The Spirit in the Church Today, Part 9

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 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.

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, He meant "spiritual" things. Well, He meant "more" miracles. Well, 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 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. 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?

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://sermonaudio.com. There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs, ovber 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos3@gmail.com.

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

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