spirituality – La Vista Church of Christ

Our Sights Are Set on Heaven

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 16:09:36 +0000

by Roger D. Campbell

On a recent trip to Malaysia, I saw a familiar sight that once again reminded me of one particular practice of the Muslims. In a hotel room where Donna and I spent a couple of nights, there was an arrow on the ceiling pointing toward Mecca. Why is there such an arrow on the ceiling in every hotel room? To show any followers of Islam the direction in which they are to pray five times each day. Mecca "is the holiest city of Islam . . . It lies in western Saudi Arabia . . . The city is the birthplace of Muhammad, the founder of Islam. It is also the site of the Kaaba, the shrine all Muslims face when they pray" [The World Book Encyclopedia (International) Vol. 13, (Chicago, IL: World Book, Inc., 1993), p. 302].

Shift gears with me to another religious scenario. Much of the world news in the early part of last month was about the death of "Pope" John Paul II. The followers of Catholicism turned their attention to the Vatican, the "pope’s" body, and his subsequent funeral service. Some commented that after Mr. John Paul’s death, and before a new "pope" was selected, the Catholic religion was without a head. Others stated that the Catholics had lost their shepherd.

Also fresh on my mind is another matter involving a religious devotee’s sights being in the direction of a special earthly place. Not long ago I taught a lesson on the Book of Daniel, including a reference to Daniel opening his windows and praying "toward Jerusalem" (Daniel 6:10). Before the children of Israel entered the Land of Canaan, God told them that He would choose a place and "put his name there" (Deuteronomy 12:5). Later God revealed what that special place was: He said, "... in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there" (I Kings 11:36). So the Jews counted Jerusalem as God’s "holy city" (Daniel 9:24; Matthew. 4:5). The Muslims focus on Mecca. The Catholics focus on the Vatican, taking their orders from earthly headquarters, and the followers of Judaism focus, and still focus, on Jerusalem.

What about Christians? Do we have a special earthly place to which we give our devotion? Is there one or more earthly locations that we count as holier than others? The answer to both questions is "no." Actually, what we should say is that our Lord’s New Testament nowhere teaches that we are to pray in the direction of any earthly place, nor does it teach that any plot of ground is more holy than any other location.

While we recognize the significance of many historical events that took place in what we now know as Palestine, the gospel of Christ does not indicate that we should think of Palestine as "the Holy Land." Again, biblically speaking, we could name several important events that occurred in Jerusalem, but today, there is nothing about Jerusalem’s soil, water, or air that makes it a "holy place" to members of the Lord’s church.

Christians are a "holy nation" (I Peter 2:9). This is not an earthly nation, but rather a spiritual one. As the children of God, we are one family in His Son (Galatians 3:26-29). Our allegiance is not to Mecca, the Vatican, or Jerusalem. We do not point to any such geographical place as our headquarters or the subject of our heart’s devotion. We belong to Christ, as we were bought with His blood (I Corinthians 6:20). For Him and Him alone, we are committed to forsake all (Luke 14:33).

The Bible tells Christians to look unto Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). And, where is He now? "We have such a high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens" (Hebrews 8:1). I am so thankful that I am a member of the church of Christ. I know that members of the Lord’s church will never have to be subjected to the suspense of humans voting to appoint a new head over us. God has already taken care of that matter, as He made Jesus to be the head of His church (Ephesians 1:22). I know that the church will never be without its head, because Jesus is "alive for evermore" (Revelation 1:18). And, it is comforting to know that the body of the Christ will never be without its true Shepherd. Jesus is "the good shepherd" (John 10:14). Our Lord plainly declared that He is the "one shepherd" of His one flock (John 10:16).

For Christians, our allegiance is to Jesus. Our sights are set on heaven. That is where our citizenship is (Philippians 3:20). That is where our Head resides. Let us ever remember: "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:1-2).

Cathetic Souls

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 21:36:31 +0000

by S.A. Thomas, R.N., B.S.N., B.B.A.
via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 17 No. 4, 31 December 1991

[Editor’s Note: The following article was written by a professional health-care provider who is a faithful Christian.]

Cachexia is a term used to describe a "physical fading of wholeness" and a "progressive wasting away of the body." Medically, this condition is often found in people who have cancer. Webster’s dictionary states that the word "cachexia" is derived from two Greek words: "kakos" (meaning "bad" or "evil") and "hexis" (meaning "condition"). In the New Testament, we find the word "kakos" several times; two examples are I Timothy 6:10 (the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil) and Romans 12:21 (Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good).

Let us take a few minutes to consider some similarities between cancer Cachexia and spiritual Cachexia. The medical diagnosis of this condition appears to have a rather fuzzy and gray area. There is no universally accepted list of guidelines to determine the initial presence of cancer Cachexia concretely. For example, the diagnosis is not based solely on the amount of weight lost, as this may vary significantly from patient to patient, nor is it based on a decrease in food intake, as this may also vary. Thinking of these facts in the light of spiritual things, isn’t it usually difficult to diagnose or detect the exact beginnings of spiritual Cachexia? A person is not in good spiritual health one day, and in a cachectic state the next. It is almost always a gradual process, a "progressive wasting away."

Another consideration that may be misleading, in both medical and spiritual areas, is the size of the cachexia-causing tumor in relation to the body. The quantity of malignant tissue is often very small compared to the total body weight. Likewise, our greed for money, or love of gossip (or whatever our "tumor" might be) may seem like a very small part of us, compared to all our other good works. But beware — if untreated, this "malignant tissue" will continue to grow and will draw nutrients and energy away from our good works. A small amount of "tumor" can result in a very large amount of "wasting away."

Cachexia has been defined as an imbalance between the energy required and the energy available for use. Good works require spiritual energies, which in turn come from keeping our minds on things above, putting God first, and feasting on His word (Psalms 107:9 and Matthew 5:6). If we fail to do these things, our energy level is decreased, our good works cease, and our lights grow dim. Have you recently assessed your spiritual energy level?

There are several causes of cancer Cachexia, some known, some unknown. One major cause is a spontaneous decline in oral intake. Factors associated with this decrease in appetite are many: pain; depression,; anxiety; and worries about finances, about family, and about body image. Likewise, many things can cause a decline in our intake of the Bread of Life, the food which endures to eternal life (John 61:27). Worries and concerns of this world are endless, and if we let them, they will choke us. Are you giving your spiritual diet as much time and thought as you are your physical diet?

Another problem with Cachexia is that even with adequate intake of food, often there exists an abnormal utilization of food products. The body is not functioning correctly, and absorption is either reduced or nonexistent. Also, some studies show that many cancer patients experience taste changes and develop food aversions. This is easy to apply to the spiritual realm—easy, but sad and sobering. Evidently, the Galatians were experiencing a change in taste and were instructed by Paul to return to the true Gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:6).

A frightening fact about the diagnosis of Cachexia is that since this condition is not always the result of inadequate eating, improving nutritional intake often does not reverse Cachexia; the primary cause must first be eliminated. The primary cause may be a combination of factors that contribute to the total disease process. On the spiritual side, many factors can be identified as primary causes of the spiritual decline of souls. I John 2:15-17 names the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. Unless these are eliminated, the mere action of attending worship or reading words on pages of the Bible cannot reverse the Cachetic state. Matthew quotes Isaiah and tells of people who worship God but whose hearts are far from Him (Matthew 15:8).

Cancer Cachexia is different from starvation or protein and calorie malnutrition. With these, the body employs adaptive compensatory mechanisms to maintain balance. For example, during starvation, the body decreases its metabolic rate, resulting in less energy and, consequently, less food being needed. Another natural compensatory mechanism is found in pregnancy: the fetus utilizes nutrients from the mother, and God, in His great wisdom, provided for this by an increase in the mother’s total blood volume of about 50%. But with malignancies, nutrients are taken from the body by the tumor with no provision of replacement. Satan certainly does not provide for the replacement of nourishment either, when he draws from our total store of spiritual energy.

Two other processes that Cachexia impairs are wound healing and immune functioning. The mechanisms in the body that normally would not bother us can cause grave illness or even death. It is difficult, sometimes impossible, to resist the devil and flee from him when our souls are immunosuppressed, in other words, when we have not put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). Also, our spiritual wounds inflicted by Satan remain unhealed and begin to fester and can result in death - the death of our souls.

Cachexia causes fatigue and apathy, which in turn leads to an inability to work or take part in normal family and social life. An endless cycle can develop as a person starts to feel unworthy and inadequate; depression leads to further decrease in appetite and utilization of food, and the Cachetic circle spins away. A Christian who gradually spends less and less time in Bible study, less time associating with other Christians, and less time in worship and prayer. The Cachetic person begins to feel apathetic and unworthy. As stated before, the changes in cancer Cachexia and spiritual Cachexia occur over time, sometimes very subtly. Assess your spiritual life for these warning signs: loss of appetite for the Word, unusual weakness, muscle atrophy, decreased tolerance for Work, decline in attention span, and reduced concentration abilities (especially in prayer). Paul instructs us to examine, to test, ourselves to see if we are in the faith (II Corinthians 13:5).

The bottom line: if cancer Cachexia is not reversed, physical death occurs; if spiritual Cachexia is not reversed, spiritual death occurs. Remember, it can be reversed only by eliminating the primary cause.

Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might (Ephesians 6:10). David, Moses, Isaiah, Habbakuk, and others declared God to be their strength (Psalms 18:1-2; Exodus 15:2; Isaiah 12:2; Habakkuk 3:19). Is He your strength?

Spiritually Minded

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 15:46:16 +0000

by Ronny E. Hinds

A Christian's greatest need, without exception, is to be spiritually minded. This means the primary focus of life is spiritual matters. It means that every thought and action is controlled by what God wants. This way of thinking always asks, "Do these thoughts, does this behavior, please God? How does God want me to think, and what does God want me to do?"

Read and think:

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Romans 8:5-6).

We have a choice; two alternatives: 1) Being carnally minded; 2) Being spiritually minded. The carnal mind makes its life focus (sets its mind on) fleshly things. The spiritual mind makes its life focus (sets its mind on) spiritual things. Note the condition of each mind. The fleshly mind "is death." The spiritual mind "is life and peace."

Let's be honest about it. Every Christian struggles between those two mindsets. At times, we are clearly focused on spiritual things, while at other times, we find ourselves allowing worldly values to determine our attitudes and behavior. The spiritually minded person understands this and continually wages war against worldly influences that seek to control life. "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand" (Ephesians 6:13). The carnal-minded person ignores the danger, seeking to justify participation.

The spiritually minded person is always looking for ways to be and do what God wants. This person never sees their present level of spiritual commitment and development as sufficient. Studying Scripture, self-evaluation, prayer, exhortation, confession, and repentance make up the foundation of their daily lives. "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind..." (Philippians 3:13-15).

Some may ask, "How can I know if I'm carnally or spiritually minded?" Think! When you are faced with deciding whether to do something good for you spiritually versus doing something that satisfies the fleshly mind, which do you choose? Which do you find pleasure in doing? Which gives you the most satisfaction? Which creates more excitement in you? Yes, at times we must force ourselves to do what is spiritually best, but such forcing begins the process of change and the forming of spiritual habits. "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:1-2). Even acceptable activities of the world must always be secondary!

Heavenly Places in Christ

Jeffrey Hamilton — Fri, 10 May 2024 19:43:22 +0000

by Terry Wane Benton

I pointed out that Christians are presently “in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3,7), and one preacher, in disbelief, asked, “What is it like in heaven?” He thought he had me stumped for claiming we are presently in “the heavenly places.” His question reveals a disturbing misunderstanding. It is disturbing because he leads other people into the ditch if he does not know that all Christians are in Christ, which is a heavenly place. If you are not in this heavenly place in Christ, you are not in Christ at all, and if you are not in Christ, you have no spiritual blessings such as redemption through His blood and forgiveness of sins. That is disturbing!

So, how can we be in “the heavenly places in Christ” without being in heaven itself, where Jesus is seated at the right hand of God? The expression “heavenly places” in Christ concerns a spiritual zone relating to being united with Christ. It is “heavenly” instead of “earthly” in origin. Since Jesus came to us from heaven, He is described as “the heavenly gift” (Hebrews 6:4). We have “tasted the heavenly gift.” That means Jesus is a gift that comes to us from heaven as God’s gift to us. If we can have the heavenly gift without being personally located in heaven itself, then there must be a way to enjoy heavenly things without first being in heaven itself.
In like manner, if we can wrestle against “the rulers of the darkness of this age…in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12) then this struggle does not have to be going on in heaven itself. Thus, “heavenly places” can be a zone where we are doing battle with evil forces. When Paul says, “heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3), he speaks of a spiritual zone of safety in Christ where our hearts or spirits may find refuge. So, we are all in “heavenly places” where we are battling with forces of evil, but we are not all “in the heavenly places in Christ.” “Heavenly” simply references the invisible spirit realm, and “heavenly places in Christ” references the spiritual safety zone where we have great spiritual blessings to aid us in the spiritual conflicts we face daily.

To believe that we are not in “heavenly places” is to believe that the rulers of the darkness are right there where Jesus is seated in heaven. That idea also implies that we are not really wrestling against the dark forces since we are not personally in heaven. That is not what the Spirit tells us in Ephesians 6:12. We are really and presently “wrestling against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” In that case, we certainly could not take up the armor of God and fight. We would have to wait till we get to heaven. So, it is beyond reasonable dispute that we are all in the heavenly places. And some of us have come into Christ and were baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27), who is in this heavenly (spiritual) zone. Those who are presently in the heavenly places in Christ will one day get to go home to heaven, which is where Jesus and His throne are located. That place is heaven itself, while we await and do battle with forces of evil and darkness in “the heavenly places.” A place can be “heavenly” without being heaven itself. There is no darkness at all in the very presence of God in heaven, but there is darkness in “the heavenly places” because that is just a spiritual zone that is not fully visible and earthly. The heavenly places in Christ is a spiritual zone we enter now when we are baptized into union with Jesus (Romans 6:3-6; Galatians 3:26-27). In this region we are given great tools and resources for victory. In this region, we have “redemption through His blood, forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:3,7) and many other riches that provide us with the means of victory.

Have you entered the heavenly places in Christ like the early disciples? If not, you remain under the power of the forces of darkness. Can we help you come into the heavenly places in Christ for safety?

The Time of Reformation

Jeffrey Hamilton — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 02:57:26 +0000

by Terry Wane Benton

The Book of Hebrews makes the argument that we had, in the past, been using carnal, earthly things in service to God (Hebrews 9:1-11) but would, from the Old Testament perspective, see a “time of reformation” (Hebrews 9:10) in which we would put down the carnal, earthly types and shadow things and reform to a spiritual counterpart. Instead of an earthly High Priest in an earthly tabernacle, we would see a spiritual High Priest in a spiritual tabernacle. That is the major theme of the change (Hebrews 7:10-12) from the old covenant to the new covenant, the change from an earthly nation (physical Israel) to a spiritual nation (spiritual Israel, the church of Christ).

The Old system used the earthly tabernacle, furnishings, and an earthly Levitical priesthood with various animal sacrifices. In the time of reformation with a “change of the Law” we would have a spiritual house, a spiritual priesthood, a heavenly Jerusalem, a Greater High Priest seated in heaven at the right hand of the Father, and the sacrifice of Jesus was “once for all time and all people”. This reformation from the earthly to the heavenly or spiritual was all part of God’s eternal plan for a better covenant with better things.

Now, we have land, but it is not the physical land of Israel; it is better. It is “the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3), and in this spiritual region, we have “every spiritual blessing” (Ephesians 1:3). This is truly a land flowing with milk and honey. Everything we need is in this spiritual region in Christ. We have our own “Jerusalem,” but it is “Jerusalem above” (Galatians 4:26), not the one on the earth. Thus, our heavenly Jerusalem is far greater than earthly Jerusalem has ever been, even in its finest glory days.

We have our own mountain, but it is not one that you can touch physically. During this time of reformation, you left the earthly things you could touch, and “you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (Hebrews 12:18, 22). The contrast is clear! The earthly city was only a shadow form of the heavenly city. All Christians are gathered together in the heavenly places in Christ.

The time of reformation was entered from Pentecost of Acts 2 forward. Converts to Jesus are “translated out of darkness and into the kingdom of God’s dear Son” (Colossians 1:13), which kingdom Jesus said was “not of this world” (John 18:36). Thus, we are not physically born into this kingdom as the Israelite had been physically born into his earthly kingdom. In this time of reformation, we must be “born again” of the water and Spirit (John 3:3-5). That which is flesh is flesh. That which is spirit is spirit. We see this kingdom not with physical eyes but rather “with the eyes of your understanding” (Ephesians 1:18). We see the mountain that cannot be touched and the heavenly Jerusalem with the eyes of our understanding. We see ourselves as part of a spiritual temple (I Peter 2:5-9) and part of a royal and spiritual priesthood, ministering spiritual things in God’s spiritual house, the church. Isaiah 2:1-4 prophesied that this house is “above the mountains” and is not of the same nature as the house of Israel that had to learn to use the tools of war. Our weapons are not carnal (II Corinthians 10:4f). Our military is not earthly, and our armor is not earthly (Ephesians 6:10-18).

We fight spiritual battles with spiritual weapons while wearing spiritual armor. We are in a marvelous “time of reformation.” We see it through the gospel that opens the blind eyes and turns them into eyes of faith and understanding. You can’t point to this kingdom on an earthly map, for it is within those who have correctly learned Jesus, the King of kings.

Heavenly Places in Christ Versus the Old Earthly Places

While Hebrews is a very thorough book explaining many points of change and the supremacy of Christ over Moses, Aaron, and the old covenant system, other books add insight into this spiritual-over-earthly theme. The book of Ephesians is replete with similar contrasts to the old system. While the old Levitical priesthood system was physically still in motion at Jerusalem and those who rejected Jesus were still pretending God was with them and blessing them through their Mosaic law and animal sacrificial system, Matthew records that when Jesus was crucified, the temple veil was split from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51) indicating that God was no longer associated with that system, and all connection to God was now “in Christ” and through His sacrificial provision. While the Jews continued till AD 70 to use the temple and pretend God was with them, the evidence was clear that “every spiritual blessing was in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). No spiritual blessing is associated with national Israel. All blessings from God are in His church! We are His only people! National Israel is not God's people any longer! They can have His blessings if they obey Jesus the same as anyone else, but they are not God's nation. The time of reformation has changed that arrangement!

Spiritual Temple Greater than the Earthly Temple

The earthly temple in Jerusalem was a shadow form of the greater spiritual temple we now have in Christ, but now “in Christ” in “the heavenly places” we see with the “eyes of your understanding” (Ephesians 1:18) that the spiritual blessings are not associated with the Jews and their temple but are now wholly in a spiritual domain accessible to all nations at all times. The earthly temple in Jerusalem was far inferior to the spiritual temple we now have in Christ. In this spiritual domain, both Jews and Gentiles have equal access to God’s great blessings (Ephesians 2:11-22). The old earthly temple was a tool for concept building. To formulate spiritual concepts, you need a model, something physical, from which to illustrate the greater spiritual concepts. The earthly temple in Jerusalem served that needed purpose but now was no longer needed. The time of reformation had arrived in Christ, and now “you (Christians from Jew and Gentile background) also are being built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit”(Ephesians 2:22). This is the greater thing God had in mind. Use a richly decorated physical temple to illustrate a greater spiritual temple with greater spiritual riches in Christ. When we see with the eyes of our understanding, we have understood why God started with the earthly and then wanted us to graduate to the spiritual by way of inward spiritual perception. The earthly temple was for concept building. When the time was right, Jesus would build the greater spiritual temple, and we would find great inward, spiritual riches that no man could take from us.

The Foundation of the Temple

The earthly temple in Jerusalem had large foundation stones, but the spiritual temple also had foundation stones. They are not earthly stones in nature, but they are the apostles and prophets aligned with Jesus as the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). The stones of the spiritual temple build upward from this mighty foundation. Peter says to Christians that we are “living stones” that “build up a spiritual house” (I Peter 2:5-8). So, the “time of reformation” had arrived in Jesus to reform from a physical nation (Israel) with a physical temple in Jerusalem to a spiritual nation with a spiritual temple in a new and greater “heavenly place” in Christ, a “heavenly Jerusalem” (Hebrews 12:22f). We have been in this time of reformation since Pentecost of Acts 2, where “this Jesus you have crucified is now both Lord and Christ“ (Acts 2:36). He has all authority (Lord), and He is the Christ/Messiah/King over this great spiritual kingdom. If you see with the eyes of your understanding that all spiritual blessings are now in Christ, and if you can see that you need to build your life on the proper foundation, you can do as the 3000 on Pentecost and turn your life around and be baptized into union with Jesus where every spiritual blessing can be enjoyed. Can we help you see how important and absolutely essential that is?

In the former time, the time of dealing with Israel for concept building, the earthly nation, earthly places, the earthly temple, etc., all illustrated God’s greater plan to bring about a “time of reformation” (Hebrews 9:10) in which the earthly would be reformed or changed into spiritual counterparts for all the nations (Genesis 12:1-3). God always had in mind blessing all the nations through the coming Seed of Abraham (Jesus). When Jesus finished the job of satisfying the law of righteousness and fulfilling the sacrificial demand of justice and mercy, the new and better covenant could start this time of reformation. Hebrews emphasizes that we now have everything better through Jesus. Read the book of Hebrews and see how many things are “better” and “more excellent” in this time of reformation in Christ.

Our focus for now is that the “time of reformation” is seen clearly in the book of Ephesians. Already, we have seen that every “spiritual blessing” is “in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). The heavenly places in Christ are accessible to any heart anywhere. You do not have to go to physical Jerusalem to obtain God’s great blessings of forgiveness and reconciliation. You can enter Christ from any place, a spiritual move from worldly attachment to heavenly connection of heart and spirit, which connection is made in learning Christ Jesus.

Made Us Accepted in the Beloved – Ephesians 1:6

In the old system, you went up to Jerusalem, offered animal sacrifice, and prayed for forgiveness of sins, as you see with the Pharisee and Publican in Luke 18:9-14. One went down from that earthly Jerusalem temple justified. But in this time of reformation, we are made accepted in our heavenly Jerusalem in the heavenly places in Christ. He makes us accepted or justified in Christ. Those who entered this spiritual domain in Christ have the blessing of being able to confess their sins at any time and be forgiven (I John 1:7-9; 2:1-4). Our sacrifice is a one-time-for-all-time sacrifice in Jesus. He does not have to be offered over and over. So, the basis of forgiveness is always available. We have only to spiritually make our appeal for it when we sin. He makes us accepted in the Beloved.

Redemption Through His Blood – Ephesians 1:7

Redemption under the old system involved animal sacrifice, but in this time of reformation, we find that all those animals were foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice we would have in Jesus. We have been bought at a price, a dear price. God gave His Son, the life-blood of Jesus, to buy us off the slave market of sin and condemnation. We have “forgiveness” of sins in this heavenly place, this spiritual temple in the Lord.

Riches of His Grace – Ephesians 1:7

As the old earthly Jerusalem temple was decked with gold, silver, bronze, and precious stones, those were but physical illustrations of the greater spiritual riches in Christ. So, the riches of His grace decorate our lives, our spiritual temple, and these great riches include the provisions of grace, redemption through His blood, and forgiveness of sins. We are nothing without these great riches provided by His marvelous grace.

The old system gloried in the earthly city and beautifully decorated temple at Jerusalem. In this time of reformation, our glory is in the beauty of Jesus’ marvelous spiritual blessings that decorate our lives, spirits, and hearts united to Him in the heavenly places. The riches that decorated the earthly temple were but shadows of the great spiritual riches in the heavenly places in Christ. God is not as interested in our physical wealth as our spiritual wealth. How rich are you inside? Is the kingdom of Jesus in you and you in His marvelous house? This time of reformation should enrich our minds more than anything in the world! Are you seeing this with the eyes of your understanding?

The kings of Israel sat on earthly thrones in earthly places like Jerusalem, but God wanted the earthly to typify and project the heavenly or spiritual places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). His plan was to start first with the earthly things so that we could build concepts of the greater and eternal in our minds and spirits. Thus, in the time of reformation that began after Jesus’ death and resurrection, God “seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:20). This position of rule is “far above all principality and power and might and dominion” (Ephesians 1:21). So, our king over all kings is ruling from a greater position and vantage point. Our king is ruling with the “name above all names.” There is no king who ever lived on earth who had a greater kingdom than the kingdom we are able to enjoy in Christ Jesus. He is over everything, and all enemies are “under His feet,” meaning that they cannot rise up to conquer Jesus as enemies rose up to conquer Egyptian, Babylonian, and other earthly kings. All enemies are under His feet. You cannot conquer a spiritual kingdom with carnal weapons of the earth. Our kingdom is “not of this world” (John 18:36), and one cannot put King Jesus under anyone’s feet. In this time of reformation, we have a king seated where no human arrows, spears, catapults, bullets, or bombs can bring Him down in defeat.

The weapons we use are not carnal weapons (II Corinthians 10:4f), and the armor we put on to fight is not material but spiritual (Ephesians 6:1-18). So, Jesus has a spiritual kingdom with a spiritual military with spiritual weapons. Under the old system, before the “time of reformation,” we had Israel as a physical nation, with a physical military, using carnal weapons, but now we have spiritual Israel (the church of Christ) with a spiritual “heavenly Jerusalem,” a spiritual military that does not use carnal weapons, and this is what Isaiah had predicted. Isaiah 2:1-4 predicted the greater house that is “exalted above the hills,” while earthly Jerusalem had been on the hills. The law of the Lord would go forth “from Jerusalem”, but it would gather all peoples into a heavenly Jerusalem. Those who learned from the Lord would beat their swords into plowshares because they would no longer employ the carnal weapons in that time of reformation. They would learn that kind of war no more. A spiritual kingdom fights spiritual battles of the heart and spirit. “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood” (Ephesians 6:10-12). Earthly Israel had to fight those kinds of battles, but spiritual Israel does not fight those kinds of battles. Nor do we use physical instruments of war. I might add here that we do not use physical instruments of music in worship either.

We are in a time of reformation where the carnal tools of the temple service are reformed to spiritual (Hebrews 9:1-11), and the carnal weapons of our spiritual military are powerful weapons that deal with the heart and spirit. Once you understand, see with the eyes of your understanding (Ephesians 1:18), you will see why the church of Christ does not employ the carnal instruments in our good fight of faith nor in our songs that play on the heartstrings. Rather than the carnal things we saw in the old system of earthly Israel, the time of reformation has brought reform from the earthly to the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. If we miss this point, we miss the fact that we have an opportunity right now to be in the Lord’s true spiritual Israel, and we miss the fact that His kingdom is among us now. If we miss this, we miss the opportunity to go to the eternal promised land. Don’t remain blind to the spiritual things Jesus has provided for you in the heavenly places in Him!

The Books of Hebrews and Ephesians have shown us the graduation from the carnal or earthly to the heavenly or spiritual. So far, we have seen the contrast between earthly Israel and the reformation into spiritual Israel, the church of Christ. We saw an earthly place on earth where earthly Israel presided, which foreshadowed the “heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). We saw earthly Jerusalem at the center of earthly Israel. Now, in the reformation, we have come to the “heavenly Jerusalem” (Hebrews 12:22f).

We saw the earthly kingdom under the greatest earthly king, David, and now, in the time of reformation, we have the heavenly king, Jesus, the greater antitype of David. We have seen the earthly temple in earthly Jerusalem, and now we are in the time of reformation where we have a spiritual temple (Ephesians 2:19f; I Peter 2:4-9).

In the old system, we have the earthly priests wearing physical white garments, and in the time of reformation, we see that the white garments are white spiritual garments of righteousness in Christ. We saw an earthly military using carnal weapons in earthly Israel, and now we have a spiritual army with spiritual armor (II Corinthians 10:4f; Ephesians 6:10-18). The time of reformation does not use the earthly instruments of war and battle. Therefore, we can hardly neglect to see that neither are we using the animal sacrifices, burning of incense, golden candelabra with literal oil lamps, table of shewbread, and literal altar and ark of the covenant, nor the instruments of music seen in the Old Testament system.

Hebrews 9 called the old “carnal” and “earthly” instruments in an earthly temple or tabernacle, but the “time of reformation” called for a dropping of the earthly for the spiritual things they were typifying. In Ephesians 2:19-22 we see that the time of reformation called for a spiritual temple. If the temple itself is spiritual, then the altar is spiritual, the lighting inside is spiritual, the incense is spiritual, and the shewbread is spiritual. Our source of oil for our spiritual lamps is the Holy Spirit's revealed word. Our light comes from the inward enlightening that the gospel of Jesus brings to our minds and hearts. Our bread is Jesus’ body and blood (John 6). Our incense is prayer and good works. “As Christ’s love” (Ephesians 5:2) is to God a “sweet-smelling aroma,” so too is our “walking in love” (Ephesians 5:2). Thus, the earthly incense on the altar in the temple is not the same incense used in the Old Testament system. Nor are we gathered in an earthly temple made by hands to offer such incense. The old temple and incense were carnal to give visual concepts that God wanted a spiritual relationship of the heart, where we come from any place in the world into a spiritual house, and have a share in Jesus’ sacrifice, and combine our love with His love to make a spiritual “sweet-smelling aroma” to God. The earthly incense is no longer used in this time of reformation because the earthly incense was only illustrating the mixture of love that would make us change from the stench of sinful worldliness to the sweet-smelling aroma of people changed by the love of Christ and projecting that love through good works of service.

We take the fire from the altar of Jesus’ love on the cross, mix it on the spiritual altar of our hearts, and send up an aroma that pleases God. God has no interest in us maintaining the incense of the old system; however, many churches today try to justify it with the Old Testament. They fail to understand that we are in “the time of reformation,” where we do not use a physical temple, have a physical altar, or use the physical mixture of incense that only typifies the better spiritual things in Christ.

If you try to adopt the incense of the Mosaic or Levitical system into the church, you must build the same kind of altar and utilize the same Levitical priesthood. You cannot pick one carnal item and exclude the other carnal items associated with that system. It is all or none (Gal.5:1-4). The time of reformation calls for incense, but it is spiritual, the mixture of Jesus’ love into our hearts and sending out the sweet influence of His love into our actions of love and service. That is the incense God is seeking from us, and the temple we are in as we offer our aroma of love is spiritual, not a temple made by hands.

Are you living in “the time of reformation?” Or are you trying to mix the former carnal system with some of the new? God is not pleased with a mixture! He offers His grace only in the heavenly provisions in Christ. We hope you can see this!

The Barrier of the Law of Moses

In seeing with “the eyes of your understanding” (Ephesians 1:18), we have seen the “time of reformation” break us away from the Law of Moses that directed earthly Israel, and now we have graduated to Jesus who now has “all authority” (Matthew 28:18f; Ephesians 1:18-22). He is higher than any ruler on earth who ever ruled, and He is positioned higher in power and glory than any name ever named. That is what is so special about this “time of reformation.” They never had such a One in such a position under the Old Testament system.

Now, we have Jesus having “abolished in His flesh” the “law of commandments contained in ordinances” (Ephesians 2:15). That describes the Law of Moses, including the Ten Commandments. This is not to say that under Christ, we are now free to steal, bear false witness, commit adultery, or murder, but that the entire law system under Moses carries baggage that will not move under the law and rule of Jesus. The baggage of the Law of Moses is that it was given to the Israelites and not all nations and is a cause of enmity between the haves (Israelites) and the have-nots (all Gentile nationalities). The Israelites were favored by the Law of commandments, and the rest of the nations felt the enmity it caused. It was like Joseph’s coat of many colors. It was nice for Joseph, but how did that help the other brothers feel, especially if Joseph bragged about it? The Jews bragged of God giving them alone the marvelous Law from Sinai, and thus Paul called it “enmity” (Ephesians 2:14-15), a wall between Jews and Gentiles that Jesus came to remove. By abolishing the law of commandments and starting all nations under a new and equally beneficial system, He gave us a common rallying point, a very special point of unity for anybody and everybody. He gave the cross for all nations, and there is the banner that calls Jews and Gentiles to the same body or church.

The time of reformation removes the source of enmity, the Law of Commandments given through Moses, and gives us a source of commonality, reconciliation, and unity. Jesus brings peace between two former enemies, the Jews and Gentiles, who come to know Jesus, share the love they gained from the cross, and bond together in one body or one church. This one body is a shared spiritual body. Old Judaism created tension and separation, a dividing wall or barrier between the earthly nations (and still does), but all who are “made near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13-17), share the greatest common ground of all, the common bond of a common faith, a common hope, and a common ground of the greatest love, with the greatest spiritual riches and benefits that are equally available to all nations.

This does not mean that Jesus is lawless. Abolishing the law of Moses does not mean Jesus does not embody the same righteous principles contained in the Law, but that you come to know what is right through a new and better channel. Jesus is all the righteousness that Moses’ law demanded. These are two different vehicles that carry demands of righteousness. Moses’ law carried it to Israel through the Law of Commandments, which created enmity with others since it was exclusively for the Israelites alone. Jesus carries the demands of righteousness in Himself, showing it, demonstrating it, and displaying it for all nations to examine. It sets the possibility of life for us as the banner or rallying point of the cross (He paid, we get to live). He invites and draws us by gentle cords of love, while law alone would create separation. The rules of moral righteousness or moral right and wrong come to us through Jesus equally to all nations. We still cannot commit adultery, steal, bear false witness, murder, etc., but we all share the same standard as it comes to us through a better Mediator and a better Lawgiver and comes in a better covenant.

The wall between Jews and Gentiles is broken down where we hear the good news of Jesus and come to the royal banner of the cross for the sharing of great blessings from God. We are not under the old system and must not allow it to revive. Leave it where God left it! It is abolished, and the walls between Jews and Gentiles are broken down. In this time of reformation, we share the love of Christ, the blood of Christ, and His body or church, where all spiritual blessings are enjoyed in common. Don’t let the old inferior system revive. Enjoy this time of reformation, where greater things are ours to share! Thank God through our common bedrock and cornerstone, Jesus the Christ!

Changes in Worship

The Law has changed in this time of reformation (Heb.7:11-12). There is no earthly tabernacle or temple to which we must gather in worship to God or to bring an offering of animal sacrifice, nor Levitical priests to whom we must bring those offerings. In fact, we (Christians) are the priests. We don’t wear the same physical white robes of the Levitical priests, but we wear the white garments of righteousness, spirits, and consciences washed clean because of Jesus’ blood. The church of Christ is sanctified and cleansed “with the washing of water by the word” (Ephesians 5:26-27) and is presented “without spot and wrinkle” just as the priests in Israel were symbolically presenting themselves at the earthly temple. One thing that stood out in the former system of Judaism was that they divided the musicians into the singers and the players. These were part of the Levitical system all of which typified the greater spiritual service of the church. The church is the antitype, the real thing, anticipated by the darker forms seen in the Levitical service.
So, let us examine what we saw in the old forms of Judaism, with the temple service performed by the Levites, and see what we can glean from the shadow forms of the spiritual reformation.

First, we should make note of the procession moving into the temple compound or area around the Tabernacle. The Psalmist observed:

"They have seen Your procession, O God,
The procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the maidens playing timbrels" (Psalms 68:24-25 NKJV).

We cannot avoid noticing that singing was one category of music and playing was another category of music. They were grouped accordingly. As they marched in procession to the sanctuary, there were the singers in front and next, the players on instruments. In the latter category were the maidens playing timbrels. So, if you sang, you were in one group, and if you played, you were in another group. If you were not a Levite, you were not in the procession at all. You would be observing what the Levites were doing on your behalf. But, let it be clear that singers and players were two distinct groups.

Let’s observe that singing is a separate act and category of music than playing. In order to sing, you need vocal cords and songs to share in common with the other singers. Songbooks and a coordinator or leader would aid in singing. For the group behind the singers in the procession, the players, there were various instruments like flute, lyre, harp, tambourines, etc. To aid a person in playing, you would need some kind of instrument external to the human body. If I were designated to that second group of players, I would need something to aid me in doing the job of playing since I am not in the category of singers. What might aid me in my job of playing? Well, a harp or lyre might aid me in getting this job done. The singers have their aid in getting their job accomplished, and the players have their aid in getting their job accomplished.

Now, as we look at that old system, our minds begin to wonder what we should see in “the time of reformation.” We expect a reform to change certain things. What things are reformed or changed in the “time of reformation” (Hebrews 9:1-12)? We see that every disciple is now a priest wearing spiritual garments of righteousness instead of the physical white ephod or external robe. In the time of reformation, there is no separate priesthood. Every Christian is a priest (I Peter 2:4-9), and we all wear white spiritual garments, minister in a spiritual tabernacle, and utilize all spiritual instruments. Our altar is spiritual and the sacrifice is the accomplished sacrifice of Christ. We offer no more animal sacrifices, our oil for our lampstand is spiritual, and we are illuminated with the excellence of the knowledge of Christ. Our incense is spiritual, and our music is “speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Ephesians 5:17-19), and notice where the melody is made. “Make melody in the heart!” A spiritual temple and spiritual instruments are used in a new and better covenant, and all we can see is that historically, the early churches dropped the external incense, animal sacrifices, altars, and instruments of music and presented the melody from the heart. The physical instruments in the old system foreshadowed the spiritual need to attend the singing with melody but pointed us to “melody in the heart” (specific to the spiritual heartstrings). The heartstrings are to be plucked so that we are not merely mouthing empty words but words that resonate from our inner senses of will and emotion. Singing came first in the procession toward the worship of God, and the melody came closely behind the singers by bringing the melody that attended the singers. When the early disciples knew the “time of reformation” had come into play, they dropped the external melody on the instruments and brought forth the melody, the pluck, and the vibration of the emotional strings of the heart. Historically, the early churches did not use musical instruments in their service of praise to God. It would take another 500 years before we see the Roman Catholics bring forth the instruments of music and then under great objection.

Later in the Reformation Movement (the efforts to reform the politically dominant Roman Catholic Church), we saw leaders among the Baptists, Presbyterians, and Methodists oppose using instrumental music in worship. Only in the last 200-250 years have the instruments become accepted and now expected among the various denominations. But that was more because of the carnal interest of pleasing our own ears than in seeking to adhere to what is biblically authorized by scripture command and president in this time of reformation. If we copied the early disciples in what was understood as acceptable to the Lord, we would do as they did and drop the earthly instruments in favor of the spiritual strings of melody in the heart. The Lord is seeking those who want to worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:21-24), but knowing that, like Cain, many want to bring before God what they like (Genesis 4:1ff) rather than what God has authorized. A more excellent sacrifice is when we obey God from the heart and stay within the bounds of His authority, as expressed in the New Testament during this time of reformation.

That most of the modern denominations started in agreement that instrumental music was part of the Old Testament system but was not to be included in the New Testament “time of reformation” (Hebrews 9:1-12) is evident in the following quotes:

“I have no objection to instruments of music in our worship, provided they are neither seen nor heard.” [John Wesley, founder of Methodism, quoted in Adam Clarke’s Commentary, Vol. 4, p. 685].

How did John Wesley reach this conclusion? It was self-evident that the change from an earthly temple service to a spiritual temple service disclosed the absence of the earthly instruments in the spiritual service of making “melody in the heart” (Ephesians 5:19). The early Methodists were, like the Greek Orthodox Catholics, against bringing together the carnal and spiritual in this time that called for the spiritual and the dropping of the carnal ordinances that characterized the old Judaic system. Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, was insistent that the instruments of music had no place in Christian worship because of the contrast between the time of reformation and the old earthly system. He said emphatically and passionately:

“But were it even evident, which it is not, either from this or any other place in the sacred writings, that instruments of music were prescribed by divine authority under the law, could this be adduced with any semblance of reason, that they ought to be used in Christian worship? No; the whole spirit, soul, and genius of the Christian religion are against this; and those who know the Church of God best, and what constitutes its genuine spiritual state, know that these things have been introduced as a substitute for the life and power of religion; and that where they prevail most, there is least of the power of Christianity. Away with such portentous baubles from the worship of that infinite Spirit who requires His followers to worship Him in spirit and truth, for to no such worship are these instruments friendly.” [Adam Clarke (Methodist), Adam Clarke’s Commentary, Vol. II, pp. 690-691].

Clarke was very emphatic and outspoken about his passion for keeping the time of reformation (from the carnal system to the reformation into a spiritual system), saying,

“I am an old man, and I here declare that I never knew them to be productive of any good in the worship of God, and have reason to believe that they are productive of much evil. Music as a science I esteem and admire, but instrumental music in the house of God I abominate and abhor. This is the abuse of music, and I here register my protest against all such corruption of the worship of the author of Christianity.” [Adam Clarke, Methodist].

A modern Methodist would not realize how strange modern music is compared to the early Methodist assemblies. Most think it is strange for a church to have singing only without the blaring of guitars and organs. However, even the term “acapella” means “in the manner of the church” because that was historically the way all the churches saved a very few careless rebels. It was not strange to hear “acapella” music (singing without instruments) in churches. It was rather strange to hear anything but acapella. Adam Clarke was not a strange case; a weird commentator with weird ideas. It was the time of reformation, when the carnal system had been the symbolic time of the past, and the present Christian age was the time of spiritual reality. Most of the denominational leaders were aware of the contrast between the carnal Judaic system and the worship of God “in spirit” and truth in this time of reformation.

If the instruments of battle (swords and armor) were now spiritual (Ephesians 6:10-18), were not carnal and physical, and the temple is not physical but spiritual (Ephesians 2:18ff; I Peter 2:5-9), then why would all the temple elements be reformed to spiritual with the one exception of retaining the musical instruments? Your instrument of war is now spiritual (II Corinthians 10:4f), but would your instrument of music retain its place in this time of reformation? Everything else would reform to a spiritual instrument, but not this? Wesley and Clarke were voicing objection to allowing instrumental music into the worship of the church precisely because they had a reverent appreciation for the authority of the New Testament and the change from the old to the new and living way. Melody is to be made “in the heart” (Ephesians 5:19), the only instrument God is interested in us using in His worship in this "time of reformation.".

Spiritism versus Spirituality

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sun, 21 Apr 2024 23:51:10 +0000

by Terry Wane Benton

Spiritism is occultic, feeling and mood-based, and imagination-based, whereas “spirituality” is revelation and scripture-based. Those who are truly “spiritual” will acknowledge that the things Paul wrote are the commandments of the Lord (I Corinthians 14:35f). Spiritism is trying to contact the dead, spirit world through imagination and feeling-based seances. Here, you try to call up spirits from the realm of the dead and to do that; you have to set the tone for the mind to get in tune with the imagination of spirits making contact. This is the way of incantations, trance-like states. African tribal dances were mood-setting efforts to contact the spirit world. That is “spiritism,” and many involved in that culture of thought transferred that way of thinking to a mixture of the gospel, only imagining that this is the way of making contact with the Holy Spirit of God. They mixed their pagan occultism or spiritism with the gospel and now transferred feeling-based spiritism to imagining contact with the Holy Spirit of God. This is the foundation of Pentecostalism. Modern Pentecostal churches got their feelings from occultic feelings now wrapped in imaginations that they are being “moved by the Holy Spirit.” Much of what we see today is imagination confused with spirituality (revelation-based). Some settle for a mixture of imagination and revelation (the scriptures), but imagination wins over revelation when there is a conflict between scripture and feeling.

Examples of imagination-based religions are seen in many TV evangelists' health and wealth gospels. Oral Roberts imagined that God had revealed a special message to him, and he “felt” that it had led to an appeal to the masses to help him build a hospital in Oklahoma that would cure cancer. There was an imaginary vision of a huge, 900-foot-tall Jesus involved in his self-deception. People were suckered into the scheme that did not pan out as a cure for cancer. Roberts was deceived by his occultic spiritism, which he wrongly thought was communication from God. Jim Jones deceived hundreds into following him into South America and formed what he called “the People’s Temple.” Nine hundred people followed him to their death, drinking poison per his instructions, because the power of imagination and feeling trumps the actual revelation of scriptures, the Bible. Had people understood the difference between true “spirituality” (Bible-based revelation) and “spiritism” (imagination and feeling-based direction), many lives would have been saved, and none would have been exploited because of such ignorance.

People today are often heard to say, “I’m feeling the Spirit move,” as they imagine this is the way the Holy Spirit of God communicates to us. Joseph Smith created the Book of Mormon and other so-called “revelations” through such a feeling-based imagination. When you talk to Mormon “elders” today about proof of the Book of Mormon, they will often appeal to you to accept their claim based on feeling and imagination. Beth Moore often uses phrases about being “moved” by the Spirit. It is a culture of thought based upon spiritism but is far from the spirituality that lets the commandments revealed in scripture have the upper hand.

Spirituality acknowledges that the final authority is what the scriptures say and imply (I Corinthians 14:33-36). Nothing trumps the authority of the scriptures. In spiritism, nothing trumps the feelings directed by imagination. When one imagines that the Holy Spirit is guiding them, it does not matter if the Scriptures contradict the doctrine or practice. The Holy Spirit sends signals through their feelings and imagination, which will always trump the Scriptures.

Is your faith based on feelings and imagination? Or do you stand firmly in the tested and proven revelation of the sacred Scriptures? One way is “spiritism,” and the other is true spirituality. The real spiritual followers of Jesus know the difference. Deceived people feel their way into a perversion, while spiritual people study their way into solid truth (John 8:31,32; Acts 17:11) and build their spiritual house on the rock (Matthew 7:21ff). Are you spiritual? Or a mere spiritist?