“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63
It was written by the beloved physician Luke, that the gospel which he set about to communicate to the world was with a “…perfect understanding of all things from the first, to write to you an orderly account” of things pertaining to Christ, His birth, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection. Written to Theophilus, most certainly a great friend, and fervent disciple of Christ, Luke’s objective was clear, that Theophilus and all others would “…know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.” (Luke 1:3,4) Luke set about, by the Spirit, to present an orderly account, in truth and proven veracity because of eyewitness accounts, and the words of the Lord delivered to the disciples and apostles, that which pertained to Christ, His words, works, His Life. Luke sought to lay a clear foundation, where firm footing could be gained in this matter of faith, not for the purpose of just informing believers of the facts, and truths of the Gospel, but to bring each one to the experience of the Christ of the Gospel, and this, by the Spirit. John the Apostle would write of the importance of this. One basic reason for this is that Christ is the absolute truth, and as such, God’s blessing is only given according to the truth in Christ. If the believer would know the very power of Christ’s indestructible Life, the reality of living by faith in the faithfulness of God by the power of God, then the truth must be made known and grasped. John wrote down clearly the words of Jesus to emphasize this: “It is the Spirit who GIVES life; the flesh profits nothing. The WORDS that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” What did the Lord Jesus mean by this statement of resounding importance? It is exactly that which many years before the Lord spoke to Zechariah the prophet, a word destined for a specific individual, Zerubbabel: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: “‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.” (Zech. 4:6) In this statement is revealed that God alone possesses the power and the authority to accomplish His will, His purposes, in His time for His glory. The work and ministry of the Spirit of God working in the believer, and perfectly revealed in the Lord Jesus, belongs to God alone, and also the glory. Christ communicates to those who love and serve Him, His life-giving, powerful words. They are distinguished from those of men, those which have their origin in men’s minds and hearts, by the power of Christ’s divine Life revealed by the Spirit. For that which God ordains, He provides the corresponding power and authority for its accomplishment. It does not matter whether the issue in men’s eyes is great or small, possible or impossible. The issue is the will of God revealed in His word, and the accompanying power and authority of that Living Word to move mountains, heal the sick, save the lost, and lead the blind. The one and true God is the God of Life, who speaks Life into the dead, order into chaos, and power into the strengthless, helpless souls. The Apostle Paul would affirm this truth by writing: “But he who glorifies, let him glory in the Lord. For not he who commends himself is approved, but who the Lord commends.” (2 Cor. 10:18)
What are the true credentials of the man of God who declares the wondrous works of God, the Gospel of Christ, to the ends of the earth? What is the proof of the believer who is called to be a true minister to Christ’s body, and then to the world? It is the manifestation of the Spirit of Christ, not only upon him, but in him. It is the Spirit of Christ revealed, by His power, love, and soundness of mind. When Christ speaks there is life-giving power.
Dear Father, Fill us with Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.