many, after finding Christ without, don't seek diligently to have Christ within. To have both Christ without and Christ within, is peace and purity."

Christian, have you been living with the name only and not with the reality of being in Christ?

Have you stopped short of a realisation and experimental enjoyment of union with your Lord?

Are you of the number who seem not to realise the presence and indwelling of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Revelation 3:1  And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 2  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3  Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

God forbid we rest satisfied and stop short of a realisation and experimental enjoyment of union with our Lord! God forbid it be said of us that we "seem not to realise the presence, the indwelling of the Lord Jesus Christ, not to realise in any great measure that [we] are not of this world, but sent into it by God as messengers with a message from Him." May our God stir up and awaken in us a thirst for Jesus Christ, that we might diligently seek to have both Christ without and Christ within!

John 7:37  In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39  (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Proverbs 25:25  As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

Psalm 67:1  God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. 2  That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. 3  Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. 4  O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah. 5  Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. 6  Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. 7  God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

Reference: John Baillie's "Memoir of the Rev. W.H. Hewitson, Late Minister of the Free Church of Scotland, at Dirleton" (London: James Nisbet & Co.), 4th edition (1853), 262-264 / 2nd edition (1852), 257-258. 4th edition book available at Google play here: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=bRVMAAAAYAAJ.

Related:

http://naphtali-deer.xanga.com/728425860/update-w-excerpt-lloyd-jones-sermons-on-the-role-of-experience-in-christianity/

Martyn Lloyd-Jones sermon "Experimental Christianity" (ML-J cites a portion of this passage of Hewitson's)

Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.