Today we begin reading the Gospel of Luke. A chain reaction of our thoughts was triggered off by the dramatic appearance of an angel to Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. All the people were “praying without at the hour of incense” Presumably this was the ninth hour: we recall that Peter and John went up into the temple at the ninth hour the hour of prayer (Acts 3 v.1) Dramatic things sometimes happen when people pray. As I type this it is 9 am – but it is also the 9th day of the month, a month which is the 9th month of the year. In this evil world we need times of prayer more than ever.

When Jesus was dying on the cross there was darkness over all the land until the 9th hour (Matt.27:45) – and we realize that the 9th hour to the Jew in those days was 3 pm. We live in a world in which there has been spiritual darkness as to the meaning of life and the reality of God. At some point that darkness will be dramatically lifted, but then, those who have not seen the light will find it is too late – the door will be shut as the parable says.

Zachariah was blessed, but he was struck dumb and mute – he was told his prayer had been heard, but he did not really believe and until 9 months had passed and the babe was born did he get the ability to speak again. Then God used him as a witness that made all the people marvel. (Luke 1 v.65) and the event was talked about everywhere.

So this chapter is about the drama of God’s intervention in the normal course of events – and the affect it had - the greatest of which is the faith of Mary his mother and the wonderful words she uttered. We stand now at the eleventh hour, and the appeal to us is as when Jesus talks of “the eleventh hour” – let us respond to what he said [Matt. 20 v.6], for the Master is looking for those who are ready to put their hands to the plough in “the eleventh hour.”

In contrast there was no one willing to put work for God at the time Ezekiel was writing (Ch,23). The way people lived then was the same as more and more people are living now, giving themselves over to sexual perversions, although the language he uses had, as its main aim, the portrayal of the total spiritual idolatry of the people. It provides us with a very unsavoury read, just as so much available now is very unsavoury. Let us read God’s word more and more – and what a wonderful message Luke has for us for the rest of this month.

We made reference yesterday to those who boast – and how we see this attitude in politicians today. We now read in Corinthians of Paul’s comments and the things he could boast about if he wanted to. The final chapters illustrate that boastful attitudes were still a problem at Corinth, they also illustrate that Paul was thankful in a way, that “a thorn was given me in a flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated” [v.7].

We cannot be sure what this “thorn” was, some disability, many think could have been poor eyesight. Turn on 2 or 3 pages and look at the last chapter of Galatians, Paul writes “See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand” [v.11] which indicates difficulty in writing which would most likely be caused by poor eyesight.

This handicap, whatever it was, stopped him from being too elated and so he says, “for the sake of Christ then I am content with weaknesses ...” But why is it called “a messenger of Satan”? It is a figure of speech to describe adversity. Satan is a Hebrew word, and many times in the Old Testament it is translated as “adversary” and a particular person is named. Adversity brings out the best in disciples!

In completing this letter he expresses the fear that when he comes “I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality and sensuality that they have practiced” (12 v.21). There is the blunt request (13 v.5) “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves that Jesus Christ is IN you” (13 v.9).

The atmosphere at Corinth seems to have been very much like that in Australia, indeed among all who are struggling to maintain their faith today, in adverse conditions. We need God’s word IN our thoughts every day as a defence against the fleshly attitudes all around us. Paul says, don’t you realize Christ is IN you? Those who are baptised must realize this – every day. We prove that Christ is in us by becoming more and more like our Lord and Master in the way we think and act. To conclude Paul writes, “Finally brothers (& sisters), rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace” [v.11]

People boast today of everything they can which will add to their prestige. Politicians in particular are very anxious about the image they are creating – what people think of them. It has to be good or they will not get re-elected, we have had a surfeit of this in recent weeks.

Our chapters in 2nd Corinthians today illustrate that attitudes like this were a problem at Corinth. It is interesting to note Paul’s tactic in writing his second letter; his opening chapters include praise for the improving spirit in the ecclesia so that “in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ we will boast about you”(1 v.14).

Paul’s success in Corinth is creating envy and jealousy among others. We note how those who have only a limited grasp of the spiritual way of thinking with their minds largely dominated by fleshly motivations, especially boasting, they presume that others have minds that operate in the same way.

Paul says that these, “commend themselves ... they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.” [10 v. 12] The real seriousness of this type of mind is that it is developed from the way of thinking that led to sin in the Garden of Eden, note how Paul makes this point. [11 v.3]

At Corinth it was leading some to “be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims a different Jesus to the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.” [v.3,4]

If our minds do not dwell (live) with constant input from the mind of God and his son we all too quickly descend to human ways of thinking and boasting – because boasting is what it amounts to. The present generation uses the word “ego.” It is said that having self esteem is very important and many evangelical churches delight to push this theme, but it is a theme with no basis in God’s word, it undermines the spirit of humility.

The atmosphere at Corinth seems to have been very much like that in Australia today. We need God’s word IN our thoughts every day to help keep out the fleshly attitudes that surround us. Paul says, don’t you realize Christ is IN you? Those who are baptised must realize this as fully as they can – as must those who are thinking about baptism...