A Reed in the Wind

What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?  - Matthew 11:7

John the Baptist never performed a single miracle, and yet Jesus said he was more than a prophet and the greatest man who ever lived. Why is that?

In the day and age in which we live, the whole world is always enthralled with and will marvel at the supernatural. Anything that seems mystical or esoteric is immediately attractive and alluring. Even to the majority of Christendom around the world, there is no famine of supernatural excitement. There is a famine of the Word of God. Yet these things are not new, or unfamiliar to mankind. All throughout human history ever since the fall of man from the paradise garden of God, cultures around the world have sought to regain that experience of bliss through a plethora of devious devices, whether in natural substances or activities, or by soulish or demonic means. God defines sorcery and witchcraft as a work of the flesh. The great delusion of occultic practices and “New Age” spirituality are nothing more than the same old lie from the slithering serpent who tempted eve with the same “secret knowledge” of how we can be “like God” by rebelling against him and his revealed will (what was Spoken and Written, 2 Peter 1:20-21).

The natural man cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God. And yet so many so-called spiritual things that often happen are merely the fleshly intentions of sinful men. And even many things that excite the soul can be demonic delusions, messengers of satan masquerading as angels of light. Entire denominations and cultic movements have exploded around the world because of repackaged lies of false spirituality. One modern day “apostle” even told interviewers, “I tell my people to chase signs and wonders. Run after miracles.” Even though he was just reminded that Jesus said it’s “a wicked and adulterous generation that seeks after a sign and wonder!”

Now, some ministers have, in their care and love for the Body, swung the pendulum in opposite direction and held it on the far side of the spectrum of things of the ethereal realm and have warned their followers to shun any form of spiritual experience. I fear this is also an error of the flesh, even if it is with good intent.

There is a balance to be had.

I wish not to digress much beyond this, but stay on the thought at hand.  Too many professing Christians are running toward a new spiritual experience, when they haven’t even begun to grow from the Milk of the Word. Yes, God’s presence is real and by his grace at times can be in a sense, tangible. His peace is overwhelming and the joy he gives is inexpressible and full of glory. He shrouds himself in darkness and his ways are past finding out. His thoughts and ways are higher than ours. He is God and we are not.

We must submit to HIS rule and instruction, knowing that he has our best in mind (Romans 8:28) and that we should not seek to go beyond or tread on going against what he has instructed. But we should also not be pharisaic and put fences around the fences, thus sleighting us in bondage again to the letter of the law, but rather walk in the freedom in which he has freed us. He has not commanded us to seek ‘spiritual experiences’ but to seek his face! He has not commanded us to transcendental meditation, but to meditate on his Word!

More than a Prophet

John the baptist, Jesus said, was the greatest man who ever lived (of those born among women). And yet he was not known for making axe heads float, nor did he call down fire from heaven to consume God’s enemies. He never raised the dead. He never healed the sick. He never split a river into dry land. He never called the sun to stand still. He never stopped the lion’s mouth or caused the furnace to not burn. He never interpreted a dream, or turned bitter waters sweet. So what made this man so great?

All this man did was call people to repentance and point them to the Living Christ. And the Lord God called him a prophet, and yea more than a prophet. When Jesus showed up on the scene, this man - in whom was the spirit of Elijah - began to fade away. He was only meant to prepare the way of the Lord. When he beheld that Jesus was the Christ (by revelation of God), he declared, “BEHOLD! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

The greatest prophet who ever lived never performed a single miracle. He only pointed the world to The Prophet, The King, The Priest, Jesus Christ, and told his hearers to look upon this Christ to be saved from the wrath to come.

He must Increase

If THIS was what Jesus himself considered the greatest of the old covenant prophets, how much more should we be going forth and doing likewise, even if we are least in the Kingdom? This is the Message of the Church - that this Holy God has extended grace to wicked sinners!

The message of the Bible is not healing and miracles. Healing and miracles only serve to confirm this message! But even if someone performs great signs, and yet they lead you away to a false gospel, you are to pay them no heed! God has given us his Word and preserved it. The Scripture is sufficient to show us all God wants us to know - and the Holy Spirit (who is God) illuminates this Word to us, making it living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart!

Before we start looking at whether or not some gifts are for today or not, let’s begin making sure we have the right Gospel first. The Gospel is for today, and is the same Gospel that was once delivered to all the saints!

Never Forget The Blood! It is paramount for your ministry, for your church, for your own personal walk with the Lord, and for the sake of the Kingdom of God that you keep your eyes on the Cross of Jesus - reckoning to know nothing but Christ and Christ crucified!

All the peripherals will fall into their proper place if you keep your face set like a flint focused on beholding his glory!