No, I’m not asking about your family history, American history or black history. I’m asking about your spiritual history. Aside from the day you gave your life to Jesus, what else do you know about your spiritual history? The back story that led up to your redemption. How much do you know of how it all came to be? I've noticed a pattern in the scriptures. Old and New Testaments. Every leader from Moses to Paul either begins or ends their instructions with the history of their journey past, present and future. I became intrigued by this and asked the Holy Spirit if we could write about that.
So here we are, exploring this very interesting topic together. According to scriptures salvation or the redemption of man has been in the forethought of God before Adam sinned. I know this because scripture records that He, Jesus, was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the earth. Revelation 13:8. The scripture also says that before we said yes to His invitation He died for us. Romans 5:8. He gave us who have received Him the power or right to identify as His sons. John 1:12 and has seated us in heavenly places with Christ. Ephesians 2:6. He’s made us kings and priests. Revelation 1:6. We have been made His righteousness, and have been given power and permission to use His Name. Romans 5:1; Luke 10:19; John 14:14. We have been given the keys of the Kingdom of heaven, with the authority to bind and loose with the full backing of heaven. Matthew 16:19. This is a short list of what comprises our history as born again children of God.
Our responsibility is to rehearse these things and all the other keys that make up our heritage, with our children and their children. Deuteronomy 6 commands that we do so. If we don’t know our history we can’t share it. Whenever there was a breakdown or a falling away from the commandments of God in the Old Testament, it could always be traced back to the older generation not sharing what was handed down to them. See 2 Kings 22. Moses reminded Israel prior to his death of all that the Lord had done for Israel. Deuteronomy 29. Joshua did, beginning from Abraham to Moses. Joshua 24. It all went downhill in Judges 2:10.
Things began turning around in 1 Samuel 7 after Samuel began to lead Israel. But I’ve learned something else about our spiritual history, from the lives of Samuel, David and a few other leaders of Israel. It’s not enough to be faithful servants of God, and ignore your role as a mentor for your family. The reason Israel asked for a king was because they didn’t trust Samuel’s sons. 1 Samuel 8:1-3. David loved the Lord, but the only son I read that he even encouraged to follow the Lord was Solomon, and that conversation was as they say, too little too late. The man after God’s own heart did not lead his house well. You can read the accounts in 2 Samuel. Our first ministry is always to our own house. God has no number, He’s not number one your family is. God IS the center from which everything flows. Your number one two and three flows from Him.
Fast forward to where our spiritual history begins and overlap with Israel. From Peter on the day of Pentecost to Paul after his conversion. Every address to the Jews began with the retelling of their history and concluded with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Acts chapters 2 and 3, Peter used the curiosity about what had taken place in the upper room to remind everyone present of their history. In Acts 7 Stephen did the same thing. In Acts 13 and 14 Paul also used the same format. Reminding people of their spiritual history always leads to revival or a revolt. It also strengthens our spiritual core. Life and all its distractions and difficulties can sometimes cause us to forget that we have a rich heritage in Christ. So I am intrigued by the fact that the apostles seized every opportunity to start at the beginning. From Abraham to Jesus.
The Lord must have a good reason for why they did that. They never assumed that because they were speaking to Christians, that they knew their history. As a matter of fact they addressed Jews and Gentiles alike in that manner. The best way to introduce someone to their future, is to, as they say, give them a little background history. The Gentiles got the opportunity to hear how this good news now included them. The apostles added accounts of their own personal experiences with Jesus. We are the recipients of their encounters. We now add to the heritage our children receive, through our personal experience with Jesus.
Faith in Jesus is multi generational, a tree with many branches. The accounts in scripture aren’t old or new, but they’re replicated in generation to generation. The good as well as the bad. How our story is written will be determined by how well we adhered to the instructions that were written down for us. Our personal experiences do not add-to the scripture but rather they fulfill what has already been promised.
Some will welcome the reminder, others will be offended by it. Stephen was murdered when he hit a hot button reminder, the crucifixion, Peter and John were locked up when they hit the hot button, the crucifixion. Paul and Barnabas were run out of town when they hit the hot button. We too will suffer for sharing our spiritual history. Most of the scriptures are written in present perfect tense. It’s a continuum of events strung together by time. God’s timing. He determines the when, where and how of the fulfillment. Knowing our spiritual history will keep us prepared. We shouldn’t be alarmed or shocked by world events or personal suffering. Everything has been recorded for us. Last year I wrote that Covid would expose weaknesses in the church and boy was I correct.
Christians for centuries and including today, have and are paying the ultimate price for their spiritual heritage. But as it was in the lives of the apostles, so it will be with us, if Jesus tarries and we live long enough to experience it ourselves here in the United States of America. Don’t think we won’t. The handwriting is on the wall. The question is do we know our history well enough to endure like the apostles before us? Or like our brothers and sisters worldwide. I pray that we do. Jesus said these very poignant words.
“And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are My followers. And many will turn away from Me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. “The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about—the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place.” (Reader, pay attention!)”
Matthew 24:6-15 NLT
So how well do you know your spiritual history? Do you understand what you have been given? Are you prepared to lay your life down for what you believe? Are you fully persuaded about what you say you believe? There’s a testing date for all believers, God alone knows when that day will be. Our job is to know who we are, what we believe and be ready at all times. 1 Peter 3:15
If we don’t know who we are in Christ, how can we tell them who He is?
Go deeper: Please read all highlighted scriptures. Also Psalm 78, Psalm 105.
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
July 9, 2021
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