13 April 2015 - laughing matters

What is born of flesh is flesh. It is motivated by flesh. It is ultimately dominated by its own desires.

Why did the Gentiles rage
and the peoples entertain folly?

Restraint of the flesh is why the nations rage. They are not interested. The world is a system which is trying to create conditions where the desires of the flesh can be satiated to the greatest degree.

He who is throned in heaven laughs;
the LORD derides them.

The LORD laughs because this is folly. The LORD laughs because the world is doing the exact opposite of what it needs to do to find true fulfillment. The LORD does not actually find this situation humorous. Laughter here doesn't mean he is indifferent to the plight of those who find themselves trapped in this system. It does mean that he is recognizing folly. It does mean that he isn't going to change the whole moral order to make it work the way people wish it worked. Instead, he takes a different approach.

"I myself have set up my king
on Zion, my holy mountain."
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD.

Jesus is the king whom the Father sets on Zion. Jesus proclaims the Father's will. The decree he proclaims makes known a better way than the way of the world. Jesus establishes this kingdom and reveals one and only one point of entry. Specifically, "unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God." Not fleshly the fleshly desires that promise so much but leave us empty. Instead, rebirth in the Holy Spirit is the only door to happiness.

The world is flesh seeking flesh. But we don't have to be a part of that system any longer. We are empowered to become a people utterly beyond the comprehension of the world and the flesh. When we are born of the Spirit the world just can't understand us. It can't see what motivates us.

The wind blows where it wills,
and you can hear the sound it makes,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes;
so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.

But until we are reborn we are among those who rage and entertain folly. Let us not slip back into the old ways which cannot satisfy us. Let us embrace the life of the Spirit. Let us choose to help spread this life to all who are still raging and entertaining folly. The king the Father sets on Zion will stretch out his hand to assist us as we do. He will work signs and wonders. He will not leave behind even a single lost sheep who desires rescue.

enable your servants to speak your word
with all boldness, as you stretch forth your hand to heal,
and signs and wonders are done
through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook,
and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.