Why the Holy Spirit?

 

Last week, the LORD reminded me of the fundamental reason why the Holy Spirit was given to us. We can be so immersed into the local church’s routine that we forget the main reason behind any Christian duty. Here are a few facts about the Holy Ghost.

In Isaiah 61:1, the prophet foretells the LORD’s ministry saying: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news...”

After His temptation, Jesus left the desert in the power of the Spirit and went on to preach in the synagogues. In one of them, He opened the scroll of the prophet Isaiah and said: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news [i.e. the Gospel] to the poor [in spirit – cf. Mat 5:3]. Luke 4:14-15, 18

Shortly before His death, He promised the disciples that He would send them a Helper from the Father; the Spirit of truth, who would bear witness about me. He added that they also would bear witness (Jn. 15:26-27).

After His resurrection and just before His ascension, again He told them: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Ac 1:8.

From all these passages it is clear that whenever the Holy Spirit is given to someone, it is first and foremost to preach the Gospel; to proclaim the Good News of the death and resurrection of Jesus; the Good News of the remission of sins in His Name. This is precisely what Peter did after his baptism in the Holy Ghost. He preached Jesus with boldness and power: May you all know for certain that GOD has made Jesus, whom you crucified, both LORD and Christ (Ac 2:36).

Nowadays, we’d rather stick to the first part of the promise: Mais vous recevrez une puissance. The Church and Christians only have one thing in mind: Power! However, irrespective of our spiritual gifts or ministry gifts, the reason why GOD pours His Spirit in us has not changed since the day of Pentecost. It still is to preach the Gospel; to make known the Good News of Jesus Christ. Miracles, signs and wonders are just a means to an end. They are just tools which prepare a platform onto which the Gospel can/will be preached. A platform to remind the world that a man came on earth, but He was more than just a man; He was the Son of GOD and He died for our sins. He rose from the dead to redeem our lives from spiritual and physical death. And then, He ascended to Heaven and sent us the Holy Spirit Esprit so that we could go and tell others about Him!

The Holy Spirit was never given to us to preach anything other than Jesus-Christ, and Jesus-Christ crucified (1Cor 2:1-2, Gal 3:1). We like to preach Jesus-Christ glorified (power, prosperity, spiritual gifts, healing etc.); but we don’t like to preach or teach Jesus-Christ crucified. To preach Jesus-Christ crucified is to preach the reason why He died; it is to expose the problem of sin and it is to preach the necessity of repentance. These are as many things that the 21^st century Christian doesn’t like to hear anymore.

I pray that we will make good use of the next day and ponder over these things. Have a great week and GOD bless you.

Wisdom snippets: Do not destroy!

 

“Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys” (Pr. 18:9). Or, “Slack habits and sloppy work are as bad as vandalism” (MSG) and “He who is loose and slack in his work is brother to him who is a destroyer and he who does not use his endeavors to heal himself is brother to him who commits suicide” (AMP). This is the kind of verse that you know, but you don’t pay much attention to. However, because I was slacking a bit las week when I read it, I took a closer look at it. Like me, is there anything that you should be doing; something that you should be working on right now, but that you are neglecting?

Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys… Indeed, when things are not progressing, sooner or later, they will regress and eventually disappear. There are more than 25 verses in the Bible alluding to the fact that GOD does not like slackness or slothfulness. The fate of the wicked servant in the parable of talents (Mat. 25) shows that He also dislikes the status quo. “You gave me one talent and after X years, I give it back to you exactly as it was!” If someone, who has not seen you for ages, enquires about you and everybody answers: “Oh, he is exactly as you left him” or “She is there. She hasn’t changed at all.” It’s really bad. And, of course, I am not talking about the physical appearance; because it’s rather a grace not to change physically in ten years or more (wrinkles, white hair, weight…). I’m talking about someone who seems stuck in time (same job, same house, same car…). No offence, but this is a plague.

Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys. The work here is paid jobs; house chores; voluntary service like community or charitable work, including serving in church. All this must be done with excellence. In fact, since the Bible exhorts us to work heartily in whatever we do, AS for the LORD (Col. 3:23); then everything we do, even outside of the church, represents the work of GOD; and should be done as if it is ministry. Indeed, “Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD with slackness” (Jer. 48:10). Finally, accepting Jesus as Saviour in order to flee from hell is not enough. The Bible also demands that we WORK out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12). Ignoring or neglecting this (not praying/studying the Word of GOD/obeying the commandments/attending church services etc.); in short, refusing to grow is akin to destroying one’s spiritual life; and we all know how this will end. This is why the Amplified version adds: he who does not use his endeavours to heal himself is brother to him who commits suicide. A word to the wise is enough.

Have a great week in HIM and good work!

Revelation snippets: You are a rock!

 

Mat 16:17-19, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

We know this passage very well; a passage that has caused a lot of controversy and divisions amongst Catholics and Protestants. For Catholics, this seals the primacy of Peter over the Church and explains the origin of the papacy. However, Protestants consider that the text simply means that the rock (petra) upon which the Church is built, is the revelation that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of the Living GOD (vs. 16).

Simon comes from a Hebrew verb (shama, listen) and means “who hears and obey”. The ekklesia is a congregation set apart. Petra is a stone or a rock. Now, bearing this in mind, I would like to go further and rephrase the passage like this: “You are blessed, you who listens and obeys, if you understand by revelation that you are a rock that Jesus wants to use in order to assemble a group which is as strong as a rock around you; a group so strong that nothing can shake it.” Indeed, did the apostle Peter not remind us that we are living stones which are being built up as a spiritual house (1Pe 2:5)?

It’s about time we are strengthened and cease to be tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind like reeds. The LORD is saying to each and every one of us today that we are living stones. These stones may be despised and rejected by men; but they can become, by virtue of the revelation which imparts understanding even unto the simple, the cornerstones of gatherings/assemblies/corporations or else, that Christ Jesus wants to build from and around us (read Ps 119:130 and 1Pe 2:4-6). We are rocks.

Have a great blessed week, as you walk in this revelation.

PS: The paperback version of my second book, “Are you ready for this embarrassment?” is out. The electronic version will not be available before July or August. The book is not available on Amazon or Barnes and Nobles etc. yet. However, if you live in Europe or in the U.S.A, contact me and we will see how you can get your copy. For those living in Cameroon, the book will be available locally by the end of June 2014. Keep in touch.

Revelation snippets: All depends on you…

 

Jn 14:1, 27, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you… Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

About ten days ago, I have realised something which is not immediately obvious when you read these verses – especially in French as I usually do. To start with, John chapter 14 begins and almost ends with Jesus insisting on us not letting our hearts be troubled or afraid. We can easily read this as just an exhortation or an encouragement and miss the fact that what Jesus means is: “Do not allow your hearts to be troubled or afraid.” In other words, it is a commandment and there is an emphasis on our individual responsibility. A Christian must not allow his or her heart to be troubled; this would be akin to lacking faith. This is why Jesus said in vs. 1 that, « Believe in GOD; believe also in me. » He directly links faith with a heart which is not troubled. Besides, the KJV, doesn’t have two sentences but one in vs. 1: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” It is the same idea which continues.

Those who live in a royal or presidential palace do not worry about food, drinks or transport money. even if there is famine in the land, they will not starve. It doesn’t matter how high oil and gas prices rise, there will always be a car and a chauffeur to drive them where they want to go. Likewise, you cannot be IN Christ and panic. Being IN Christ is being immersed in a supernatural ocean of peace. If you lose your peace, then you must have ventured somewhere alone. Ask yourself where you have left the Prince of Peace and go back to Him. The ball is in your camp: EVERYTHING is entirely up to you.

Paul also gives more than an advice; he basically commands us not to fret about anything, but to turn to GOD in faith, so that the peace of Christ remains: « Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to GOD. And the peace of GOD, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds IN Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:6-7) Then, in vs. 8, he adds: « whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. » Therefore, we must always watch over the entrance of our minds/hearts like guards: “It’s ok, you are pure; you can go in. You, you are not commendable, back off! Where do you think you are going, you not-worthy-of-praise thought? Go away! Fine, you are just; you can stay.”

Let us imitate David. This is what he used to do not to let his heart be troubled. He would say: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Ps 103:1-2) One can read this and only see a man who is praising GOD for his blessings. But one can also see a man who is in charge of his soul and who brings it under marching orders: “I’m talking to you, you my soul: heart/being and I command you to bless the LORD!” Go and do the same.

Shalom!