epcblog

Devotional thoughts (Monday through Thursday mornings) from the pastor of Exeter Presbyterian Church in Exeter, NH // Sunday Worship 10:30am // 73 Winter Street

Friday, October 26, 2007

Isaiah 32

We live in a world where the gift of a good leader may only last as long as the term of that leader in his position of authority. The one who replaces him may work just as hard to destroy what his predecessor carefully built up. This is just a fact of life. Sometimes we do not even have to wait for a new leader to replace an old one to see the destruction of a good enterprise. A power struggle can reveal critical differences in goals and tactics between two strong individuals in any enterprise. It is one of the great beauties of the Godhead that there will never be a disagreement of any kind between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

There is much good that can come from an excellent king. A ruler who will lead in righteousness is a point of stability and protection in a place of shifting sands. The King that God has provided for the church is more than just a good leader. He gives sight and hearing. He helps us to know what really matters, and he showers us with gifts from heaven. After He had made atonement for our sins, He ascended into heaven and sent His church many blessings that are most essential for the fulfillment of His kingdom plan.

Isaiah speaks with disdain about the women who are ease in Zion. They seem to only care about drinking. God does give wine to gladden the heart of man, but we do not live for wine, and our greatest achievement is not our knowledge of mixed drinks. Man longs for a joy that will not end in a hangover. We need a happiness that will not turn to panic when the grape harvest fails. The answer for us is in the gift of the Spirit of God. As the apostle Paul says to the Ephesian church, “Do not be drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit.”

The King of the Church is Jesus Christ, the second person of the Godhead. The third person of the Godhead is the Spirit of God, who is most necessary for the reign of the King of the church to be transformational in the lives of the redeemed. No amount of wine will do the job of producing fruit in the Lord’s church, fruit that can only come about by the Spirit of God.

The King of the church is powerful, as He reigns in perfect righteousness. The Spirit of God poured on us from on high is also powerful. He can turn a wilderness of broken and bruised and weary people into new creatures in Christ who yield choice fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. No law can produce these blessings – only the Spirit of life.

One of the wonders of the Lord’s perfect reign in our lives is that there is a complete agreement in all things between the divine King and the divine Spirit. We praise both. We receive both. They have no power struggle, but together with the Father, they are one God eternally. We will have quietness and security forever in the kingdom of the Lord. The reign of our King will never end, and the power of the Spirit will never be quenched.

posted by Pastor Magee @ 7:00 AM

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