“And the Spirit began to move him at times…” Judges 13:25
Dear Ones:
When Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus, He declared very clearly that when the Spirit works, and is moving, there are TANGIBLE repercussions. One might not know from where the wind is coming, but one KNOWS that it is blowing. When George Whitefield preached in the open air, it was said that his voice would carry far enough, and clear enough, that twenty-five thousand people could hear him. The effects of such preaching were seen in the changing of the demeanor and life of towns and villages. The Spirit moved to bring a God-consciousness, and conviction, with respect to living before Him. What about our lives? Do we truly believe that the God of yesterday is the same today? My Bible tells me that, “Jesus Christ (is) the same, yesterday, and today, and for ever.” (Heb. 13:8) The question then becomes, “Are we trusting Him to BE what He has always been, and to reveal Himself in such a manner, that the world will again see and know that He is God?” I fear that our theological efforts to explain and “put in order” the work of God, can lead us to not seek Him for His fullness and highest, for His glory.
The Spirit of God that moved Samson, and anointed David, is the same that was promised by God through the prophet Joel, when He declared: “…I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy…” (2:28) We know that this was realized the day of Pentecost. What we discover in the epistles and the book of Revelation, is that this Spirit of God is STILL moving today, and does so in answer to prayer and faith. It is absolutely unthinkable, and totally illogical, to entertain the thought that God does not desire and will to work mightily, and powerfully in our own hearts, and in those around us. What then is the problem? Perhaps we have not seen the need of it, and thus we do not seek God for it. What would occur if we prayed as did Solomon, who wrote the Song of Solomon: “…Awake O north Wind; and come, thou south; blow upon My garden, that the spices thereof may flow out?” Or, if we pray in faith, as Ezekiel the prophet prophesied according to God’s commandment: “Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” (Ez. 37:10) In this latter example in particular, there were tangible examples of results: “…breath came into them, AND THEY LIVED.” (v.10) Do we truly believe that God, the giver of every good and perfect gift, will not give the Spirit to those who ask Him? Will He not give that which is eternally GOOD to those who seeks, and asks Him?
Dear Father, give us grace not to be unbelieving, but believing….filled with Your faith, believing You for the FULL out-working of Your will by the Spirit. Give us individually to be those who “…stirs himself up to take hold of Thee,” (Is. 64:7) and truly lay hold on You for the fullness of Your Spirit, and the full outworking of Your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad