IN THE LIFE OF JESUS
Luke 1:15, Matthew 1:18-20.
15 "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb." 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit."
The Old Testament line of prophets ends with John the Baptist. Here it is prophesied that he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit inside of his mother. The fullness of this Presence for so long in this human being is probably what earned him Jesus’ highest recommendations. Yet he stops short of claiming John’s superiority beyond that, even commenting that the least of Kingdom people will be greater than John. John worked no miracles. No signs and wonders. No healings. No one raised from the dead. No outpourings from him to others. Only a message of the death required in repentance followed by a symbolic watery grave. True kingdom-anointed folks do all of the above and a whole lot more.
But of course, that line of reasoning doesn’t follow if the gifts are not for today. Today we have great preachers, bringing many to repentance and water baptism. How then can they be said to be greater than John? John had the Holy Spirit all of his life. No follower of Jesus can claim this. So how are we greater if we do not have access to greater power? Would holiness and separation from the world fulfill Jesus’ words? But can anyone lay claim to a holier life than was John’s?
As an aside, it is good to reflect on the nature of the unborn here. Anyone that can be filled with the Spirit of God ought not to be murdered. John was not a fetus. He was fully human and full of God. He was a sacred trust given to Elizabeth. Mom herself benefited from this bundle of joy, as John leaped up in the presence of Christ, a similar unborn, that he perceived in Mary when she visited (Luke 1:39-45). Immediately Elizabeth was filled with that same Spirit, and prophesied. It’s contagious. Being around those who are filled with the Spirit is a privilege of relatively few.
Speaking of Mary, the Spirit’s work is to produce, or re-produce the Son of God in us. Those who claim to be filled with the Spirit today ought to be producing the life of Jesus Christ both in character and in power. What sort of image does your Christ and mine present to the world around us? That’s not an encouragement to try harder, that’s a mandate to be filled with the Spirit, whatever it takes.
Matthew 3:13-17.
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him. 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
It was not a dove, you know. The visible Spirit creature descended like doves descend, graciously, beautifully. But it was not a bird. However it looked, it descended on the Son of God after He was baptized in water by John. Can it not be said that God’s Spirit is the seal for all of us, to show the approval of the Father? If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His, says the apostle. And how does one know one has received that guarantee of Christ’s ownership? Should there not be some outward evidence? Was there not such in every case in the Book of Acts? Can God enter a human without the human knowing it?
John 1:33.
33 "I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' "
Here the Baptist identifies Jesus as the One Who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. He acknowledges that his own baptism is merely of water. It was an important act, but not to be compared to the baptism of Jesus. In most instances where water is mentioned in the Book of Acts, the Spirit’s work is recorded also. Peter’s sermon links the two, giving many the idea that one produces the other automatically. I was told after my baptism in water at age 12, that I had received the Holy Spirit. I have come to believe since then that one who has received God needs not that any inform him. Several varying depictions of the order of events are recorded in Acts. In some cases, the Spirit comes first. In others, it is water, but followed by the laying on of hands before the Spirit comes. No set formulas here. Some are seeking, some are surprised. God refuses, it seems, to be pushed into a corner, and rather delights to give gifts to those who earnestly desire them and will use them properly.
John 3:5-8.
5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.
The famous exchange with Nicodemus. You will note in my comments that I am mixing together passages that some want to call “the baptism”, with others that by us are labeled “new birth,” and still others that might be termed the “in-filling.” I am not so sure any longer that these distinctions are helpful or even intended by writers of Scripture. The driving motivation I have is to show that supernatural life is expected in our day. My readers are free to classify if they will.
In this conversation, Jesus once more links water and Spirit, and then contrasts flesh and Spirit. He ends with suggesting that one born of the Spirit is a person of mystery. These people do not behave according to our rules. Another Principle, a Personal one, has invaded their life, causing them to act in ways that create many questions. They are hearing from another world, and enjoying it immensely.
This was obviously not to be confined to the first century. How many mysteries attend your church? Do people sing and pray and bubble over with something, and you can’t always tell what? Isn’t that how it is supposed to be?
John 4:23-24.
23 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
Most people won’t argue about this one, but very few will be able to tell you concisely what it means! Worshiping in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for people who will do this. In fact, since God is a spirit, it is required that they do this. There is no other way to worship God rightly. Do we do this today? I note that the translator in my edition of the Bible has capitalized “Spirit” when referring to God, but not so in referring to the action being required. So we are to worship God, the Spirit, in spirit… That will work, if we understand that our spirit is dead until the Holy Spirit combines with it and brings it to life.
Now everyone seems to know what it means to worship in “truth.” They would say, “Follow Biblical principles.” Or, “Worship Jesus, Who is the Truth.” Or just, “Worship correctly.” Okay, let’s let that one go. Still seems to me like the other one remains a mystery to most. I remember the first person who tried to explain it to me said that it means we are to worship “to ourselves,” that is, silently.
I don’t think so.
It’s really not so hard, but you may not like the answer if your church hasn’t bought into the gifts. Paul talked about praying and singing “in the Spirit,” vs. doing the same things “with the understanding.” Spirit vs. understanding. Spirit vs. mind. Unintelligible vs. intelligible. Something I can’t figure out vs. something I can.
I’ll leave you hanging there, because we are definitely going to re-visit that concept when we get to Paul. For now just let it be known that questions have answers. There really is a way to worship in the Spirit, and it behooves each of us to figure out that way if we are to be pleasing to the Lord and offer a worship sacrifice that He will accept. We surely don’t want to forget the Abel-Cain story and what constitutes acceptable worship in His sight.
John 5:39.
39 "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. "
In one of Jesus’ early scuffles with the Pharisees, He points out something that all of us need to consider: there is a possibility of knowing the Bible but not knowing the Lord. “Search the Scriptures” was drilled into me by my denomination, but because the old King James was all we read in those days, it was given as the command that appears in that version. Being rather skilled in the English language, I knew that phrase didn’t fit in grammatically with the rest of the passage. The later translations have corrected the wording to, “You search the Scriptures.” Now it makes sense. You search the Scriptures because you think you will be saved in knowing them. But you bypass the thing that is most important: knowing Me! I am the One Who can give you the life you are seeking!
The same can be said today in regards to the passages that mention the Holy Spirit. We are carefully taught from a child what they are supposed to mean, but we write off any personal and dynamic encounter. Then we search the Scriptures looking for the rules of living, forgetting that those rules are impossible to keep without the promised Helper.
Matthew 4:23-25.
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. 25 Great multitudes followed Him--from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.
Here is one of the many times that a Gospel writer catalogs a list of wonderful works of Jesus. Sickness and disease and torment. None of these things could survive when Jesus was around. And Jesus said we would do even greater things than these. Didn’t He? You’ve heard all the explanations of that verse. Well, they say, He meant “spiritual” things. Well, He meant “more” miracles. Well, hey, what if He meant just what He said, in the terms we most naturally understand?
Mark 1:40-41.
40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." 41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."
I select this from a myriad of miracles that could be mentioned to show my readers the heart of the Lord. The leper knew of God’s power but wasn’t sure of His will. We talk like this too. “Well, I know He can, I just don’t know if He wants to.” Jesus was moved with compassion on this man and simply said, “I want to.” Is He not the same today? Is His compassion not real today? Why would he not want to heal His own who cry out to Him today?
Matthew 6:10.
10 "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
How often have we prayed “Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven”? Is this prayer to be answered only in the Millennium? Can there be places on earth even now where the will of the Lord is done? Is that not what the Kingdom is about in this age? Surely our Kingdom shall rule all kingdoms one day. But for now, as we call out citizens for that grand take-over, are we not to experience bits of Kingdom life as it will be then and as it is in Heaven now?
If so, it is important to remember that there is no sin or sickness in that place. No depression. No destruction. No pain, no sorrow. Yes, no death. Jesus gives us power over all these things now, does He not? Did he not show us His intention for a Spirit-filled human when He was here acting it out daily?
Luke 11:9-13.
9 "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"
This word has been all but forgotten. Jesus really does give to those who ask and seek and knock. Here it is that Jesus compares earthly fathers to the One in Heaven. Even with all our imperfections we know how to give good gifts to our children. The Holy Spirit will be likewise given to those who ask the Heavenly Father! That puts a new twist to the Book of Acts. In that early age, many were receiving this gift, or so it seems, without asking. But the general principle laid down here is that the Holy Spirit wants to be sought after. And that the Father is only all too happy to give Him to those who ask. Did you ask to receive Him? Were you ever told to? Or were you responding to a church formula?
Matthew 12:31-32.
31 "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come."
Speaking against the Holy Ghost is the unpardonable sin. We have explained it as the constant rejection of the Spirit’s wooing us to Christ, which is itself unforgiveable, and could be the answer to the dilemma this verse has caused through the years. But let’s remember here that the context is attributing the works of Christ to Satan. To be so hard-hearted as to think that what Jesus is doing is actually coming from hell is a pretty serious matter. I would caution those who are so dead sure that all the gifts of this present age are bogus. Besides the danger involved in such a belief, there are benefits that will never be received with that stance. What if it’s all real, and we have simply never entered into the joys of our Lord?
Luke11:29.
29 And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, "This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.
Here Jesus berates those who seek for signs. And here many Bible-believers want to get away from the whole signs and wonders phenomenon of our day. They reason that Jesus would not want us to go after such things any more today than in His day. They are right of course. And wrong. Signs and wonders are to follow God’s people in any generation, not lead them, to be sure. But why are the signs not following in some places? Is it because there is no one present to believe for them? No one to desire them? No one with enough compassion to want a sick body delivered? God has not changed, has He? Are we not still in the age of grace? Did He say that His grace would eventually quiet down and be limited to inner peace and ability to accept the works of the enemy instead of defeating them? Or is that tactic simply easier than believing God for miracles? Jesus did say, after all, that believing on the Son is work.
Mark 6:1-6.
1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" And they were offended at Him. 4 But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house." 5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.
You may have heard it: The comment making the rounds on this episode of rejection in Jesus’ life is something to the effect that many of our churches do not even measure up to Jesus’ hometown. There, only a few sick people were healed. In how many churches today has no one ever been healed except by doctors? A more serious question follows. Have we become so dependent on modern medicine that God’s power is not even sought after? Remember King Asa who sought the doctors before he sought the Lord? The Lord was not too pleased.
As to that place where Jesus only healed a few: He had to marvel at their unbelief. What is he thinking about ours?
Matthew 17:14-21.
14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15 "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him." 17 Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me." 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" 20 So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."
Here an epileptic is cured, but no thanks to the disciples. In one of His most stinging rebukes, Jesus spoke about a generation, but had to include His own followers when he used the word “faithless.” Without faith. Essentially unbelievers! It’s not that they didn’t try, or even believe, but they didn’t know the effort needed in some cases. Jesus healed the boy immediately and then advised the disciples that prayer and fasting would have to be the only way some people would get healed. Did Jesus stop to pray a long time, and fast? No, He walked with the Father constantly. His prayer time was 24/7. He knew exactly what to do, and had the power reserve to do it, because He stayed connected.
Jesus made it clear though that such works are for us. He did not say that these kind are impossible except for the Son of God. He merely issued some new rules. And repeated that it was their faith level that had failed them. So with us. We can do these things. But we must believe we can, and we must stay connected to the Lord.
John 7:37-39.
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
I’ve always liked this passage, but have had trouble in experiencing it. And this is a passage one must experience. It’s not just poetry. Thirsty people are invited to come to Jesus. Out of their innermost being will flow rivers of living water. The meaning cannot be missed, because John fills us in: He was talking about the Spirit! Anyone believing in Jesus would have access to this wonderful promise. That means you. That means me. This is one of those “no-doubters.”
One interesting part of the sequence of events is spelled out here. Even though the disciples would be given measures of the Spirit to perform their miracles in ministry with Jesus, the fullness of that outpouring would not come until after Jesus’ glorification, that is, His resurrection and subsequent ascension. Therefore this passage points to Pentecost and all points thereafter.
Luke 10:17-20.
17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." 18 And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."
Those who do not care for the miracle message love to point out here that what is really important is that one’s name is written in heaven. The fact that demons tremble at the commands of Christians is not to be elevated to top rank. True enough. But if God’s people cannot handle the simple, lesser matter of casting out demons, how shall they be able to grapple with the weightier matters?
Jesus did not apologize for a miraculous lifestyle, and He encouraged it for His followers. Just a few verses down from the above words he joyfully says to the 70 who had just returned from their successful campaign, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see!” It’s okay to see things, and to want to see things, as long as our faith in the unseen God is intact and His character is being grown in us.
Mark 11:21-24.
21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away." 22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. "
So many words of Jesus we have passed over or explained away. Here is a declaration that “whoever” , not just disciples, pastors, apostles, but whoever tells a mountain to be removed will have it done. Whatever we ask believing we will have. That’s the lifestyle Jesus wants for us. That is not how most of us live.
Matthew 22:29.
29 Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. "
The Scriptures and the Power of God. I love the way Jesus puts them together here as the team that they are. The Sadducees knew neither. The Pharisees knew not the power or the experience of God. I imagine there are quite a few who do not know the Scriptures but who are filled with the Spirit. Whose shoes would you like to fill? Rather than choose, it is better to be as Jesus suggests here: knowledgeable and full of the Spirit both. And why not? Even in our day, that’s the winning combination.
John 14:15-18, 25-26
15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you."
25 "These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. "
John 15:26-27
26 "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning. "
John 16:7-15
7 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. "
In Jesus’ farewell address (John 14-16) He makes mention several times of One Who will come to the disciples very soon and be their Helper and Comforter. This coming One is to be known as the Spirit of Truth. The world would not recognize Him at all, but the disciples who walked three years with Jesus would know immediately Who He was. This presupposes an experience, a know-so encounter with Christ. Now, we know what happened on Pentecost, but even if we did not, these verses would tip us off.
This Spirit was to teach them all things and bring to remembrance everything Jesus said. Hence, the New Testament could be written, at least the Gospels. Well, that’s how I always heard it. But only two of the apostles wrote Gospels. The promise was to the other nine also. By extension, the ministry of the teacher is for us too. Through anointed teachers and through communicating with us directly, the Spirit of God is still the Master teacher. He did not resign in 101 A.D.
More is promised of Him. He is to convict the world, through the church, of its sin, tell them of the righteousness of Jesus, and of impending judgment. He is to lead into all truth including truth about the future. He is to glorify Jesus. He will speak, as Jesus did, what He hears from the Father. All of which sounds like a very helpful Helper for the century in which we live. Did the Spirit stop hearing from the Father in the second century? Has He said all that is to be said? We all believe in the finality of doctrinal truth as defined in the Bible. But is the Spirit to be closed out from us now if perhaps He wants to tell us of dangers ahead, or strategies for winning the lost, or a host of other here and now issues? Spirit of God, continue to show us the will of the Father!
John 18:6.
5 They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He." And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.
A lot of folks are falling down in church these days. I’ve been pretty skeptical about it. You hear that a lot of people fall as a matter of “courtesy.” They know the one who is laying on hands - or even pushing them - wants them to fall, so they fall. Yes, and then there are attention-seekers. You may have other reasons for considering it all fake, but consider this too: Is it possible that all the thousands and thousands of people who fall to the ground worldwide are just dropping? Isn’t it possible that the power of God is being released in such a way that they are temporarily overwhelmed?
This story of the arrest of Jesus documents the falling of a bunch of Roman soldiers. You know it well, I’m sure. Yes, it was dark, and they were together, and one could have stepped backwards and caused a domino-effect of falling men. But there’s something about the way the passage is constructed that doesn’t seem to point that direction. They drew back collectively. And they fell collectively, it seems to say. No comment is made, for what can be said about a Divine interruption of the proceedings? The point that God seems to be making here is that Jesus is giving His life willingly. The soldiers were not in charge after all.
Seems to me that there was a similar fate for groups of soldiers who came to arrest the prophet Elijah. They not only fell but were incinerated (II Kings 1:9-12).
Mk 16:17-18.
17 "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
Jesus has now been raised from the dead and is giving His final assignments and promises. Believers, collectively, will cast out demons, speak in tongues, be protected from serpents and poisons, and heal the sick. Note that no time frame is given. And no limitation in terms of who shall do these works. Leaders are not singled out. Simply believers. Yes, the signs shall follow. We established that above. But they shall follow! If you look in back of you and don’t see them following, time for a serious examination of your ministry. Once more we must insist that the first century was not the only one Jesus had in mind!
Jn 20:21-23.
21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
Another meeting, or perhaps the same one as above, with added details. Here Jesus actually gives them a sampling of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps it was this bit of breath in them that helped them to recognize the fullness at Pentecost? But notice here and elsewhere the absolute necessity that the followers of Christ walk in the miraculous care of the Spirit of God. How could we have missed this?
Luke 24:49.
49 "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
Straightforward is the command here. Go to Jerusalem and wait. You have a lot of work to do, but you cannot do it unless you are empowered by the Spirit. Surely we need to heed this warning. How many churches are functioning without dependence on or recognition of the Spirit’s power? What are these churches? Religious clubs? What do they do that the world’s “good” people are not doing for humanity? Is it any wonder that the message is changing, that people are not set free, that the lost are not redeemed?
John 20:30-31.
30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
I suppose it is not necessary to bring this in now, but the importance of the written word is not to be ignored. All of these stories and miracles and teachings of Jesus were put in written form that people might believe, and therefore have life. No one is denying that. It is the preached word that saves souls. And it is the Spirit of God that put that word together and that gives people grace to both preach and believe. All of that said, would it not be even a greater harvest if the Spirit of God were permitted to preach in power, and have signs following so that many more could believe also? We’ve narrowed everything down to a written message, forgetting that it was signs and miracles and healings that drew the crowds in the Book of Acts, so that many could hear the message. Let’s do it God’s way and we will get God’s results.
