“Yet in these last
days when Satan is employing every available issue to confuse and divide the Christian
body, to divert their energy and prevent their testimony, there are those who
demand a return to Pentecostal manifestations as the only realization of the
full ministry of the Spirit. Such professing Christians are bold to condemn the
spirituality of saints of all generations who have not accepted their teachings.
They are evidently lacking the knowledge and regard for those gifts which in
the Scriptures are said to be of primary importance in contrast to lesser
gifts. Whatever is done to revive Pentecostal manifestations should be done in
view of all that is taught in First Corinthians 14. If God is calling His
people to a renewal of all the early manifestations of the Spirit, why is it
confined to a little sect, when there are tens of thousands outside the group
who are yielded and ready to do His will but are never led into such
manifestations? If Satan is using the fact of these early manifestations of the
Spirit as an occasion to confuse and divide Christians, all his supernatural
power will be displayed and his most subtle deceptions will be imposed to
produce what might seem to be the work of God.” He That is Spiritual, L. S.
Chafer.
We know from Scripture some of the gifts in the Bible no
longer are present in this age; “they
shall cease” (1 Cor. 13:8). This has nothing to do with the failing
spirituality of Christians since the first century era though. Since there is
no evidence of such failing spirituality, we must observe their purpose from
the beginning. In the early church, it was necessary for God to introduce the
Gospel to men and these manifestations were a part of the authentication
process of God’s plan. Since that era, the church understood things which were
presented through these early manifestation gifts and allowed men to understand
God’s plan. Consider such things as the star which appeared over Bethlehem to
lead and guide men to the baby Jesus birth site. It did not continue in the sky
in the future. It disappeared shortly thereafter. God and Angel’s voices are no
longer heard in this era about his conversations with Adam and Eve, the burning
bush experience, God’s pleasure at Christ’s baptism, His resurrection, etc. (to
name a few). These early manifestations have ceased according to the purpose of
God.
When folks tell me about their special gift which is given
to them which makes them more spiritual, I wonder what they are on? To take the
thought that some might be more spiritual than another as a result of one gift
over another is to diminish the presence of the Spirit of God. Not only that;
is their version of the Holy Spirit the 2.0 Version? If this is the case, do I
need an upgrade? Then if that is so, did God get it wrong from the start? These
are all rhetorical questions of course and we know God doesn’t get things
wrong. He is perfect; Fact!
And Christian service
is not always essential to spirituality. If it is God’s will for us to rest,
play, become ill, we are no less spiritual, than if we are at work. In fact
every Christian is gifted by what God desires in the life of the believer.
Everyone is different and the gifts imparted are such. The hinge point for all
this is that the believer’s life is wholly yielded to God. That is the key. A
believer who is yielded needs little exhortation because the Spirit is mighty
through them and will allow all the power that comes from God to be wielded in
the life of the believer. Other Christians who are un-yielded are little
changed by human interaction and result in fleshly result. They end up
glorifying Satan in their actions for his kingdom and divide the ones who are
on God’s.
Remember this in closing today. As Chafer said; “Spirituality is not gained by service; it
is unto service.”
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