John’s Wilderness 7A: addressing “apparent” change of direction.

I am aware in the last message I drew attention in the case of John the Baptist that even being prepared in the wilderness did not in a sense “immunise” him from the errors of the latter part of his life.

The message appears to even undermine the wilderness preparation. It does not in that God led him into the wilderness and prepared him. Even meeting Jesus, seeing the 3 signs; heaven open, Spirit descending and the Voice of the Father, there should have been no doubt about the identity of the Messiah. He admits in John’s Gospel concerning what God spoke concerning how he would know.

Its not that any process God takes us through fails, He is perfect. Its about how we respond to them.

When I had finished the message I was aware I had changed gears that some may wonder why  I did this.

There is in those so learned to try and put God in some definable box or definable pattern. Yet God seems to confound that many if not all occasions we try. I takes humility to recognise it and try to teach others regarding this. That is why Scripture is of no private interpretation. We need the ministry of teachers in the Church together to discern the revelation in terms of its origins, it’s content, it’s consistency with Scripture. Only then we will see more clearly, but as Paul says albeit a glass darkly.

I was conversing out loud with the Lord one day, about whether we will in this life understand more fully it seemed to me that God shouted at me “there will always be a time when you will not be knowledgeable about all things. ” It boomed from above and I was at peace about that.

God will always be before and beyond us, says St. John of the Cross. As this is the reality we will always see through that glass darkly.

The tendency for Church denominations to try to have a handle on who and what God does will always go the same way. The error will become abuse and the sheep will be scattered. We must face the same diminishing as John. We have no monopoly on God and we won’t used perceived knowledge and authority to impose on, lord it over God’s people.

I hope this addendum suffices the change in context in the last message. It needs clarifying because not even I know much and I have my own circle to keep me theologically accountable.

Maranatha!!!!