Dr. Terry Threadwell's Blog

Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.

Believe it or not, we prefer to talk rather than listen.  There are several reasons for this.

1. When we have decided that we want to respond to the speaker, we then stop listening for two reasons. To avoid forgetting what we are going to say, we need to keep rehearsing our thoughts and words and so get lost inside our own heads. We also stay inside as we think about better ways to put our case. When we are paying attention to the speaker, we are not listening to what they say but listening for a space in which we can interject with our reply.
2. People who are talking usually have their attention on themselves and what they are saying. With this self-focus, they do not notice that other people are waiting to speak or want to comment about what the speaker has said. Even if they do take notice, many people will continue to talk, either to retain control or to fulfill their need for completion (even if nobody is listening!).
3. It’s Boring!!
4. If I can talk at 200 words per minute, and I can listen at 300 words per minute, and then you start talking, I can’t hear myself speak.[i]

No, these are not valid reasons and are proof that we are too consumed with ourselves. Listening to God takes practice because it can be both verbal and spiritual, that still small voice. So, as they say in Latin, tacete et audite.

[i] http://changingminds.org/techniques/listening/why_not_listening.htm

Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life. Don’t let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, “God is trying to trip me up.” God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one’s way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer. So, my very dear friends, don’t get thrown off course. (James 1:12-16. MSG)

Another translation says, “each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires’ (Jam 1:14 NKJ) It’s that word ‘desire’ the original sense comes from the French phrase de sidere “from the stars,” One of the verses from the Disney song ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’ puts that thought in context when it says:

“If your heart is in your dream.’

No request is too extreme

When you wish upon a star

As dreamers do

Fate is kind.”[i]

Perhaps James is reminding us that according to scripture a third of the stars (angels) fell when they joined Lucifer’s rebellion and that we should be careful with what we desire, we might give birth to more than we expected and it cost us more than we can afford to pay,  No wonder Pinocchio’s nose grew when he lied. Despite what the song says, fate is never kind; fate is the Devil waiting and listening for idol words that he can birth to in your life, words that stand in opposition to God and rob you of your life.

[i] “When You Wish Upon a Star [From Walt Disney’s Pinocchio] Lyrics.” Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2017. Web. 3 Jul 2017. <http://www.lyrics.com/lyric/14578799>.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (Jam 1:2-4 NKJ)

Why should you count it all joy when you fall into various trials? Because trials are opportunities for a “test of faith.”

1.      Trials confirm our faith

“I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.”  (1Sa 17:35-36 NKJ) David had no guarantees that his confrontation with Goliath would be successful, but on the basis of his previous experience, he trusted God.

2.      Trials purify our faith in fire

hadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” ……”Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire.  (Dan 3:16-18; 25-26 NKJ) For Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego they had faith in God to deliver them even from the fiercest fire. 

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (Jam 1:2-4 NKJ)

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Rom 5:1-4 NKJ)

Why are trials useful? Paul expands on James’ exhortation to, “count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” First, Paul tells us that trials produce endurance. (v. 3) In effect, trials are exercises for developing spiritual muscle and strength. This is true for relationships in church life and personal spiritual growth. The Bible often uses the analogy that life is a race, and as Hebrews 12 tells us, endurance helps us “complete the race set before us.” So rejoice, trials are part of God’s training regime for you.

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (Jam 1:1-4 NKJ)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (Galatians 5:22. NIB)

This James is thought to be the brother of the Lord, and though he didn’t follow Jesus, he became an Apostle in the same way as Paul. James becomes a leader in the Church  in Jerusalem, and both Peter and Paul regard him as a pillar and key person in the church leadership.

After the death and resurrection of Jesus, there were several rebellions and several people claiming to be a reincarnation of Jesus or claimed to be the Messiah.  This continual acts of rebellion against the Romans resulted in persecution and oppression against the Church by both the Romans and the religious leaders.  It was in this environment that James addresses the church with a word of encouragement. His words might seem strange to the modern-day Christian as James tells us, “My brothers and sisters, think of the various tests you encounter as occasions for joy.” (Jam 1:2 CEB) When the trials of life come your way, rejoice, it is God way of perfecting us.  James says it actually produces fruit—patience. I have to confess that I am not the most patient of people, but neither am I asking for more trials.  The reality is, we don’t have to, trials will come by themselves. 

Hold on, stay calm, God has everything under control.

Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³ and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. ¹⁴ His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; ¹⁵ His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; ¹⁶ He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. ¹⁷ And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. ¹⁸ “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. ¹⁹ “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. ²⁰ “The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches. (Rev 1:12-1 NKJ)

The key to understanding this text is found in the word mystery (20)  The word means hidden things, secret, mystery. Generally, mysteries, religious secrets, confided only to the initiated and not to ordinary mortals.  Things that can only be understood by the interpretation that comes from the Lord, and the Spirit.

The lampstands represent the seven church congregations mentioned in chapters 2-3, and the seven stars are the angelic messengers attached to each church.  Like a lamp, each congregation is meant to shine the light into the neighborhood, community and the world. The angelic messengers show that the Word that comes forth needs to be fresh, sharp and spiritually alive, and spiritually discerned.  As we’re told later, the spiritually discerning church hears what the Spirit is saying.

So why the mystery? Being a Christian in Asia Minor, ruled by the Roman Empire was dangerous, oppressive and anti-Christian. The emperor of that time, Domitian, persecuted Christians without mercy, and even though Nero, the Beast, was dead, they feared his reincarnation. John knew that many of the believers would have been familiar with apocalyptic writings and understood his ‘Revelation’ code.

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, ¹² saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” ¹³ And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” ¹⁴ Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever. (Rev 5:11-14 NKJ)

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. ⁵ And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. ⁶ And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. (Act 2:2-6 NKJ)

So what language were they speaking in heaven?  Clearly, John understood—so was it Galilean?  Actually, they were speaking the language of heaven.  I believe that when we’re full of the Holy Spirit, that we can, right now, experience the heavenly language.  When the Holy Spirit came upon the believers at Pentecost, heaven touched the earth.

So when we pray over situations and circumstance in our lives isn’t it better to pray in the Spirit, joining in agreement with heaven?  Need a healing touch this morning, a financial breakthrough or for God to move in a situation in your life or family?  Pray using your heavenly language and allow the Spirit to lead you.

Bring in your kingdom so that your will is done on earth as it’s done in heaven. (Mat 6:10 CEB)

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, (Eph 5:18-19 NKJ)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Col 3:16 NKJ)

The song by Stephen Hurd sings, “Zion is calling me to a higher place of praise to stand upon the mountain and to magnify his name.  To tell all the people of every nation that he reigns. Zion is calling me to a higher place of praise.”

Should we use the brown hymnal or the red or the blue?  Paul tells us that there’s a song that only the redeemed can sing, the songs of Zion.  They’re not from any hymnal, but from the overflow of the heart. They break forth in spontaneous worship when God’s people come together to worship Him.  Isaiah says, “¹¹ So the ransomed of the LORD shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness; Sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isa 51:11 NKJ)

Such a song can be sung in the natural tongue but more often than not it comes in an unknown tongue as a corporate crescendo of praise.  John in Revelation speaks of hearing, “the voice (singular) of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.” (plural), (Rev 5:11 NKJ) Our praise now is a practice for eternity.

What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.  Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen ” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified. I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.  (1Co 14:15-19 NKJ)

Good news and bad news!  The bad news is that church is not a gas station.  If your reserves are depleted all week, and you come just to get topped up, then you’re missing the whole point.  The good news is that church is like a bank.  You can come there on a Sunday and make a spiritual deposit of the excess that God has poured into your life.

Paul talks about spiritual gifts in 1 Cor 12, about the need for love in the operation of the gifts and then in chapter 14, he speaks of the application of the gifts.  So should I then pray in the Spirit or the understanding—yes!  I should do both, but being aware of the situation and the circumstances.  Remember, tongues edify the person, a prophetic word or interpretation edifies the body.  As little as five ‘Spirit Inspired’ words can work wonders—long sermons don’t always equate with inspiration.