I’m late- and I am sorry for it. But better late than never. It was not really my fault but the fault of my laptop which crashed, burned and needed a new mother board. This weekend I was finishing my report and Ordination paper editing when I got the aura of purple lines across the screen (which is never a good thing). But I am here and as a Giant- Giant fan I want to congratulate us all for having the good taste to support the World Champs!
The Business of answering letters
Now to the business of Love and answering Love Letters. People who love us write letters because they are either concerned about something or they want to clarify their love and also communicate it to us. The Bible is that way filled with character studies, poems and historic data that cries out that God wants a relationship with you. In this way there are thousands of people who do things because they are crying out “Will someone please love me?” There is good and bad news to this cry- the good is that you have the answer and the second is that the answer lies in the definition of “Love.”
How do we know?
John writes, “Do not trust any and every spirit, my friends, test the spirits, to see whether they are from God.” Last time we read about the Spirit that will convict us. God tells us what is on His mind, Jesus counsels us and shows us an example on how to live and how to approach one another in love. The Spirit allows us to keep the commands (“Love the Lord your God with your whole heart, soul and mind and your neighbor as yourself”) John writes that when we do this we actually “dwell” in Jesus Christ and he in us. This is how we know what love is-the Spirit he has given us.
What Spirit?
In Denver there is a City Spirit, it is the unity of the community that gives each city their spiritual identity. It is the same way with with the church. The Holy Spirit that dwells in the community is like the City Spirit that unifies people to love on another. We are united in Christ’s love. But we need to test that Spirit. There is a spirit of compromise, of taking short cuts a spirit that turns on a people or a group that ultimately destroys us. John writes that “Every Spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh as God- has the Spirit, if it is in denial of Christ it is a spirit that will be damaging to you.”
You belong to me (sang Carly Simon)
1 John 4 (verses 1-3) is the part of the letter that warns us about discerning the spirits from the Spirit of God. “But you, my children, are of God’s family, and you have mastery over false prophets.” Love is inspiring and God is love and so when the Spirit of God comes upon you than listen to what that Spirit is telling you. While others may listen to “their sources” it is easy to tell that they are being fooled. The world listens to the spirit of contempt, of judgement, of un-forgiveness, and a spirit that hates God. “But we belong to God and a Denverite who knows God listens to us. The Denverite that does not belong to God, listens to everything he or she hears, reads or views that is anti-God. That is how we know, John writes in his letter, how we distinguish the spirit of truth from the spirit of error.
Poem of the day
Spirit of truth
Spirit of error
no in-bet-weens
no margin for terror
Spirit of God
Spirit of civility
nothing comes between
Community
So we run fast and fast we run toward the latest reward
and we run out of ink when the world keeps keeping score
Cry out for more.
Cry out for more.
Well the Denverite and the parasite
comes out at different times of night
But they are God’s delight both day and night
and love can bring them through this night.
Chorus:
Spirit of truth
Spirit of error
no in-bet-weens
no margin for terror
Spirit of God
Spirit of civility
nothing comes between
Community
Bridge- and we’ll know them by their love
yes one in the Spirit in love
I hope you know me by my love
-my love.
Well the City Spirit is no good unless you hear it
and you spread the word at what you heard.
Love trumps fear in every city I’ve been to -
the fellowship of His word.
But they are God’s delight both day and night
and love can bring them through this night.
Chorus:
Spirit of truth
Spirit of error
no in-bet-weens
no margin for terror
Spirit of God
Spirit of civility
nothing comes between
Community
BT Springs 02.07.12
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