The Spirit
Good Morning,
Trends today tend to belittle and lessen the value of great men, whether referring to the writers of our Constitution or preachers who built amazing churches. Small minds try to build themselves by diminishing the wonder of great men of the past. This practice is more prevalent in our colleges and universities, therefore making it prevalent in our political world. Small men try to make themselves big.
It is interesting that God speaks of lifting up great men, and of each one humbling himself. Today we humble others while making ourselves out to be more than we are. You can see this scenario unfold, especially as writers dig up ancient facts to smear the names of great men. Of course, there is no one to challenge the allegations and defend the dead. The exception is David Barton who wrote The Jefferson Lies and defended the greatness of the writer of our declaration.
God views men differently; God calls men; God blesses men. God anoints men with spiritual powers and sets them above others. God does not lift up the weakness of men but sidesteps it knowing that all have sinned, and He promotes men who love and honor Him.
Zechariah 3:8 “Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at…"
“…men…. wondered at. Hmm. It surely seems as though these men were special. How about Samuel? Folks asked if he came to town peaceably.
1 Samuel 16:4 “And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?”
vs. 5 “And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.”
Many of those who diminish the touch of God on a man’s life will say, "That was a special prophet, not one of us common men today." Paul told the church in Thessalonica to honor those men of God who preach to them.
1 Thessalonians 5:13 “And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. [And] be at peace among yourselves.”
“…esteem them very highly…” Wow! Sounds like it is okay to honor godly men and to lift them up. I am so glad I grew up in an era of Bible college students and young preachers who loved and esteemed men highly for their works’ sake.
None would doubt the unusual touch of God on the lives of the apostles:
2 Corinthians 1:21 “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
To deny that God calls men to preach and empowers them to do mighty works for God is childish, like a little league player criticizing a major league player for striking out. Some people would wish that no one have God's power, for fear they are revealed to be charlatans.
I, for one, am glad that I have seen the great men who knew God in a unique way. Lester Roloff was unusual, to say the least, but he was marvelously anointed. Jack Hyles, much different from Brother Roloff, was anointed with the oil of gladness as God promised in an obvious manner. These men and countless others who preached with “unction," as John writes, were as different as day and night, yet all possessed something others did not have, a touch of God, an anointing of the Holy Spirit.
John 7:38 “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”
vs. 39 “(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”
The Old Testament prophets spoke of this anointing:
Isaiah 55:1 “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”
Joel 2:28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:”
vs. 29 “And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.”
When I came to town to start our church, I came as a man called of God. Nothing by myself, but as my calling and election were clear, I came on a divine mission. I dressed differently because I was someone important, not that I was myself, but my calling was different. I came believing in the anointing of God. I was the preacher. I was in this little town of 1,000 people because God sent me, ordained me, and anointed me. I was a man of God. That very statement today will rattle the mental cages of "Bible teachers" who love their ability to teach but shun the idea that spiritual power can be obtained or an unusual anointing of God can be received.
Young men, be careful that you do not value your followers on Twitter more than your anointing of God. Be sure your prayer closet gains more of your attention than your Facebook page.
It was our Lord Who told the disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power. It was not just the twelve who stayed the many days in the upper room, finally fasting ten days until Pentecost. It was one hundred twenty who left that room to proclaim the wonderful works of God and were heard in the native tongue of sixteen different nations. How sad it is that I never hear young preachers even mention the power of God or the anointing of the Holy Spirit. (Although, I do know everyone's favorite ball team.)
1 John 2:20 “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.”
Over and over, our Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit, evil spirits, unclean spirits, and being filled with the Spirit. I will not let men promote themselves while acting as though there is no spiritual world: no power of God with which to do good or satanic powers whereby evil deeds are done.
I will urge young men seeking to be in the ministry to thirst and plead for the Spirit's fullness.
John 7:37 “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”
Isaiah 44:3 “For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:”
There are men, men who are unusually anointed, or men at which others wonder. I am thankful for those in my life upon whom I saw spiritual power.
Zechariah 3:8 “Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at…"
Let us "wonder at” men of God, and pray for them. May we pray for God to call and anoint more men that our nation might be turned from sin to seek after God.
Pastor