God’s Holy Deposit

This week’s spiritual ‘intel’ began with a dream where I was told, “You have swallowed a cannon shed!”

Weird, huh?

The following morning, I heard the phrase, “You’re sitting on a gold mine.”

Later that day I watched a TV mystery where that exact phrase was used: “She is sitting on a gold mine.”

The character was referring to an elderly woman who owned a large tract of land where natural gas was discovered.

 She seemed completely unconcerned about its value and had no desire to sell.

Then, today, I heard the phrase, “she is sitting on a powder keg.”

As you know, I view these spiritual tidbits like prophetic touchstones nudging me toward more biblical study of a particular subject.

These phrases all point to having something valuable and powerful in my possession.

The phrase “swallowed a cannon shed” seems intentionally absurd.

It has a resonance with something just as preposterous found in the bible. Jesus’ rebuke of the Pharisees; they strain out gnats and swallow camels.

The image of swallowing a camel makes the inconsistency described memorable.

This is found in Matthew 23 where Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for many things, often referred to as the eight ‘woes’ because each admonition begins with “woe to you who…”

One of these woes is given to those who  “strain out a gnat and swallow a camel.”

It shows the absurdity of fixating on small, external rules while ignoring significant heart issues that or birthed in the heart. Namely justice, mercy, and faith.

These Pharisees and teachers of the law were considered to be the pinnacle of moral integrity of the time. But Jesus saw through the outer veneer into the reality of their self-righteousness, pride, and moral bankruptcy.

When we keep a to a set of rules it is easy to tell ourselves we are righteous.

All while engaging in significant wrongdoing in our hearts.

Is that a message for today ‘s leaders or what?

Lets return to the bare bones’ intel of this week’s message.

It refers to something valuable and powerful within me. This is something not uniquely within me per se but every believer.

There is also, though, a shed involved. What could that mean?

A shed usually refers to a bare bones homely structure used to hold less important or even neglected tools.

Most of us put things in the shed that we don’t use often but also don’t want to part with.

I might even forget what I have stored in the shed.

We can look at its use in either a positive or negative light.

Protecting something precious from thieves and inclement weather, that’s good.

Conversely, I could be hindering easy access to something powerful.

I also considered that “cannon” has two spellings with different meanings.

One, a weapon, a cannon.

Two,  a ‘canon’ is a collection of authoritative writings, art, or music.

We refer to the canon of Scripture, a canon of Shakespeare or even Pachelbel’s Canon.

Both weapon and library of works fit the imagery of the deposit of the Holy Spirit the Lord promised those who believe in Him.

There is a vast library of knowledge and ‘Dunamis’ power within this deposit.

A powder keg indicates something alive and volatile.

Here is where I remind you about the need to read the bible and study it as a whole.

Not just topics that are of interest to us like what I tend to do on this blog.

Sure, Holy Spirit can tell us about a scripture without our prior knowledge of its existence.

Mostly, it is up to us. We have to put the scripture into our mental databases for the Holy Spirit to ‘retrieve’ or remind us of it.

I am grateful for the years I spent in a Baptist church and its emphasis on bible study.

I do not find many Charismatic people who are as versed.

Both Word and Spirit are necessary for us to be rooted and grounded and flourish.

These little nudges about an inner treasure reminded me of Colossians 1: 25 I was made a minister of this church according to the commission from God granted to me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, the mystery which had been hidden from the past ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

So, to follow the thread, am I just sitting on this treasure?

To sit on something indicates a posture of passivity. I am not doing anything with it.

Does that indicate ignorance of the true value in the gold mine found on my own property?

Might the shed represent a doctrine, a structure I have internalized in order to protect the treasure of the gospel that has nothing to do with its true worth and power?

I think its about separating the vessel and that which it contains.

To discern between the common and the holy.

To know what the word of God says and take down any doctrine that does not align with it.

I need to deconstruct any teachings that have hindered a sincere faith in the simple gospel.

1 Corinthians 2:1 And when I came to you, brothers, and sisters, I did not come as someone superior in speaking ability or wisdom, as I proclaimed to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 I also was with you in weakness and fear, and in great trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of mankind, but on the power of God.

2 Corinthians 4:5 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.7 But we have this treasure in earthen containers, so that the extraordinary greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves

To be able to discern between the common and the holy I need to learn how to divide the word rightly. 2 Timothy 2:15

I also need to divide between the message and the messenger.

It also occurs to me this is when we get in trouble.

We tend to think the vessel and glory within are one and the same.

We glorify the vessel and when there is moral failure we lose faith in the message they brought.

We need teachers. People who have studied the word in depth.

Through my own study I can protect myself from teachers who overinflate the weight of a verse or two to support a doctrine or take verses out of context to support their own values.

I have said before, no apostle, teacher or pastor will stand beside me as my advocate on the day of judgment. Only Jesus is our advocate.

It is also only His word and power that give me strength to choose the narrow way in the present world.

Are you aware of how much the Lord gave you when He gave you, His Spirit?

Are you making regular trips to the library?

Are you accessing His knowledge and power?

The phrase feed on Him in your heart by faith just came to mind as I write.

It is found in the Common book of prayer is often used in communion.

The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for you preserve your body and soul unto everlasting life. Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in thy heart by faith, with thanksgiving.

Do you feed on Him in your heart by faith?

I encourage you to read His word daily.

Then you can also check in with Him many times a day. What do I mean check in?

Let your thoughts go to Him. Tell Him something. Ask Him a question.

He told us He is always with us so we can talk to Him and listen for His answer.

You have a wondrous library of knowledge, the greatest of wealth and explosive power available to you in Him.

Finally, I give you Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1: 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places

All the love my friends.