This was a gracious experience. Humanity had severed itself from God by sin, but God in mercy came down to humanity again to reconcile, to re-establish, to re-connect, and to re-commune. These were all sinners separated from God by sin, and distant from God by nature. Yet God drew near to them, drew them to Himself, and filled them with His own presence. By God’s gift of faith in the coming Messiah, these Old Testament believers experienced forgiveness of their sin and God’s love shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Spirit given to them. The Lord who had been against them was now with them.

This was a spiritual experience. If you looked at Enoch or David you would not have seen another physical figure with them. God was not with them physically. He was with them spiritually. By His indwelling Holy Spirit, God connected and communed with these men. The “withness” was a spiritual “withness.”

This was a personal experience. It wasn’t “the force” that was with them, but a person. It was not some impersonal power but someone with a character, a personality, a will, an ability to communicate, etc. As such, there was a sharing of personal thoughts, feelings, plans, hopes, etc. There was conversation between the Lord and those He was with. We don’t know how much the Old Testament believers understood of God being three persons, but they certainly knew a personal God.

This was a transforming experience. God cannot be with someone without it making a difference in their lives. Enoch and Noah stood out from everyone else in their generation. Heathen kings and officials, like Abimelech and Potiphar, noticed a difference in those that God was with (Gen. 21:22; 26:28; 39:3). God’s presence produced inner qualities of holiness, peace, contentment, and courage. In the Old Testament it was also associated with outward prosperity and success (e.g. Gen. 39:2-3; 1 Sam. 18:14; 2 Kings 18:7).

This was an enjoyable experience. This was not some unwanted and terrifying invasion of these men’s lives. No, this was the God who was their best friend, coming to walk with them through life’s journey. What a wonderful experience, especially when these men were often so otherwise alone in their spiritual pilgrimage!

This was a varied experience. Though God never leaves any believer in whom he has come to live, there are times when he withdraws the sense of His presence, the feeling of his nearness. For example, we’re told that God left Hezekiah to test him (2 Chron. 32:21). That cannot mean  God was with him one day and gone the next. Rather, it means that at this time Hezekiah did not have the conscious sense of God’s presence. God was there, but he was silent and still. Yes, the Spirit could be grieved in the Old Testament too, and such painful times taught these men how much they needed God’s active presence in their lives.

It was an everywhere experience. It was not confined to the Temple or Tabernacle, but God was with His people in building projects, in prison, on the throne, and on the farm. Wherever they went, whatever time of the day, they could enjoy God’s companionship. They could talk to Him, sing to Him, worship Him, enjoy Him wherever, whenever, whatever.

If Old Testament believers experienced this divine “withness,” this divine presence, how much more should we New Testament believers, who see Christ more clearly, who have the fullness of the Spirit’s indwelling, and who have so many other helps in our lives, families, and churches?

This article first appeared in Tabletalk. Sign up for three free months of the premier Reformed periodical. 

That’s the question I was asked by an earnest young man recently who appears to be sincerely seeking the Lord.

Many of us can identify with the question as we’ve been there ourselves. We remember the impact sermons made on us in the past – deep impressions, piercing convictions, powerful drawings – but now we feel like cold lifeless statues as we listen to the same preachers preaching similar sermons. What’s gone wrong? This will vary for different people, but let me suggest a few possibilities.

1. Tiredness
The main cause for unprofitable hearing of the Word is fatigue, even exhaustion. We work too long and too hard throughout the week. We sit down and sit still for the first time on Sunday morning, and surprise, surprise, our eyelids begin to feel like lead, and our bodies start sliding down the pew. An extra hour of sleep each night can revive our souls.

2. Distraction
Saturday afternoon and evening are a good time for tying up the loose ends of the week and preparing for Monday. If we don’t do it on Saturday, we’ll be doing it on Sunday in church.

3. Indiscipline
If we are not reading our Bible and praying in a regular disciplined way throughout the week, we can’t really expect to be spiritually tuned in and sensitive on Sunday.

4. Sin
As unrepented sin forms a barrier between us and God, we need to make sure that there’s nothing major in our life that is blocking God’s blessing.

5. The Preacher
it may be that the preacher is preaching a series of sermons on a book or subject that doesn’t fit your spiritual needs at the moment. Although this tests our patience, taking a more long-term view can mitigate our frustration. No, you don’t need these truths/this series so much right now, but you can store it up in your mind and heart for when you will need it in the future. Maybe we can also mortify our selfishness by praying, “Lord I’m not getting anything from these sermons, but I’m thankful others are and I pray for your blessing upon them.”

6. Sovereignty
God may be testing our faith by allowing us to experience a period of coldness under the Word. Will we walk by faith even when there are no feelings to help us along?  Will we listen, trust, and obey, even when we’re not being inspired and moved by the preaching?

7. Humbling
God can also use such periods to humble our hearts and show us how much hardness remains within us. “I’m listening to the most beautiful truths and it leaves me stone cold. The preacher is pouring his whole heart into this and I can’t even be sure I have a heart.” Such painful experiences reveal how much sanctifying work remains to be done in our hearts.

8. Encouragement
The fact that we are upset about our spiritual coldness is a reassuring sign. If we are unmoved about being unmoved, unconcerned about our lack of concern, that would indeed be worrying. However, the very fact that we feel this, and grieve over this, should encourage us that God has worked in out hearts. We can remember sitting under the Word without an ounce of spiritual life and it didn’t bother us in the least.  That it bothers us now, and makes us pray for a changed heart, reveals a heart that has been sovereignly changed.

What do you do when the Word leaves you cold?

As I was reading through the various strategies and tricks these companies use to make us stay, I couldn’t help but hear echoes of the same arguments that sin (and sin’s agents) often uses when we try to extricate ourselves from its grip.

1. “You don’t know what you’re missing.”
If you don’t use Twitter for a few weeks you’ll get an email saying, “We’ve missed you!” It then lists everything you’re missing!!

2. “What did I do wrong?”
You can’t leave Facebook without filling out a questionnaire which effectively makes you feel incredibly guilty about your decision. O yes, and it also lists specific friends who “will miss you.”

3. “I can change.”
MySpace tries to bargain with you, offering new ways to make you happy.

4. “I hope we can still be friends.”
Although Tumblr shows intending leavers a graphic of an anguished robot, it remains friendly and tells you that if you ever want to start things up again, just contact the network and someone will be glad to talk with you.

5. “Think about what you’re giving up.”
Google+ lists everything you’re giving up: Circles, +1s, etc., and warns you that leaving cannot be reversed. So don’t expect a reconciliation!

6. “Let’s work on this.”
LinkedIn says, “Give me another chance and let us help you get more out of your LinkedIn experience.”

7. You’re breaking my heart!”
The artist’s social media service, DeviantART actually has a demon mascot that cries devil-sized tears when you try to delete your account.

8. “Remember all the good times we had.” 
Youtube  reminds you that all videos, comments and your username will be deleted forever. FOREVER!

9. “You’re nothing without me.”
Klout suggests that without its help your really amount to nothing much more than a hill of beans.

10. “I’m not listening/Error message”
Orkut, popular in India and Brazil, simply doesn’t let you go. If you try to delete your account, you get an error message!

If you’re hearing sin’s bargaining, threatening, enticing, manipulating, promising, bullying voice today, remember, “If the Son shall set you free, you shall be free indeed!”

At the end of it all I was sweating, panting, aching, and stinking (of bleach, polish, detergent, air freshener, etc.).

Who would have thought that one man and one teenager could produce so much detritus in 14 days! The kitchen floor looked so clean on Friday morning that I wondered why my wife was always sweeping it…that is until I started sweeping it. Where did that all come from?

Why did I not just wait until Shona returned and let her do it? I mean she’d do it so much better and so much quicker. Plus, she enjoys it! No, really, she does.

Well, before I lose all my female readers, let me explain why I decided to deny my wife the pleasure of cleaning house after her two-day camel-train from a remote Scottish island to Grand Rapids.

It wasn’t law. It was love.

It wasn’t because she commanded me to clean the house (she didn’t). It wasn’t because she would punish me if I didn’t (she wouldn’t…I think). It wasn’t to make her praise me (though that was quite nice).

It was simply because the one I love was coming home and I wanted to create an environment where we could immediately enjoy one another’s company again and catch up on all the news and adventures without her having to immediately pull out the brush and the bleach.

And although I’ve now got painful tendonitis in my wrists from over-vigorous vacuuming and scrubbing (pathetic isn’t it), I couldn’t help reflect on Saturday how I should also prepare in a similar manner for meeting with my God and Savior in Church on Sunday.

So often when we get to church, there’s so much of the week’s rubbish still hanging around in our lives, minds, and hearts: so many distractions, so much unfinished business, so much unbelief, so much filth, and so much unconfessed and unrepented sin.

Why don’t I prepare for meeting and communing with my Savior with the same intensity as when anticipating my wife’s return? Why don’t I always set apart time on Saturday to make sure nothing external nor internal will get in the way of me meeting Jesus and getting precious catch-up time with Him on Sunday.

And imagine if after an hour of my wife’s return I said, “Right, I’m off to watch the football now!”

We have launched a new website called biblicalspirituality.com especially devoted to the study of biblical spirituality (Puritan, reformed, and evangelical spirituality in particular).

One purpose of this website is to provide unpublished papers that deal with the subject of spirituality for researchers. Thus, if you have written any paper on the subject that has not yet been published, we encourage you to submit it to us, and we will have it posted here, so that others can also benefit from your work. The paper can be e-mailed to Brian G. Najapfour at najapfour@gmail.com

The ultimate goal of this site is to cultivate holiness in the lives of the believers, especially of pastors. We are convinced that the greatest need of many churches today is the holiness of their pastors. As Robert Murray M’Cheyne (1813-1843) says, “My people’s greatest need is my personal holiness.”

Please join us in this endeavor. Your contribution will be greatly appreciated. Many thanks!

Yesterday we considered why we should meditate on Scripture. Today let’s look at how to meditate.

1. Limit 

- Set apart no more than 5-10 minutes to begin with

- Start with one short verse or part of a verse

2. Vary

- Some days chose a theological verse, others a practical or devotional text.

3. Write

- Write the text on a small index card

- Put it in a place you will come across regularly (purse or pocket?)

4. Memorize

 - Memorize the text in 2-3 word blocks

- Say it out loud

- Set specific times in the day to recall verse (coffee/meal times)

5. Focus

- Pick out the key words and look them up in a dictionary (English or Bible)

- Substitute some words with parallel meanings or even opposite meanings

6. Question

- Interrogate the verse (who, what, where, when, why, how?)

7. Explain

- How would you explain the verse to a child or someone with no Christian background

8. Pray

- Use the verse in prayer (worship, confession, thanks, petition)

9. Review

- File the cards and every Sunday read them and test your memory of them

10. Do

- Not just an intellectual exercise but let it lead to practice (believe, repent, hope, love, etc.)

Picture: 2008 © Laurin Linder. Image from BigStockPhoto.com

Here are ten reasons why you should make meditation on Scripture part of your Christian life.

1. It stops sin

If we hide God’s Word in our heart it will stop sin at its roots (Ps. 119:11).

2. It starts good

Meditation on the Bible’s practical exhortations and commands reminds us of our Christian duties. What we think about is what we eventually do (Prov. 23:7).

3. It guides and refreshes prayer

Meditation on verses of Scripture opens up new topics and areas for prayer.

4. It turns sleeplessness into a blessing

The Psalmist turned the “wasted” hours of insomnia into a soul-enriching feast (Ps. 63:5-6).

5. It uses time well

It is a far more profitable than, say, watching the TV. It will also make you happier (Ps. 1:1-3)

6. It makes you ready to witness

By filling our hearts with God and His Word we will be much more ready to give an answer to every man that asks a reason for the hope that we have (1 Pet. 3:15).

7. It helps you in fellowship

You can edify others in fellowship because you can propose a verse for discussion and give some thoughts upon it.

8. It increases communion with God

God meets with His people through the Scriptures. A person who never thinks on Scripture will never meet and walk with God.

9. It revives spiritual life.

“To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Rom. 8:6).

10. It has many biblical precedents and examples (Ps. 19:14; 39:3; 77:12)

My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD (Ps. 104:34).

Tomorrow: 10 Methods of Meditation

Picture: 2008 © Igor Zohrov. Image from BigStockPhoto.com

One of the most difficult passages for me to preach has been Romans 6v1-11. I find it difficult to understand and even more difficult to explain. The difficulty is summed up in verse 11: “Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” How do you explain that? Especially when it seems so contrary to our Christian experience.

Well, believe it or not, I think a journalist has just shed some light on this for me. Gretchen Rubin, bestselling author of The Happiness Project quotes David Dunning’s book, Self-Insight: Roadblocks and Detours on the Path to Knowing Thyself. Dunning said:

[People] can argue anything. If asked to argue that some assertion “A” is true, people can do that. If next asked to argue that the opposite of “A” is true, they can do that, too, often with the exact same ease and effectiveness…When testing a hypothesis, people tend to emphasize evidence that confirms the hypothesis over information that disconfirms it.

Rubin comments: I’ve been applying that observation as a happiness-project strategy, and it’s astonishingly effective.

When I catch myself thinking, “My husband isn’t very thoughtful,” and my mind starts kicking up examples of thoughtlessness, I retort, “My husband is very thoughtful” – and sure enough, I think of lots of examples of thoughtful behavior. When I think “My daughters squabble a lot,” I answer, “My daughters get along very well.” I can actually feel my opinion shift. It’s almost uncanny.

If I make positive statements, I’ll tend to convince myself and other people of a positive view of things. If I make negative statements, I’ll do just the opposite. For example, if I say, “Wow, that was such a great meeting,” people are prompted to think that the meeting went well. If I say, “Wow, that meeting was such a drag,” people are prompted to think along those lines.

As Goethe observed: “I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather.”

So, I’ve decided that the more I regard myself as dead to sin, the more dead to sin I will be. And the more I think of myself as alive to Christ, the more alive to Christ I will be. The next time I am tempted to sin, I will say, “No! I can’t because I’m dead to sin, and alive to Christ!” Thus I will die to sin and live to Christ.

It’s worth a try, isn’t it?

PS. Please don’t turn this monopod into a centipede. Monopod = the way we think about ourselves will impact our behavior. Centipede = I also believe that everything’s relative!

Picture: 2006 © Leonid Nyshko. Image from BigStockPhoto.com