AMedi aResour ceofJonat hanMi ni st r i esandFr i ends Vol ume2*Number1*2012
Anoi nt i ngf orMi ni st r y ( I sai ah61: 12) Wat chandl i st ent ot hi s t eachi ngvi deoonl i neat : ht t p: / / www. j onat hanheng. com
AREWEEXPERI ENCI NG THEHOL YSPI RI T’ SOUTPOURI NG? byJonat han I STHEGLORYOFGODDEPARTI NG FROM ORDESCENDI NG UPONTHECHURCH? “ Ands henamedt hec hi l dI c habod,s ay i ng,Thegl or yi sdepar t edf r om I s r ael :bec aus et hear kofGod wast ak en,andbec aus eofherf at heri nl awandherhus band.Ands hes ai d,Thegl or yi sdepar t edf r om I s r ael :f ort hear kofGodi st ak en”( 1Samuel 4: 2122) . Thi spas s ageofSc r i pt ur ehasr ef er enc et ot hef al l ens pi r i t ual c ondi t i onofI s r ael dur i ngt het i meofEl i , t hehi ghpr i es t ,whohadhi ms el ft ur nedhi sbac kuponGod.I ts peak soft het ak i ngawayoft heAr kby t hePhi l i s t i nes( t heenemi esofI s r ael ) .I twasat i meoft r agi cs pi r i t ual dar k nes sf orI s r ael .TheSpi r i tof Godhaddepar t ed.Thous andsdi edbec aus et hegl or yandt hepowerofGodwasnol ongerpr es ent . Si ni nI s r ael wass t andi ngbet weenGodandHi speopl e. Now,i ti si mpor t antt onot et hatwhi l et heAr kr epr es ent edGod’ sgl or yamongI s r ael ;i twasnott he ac t ual i t yofHi spr es enc et her e( whent r ans l at ed,“ Ar k ”means“ Pr es enc e” ) .Apar al l el c anbedr awn wi t hi nt hes i t uat i onofourc hur c hest oday .Ar eourc hur c hesbec omi ngmer ei ns t i t ut i ons ?Oh,wehav e ourpr et t ybui l di ngs ,gr eatmus i c ,i mpr es s i v epr es ent at i ons ,or gani z edpr ogr ams ;butIas ky ou,“ I st her e t hepr es enc eandanoi nt i ngoft heHol ySpi r i t ?” ,“ Ar et her ec hangedl i v es( orar et hec r owdsmer el y “ pewwar mer s ?” ” ) DearChr i s t i anFr i end,wear ec onf r ont edt odaywi t hapar adox .Whi l ewear ewi t nes s i ngt r emendous r ev i v al sar oundt hewor l d,Iam c onc er nedt hatwear eal s oatt het hr es hol doft hegr eat es tf al l i ngaway oft heChur c h.I ns omes mal l meas ur e,Idohav eabur dent opr ev entt hef al l i ngaway . THEPENTECOSTALWI TNESSOFTHECHURCH “ Thuss ai t ht heLORD,St andy ei nt heway s ,ands ee,andas kf ort heol dpat hs ,wher ei st hegoodway , andwal kt her ei n,andy es hal l f i ndr es tf ory ours oul s … ”( J er emi ah6: 16) . “ Andwhent hedayofPent ec os twasf ul l yc ome,t heywer eal l wi t honeac c or di nonepl ac e.And s uddenl yt her ec ameas oundf r om heav enasofar us hi ngmi ght ywi nd,andi tf i l l edal l t hehous et hey wer es i t t i ng.Andt her eappear edunt ot hem c l ov ent onguesl i k easoff i r e,andi ts atuponeac hoft hem. Andt heywer eal l f i l l edwi t ht heHol yGhos t ,andbegant os peakwi t hot hert ongues ,ast heSpi r i tgav e t hem ut t er anc e”( Ac t s2: 14) . Fr om t heout s et ,Iwantt os t at et hatwear enotpr omot i nganypar t i c ul arc hur c h,denomi nat i on, mov ement ,orf el l ows hi pwhenwer ef ert ot het er m“ Pent ec os t al ” .Rat her ,wer ef ert ot heBi bl i c al pat t er nofwi t nes soft heEar l yChur c h,asc l ear l ydef i nedi nt heBookofAc t s .Godi snoti mpr es s ed wi t ht hel abel sofourc hur c hes( ordenomi nat i on)asmuc hasHei swi t hourl i f es t y l e.Whi l ei ti st r ueand c er t ai nt hatt het er m“ Pent ec os t al ”hasc omet odes c r i bes pec i f i cgr oupsofpeopl ewhobel i ev ei nt he Bapt i s mi nt heHol ySpi r i twi t ht heev i denc eofs peak i ngi nt ongues( ac c or di ngt oAc t s2) ,Iwantt o emphas i z et hatagenui neBi bl i c al Pent ec os t al wi t nes sgoesf ardeepert hanj us ts peak i ngi nt ongues . I tmus ti nv ol v eat ot al l i f es t y l eofs eek i ngGod’ swaywi t ht hel eadi ngoft heHol ySpi r i tasourpr i or i t y . Wi t houtbei ngc r i t i c al ,Iam c onc er nedt hatt her ear ePent ec os t al c hur c hest hatar ePent ec os t al i nname onl y .Forex ampl e,wePent ec os t al s( andChar i s mat i c saswel l )t el l peopl et obebapt i z edwi t ht heHol y Spi r i t( andofc our s e,wes houl d)buts adl y ,notasmuc hi ss ai dont her i ght eous nes sofGodwher ebywe ar et oc onf or mt oHi si mage.Wes eem t of or gett hatanyt empl eGodr es i desmus tbehol y .Mat t hew3: 1 1 r eads ,“…he( J es us )s hal l bapt i z ey ouwi t ht heHol ySpi r i t ,andwi t hf i r e”andnot“…bapt i z ey ouwi t ht he Hol yGhos t( mer el y ) ” .“ ForGodi sac ons umi ngf i r e”( Hebr ews12: 29)andass uc h,Hec annotov er l ookor c ondones i n.Ev enaz eal ousChr i s t i anc annotbebl es s edbyGodi ft her ei sunr i ght eous nes s .I nt hename ofec umeni s m,“ ev er y t hi nggoes ”andt hi si saboutt hemos tdanger ousel ementi nf ac i l i t at i ngt heapos t as y
oft heChur c h.Ibel i ev et heChur c hdes per at el yneedsar ev i v al oft het r uePent ec os t al out pour i ng. Thi si st heonl ys t r engt hoft heChur c h:Thepr es enc eandt hel eadi ngoft heHol ySpi r i t ! DECEPTI ONRI GHTALONGSI DETHEVI SI TATI ONOFGOD’ SGLORY “ Bel ov ed,bel i ev enotev er ys pi r i t ,butt r yt hes pi r i t s ,whet hert heyar eofGod:bec aus emanyf al s e pr ophet sar egoneouti nt ot hewor l d”( 1J ohn4: 1) . I nt hes eday s ,t heunpr ec edent edout pour i ngoft heHol ySpi r i thast ouc hedal mos tev er ydenomi nat i on wi t hi nChr i s t endom andhowwet hankGodf ort hi s !Yet ,Iam pai nf ul l yawar et hatt her ear es t i l l t hos e whof i ghtt heobv i ouswor kofGodands ayt hatt hedayofmi r ac l esi spas tandGodnol ongerper f or msi n t hemannerHedi di nBi bl et i mes .Thi si ser r oneous ! Ont heot herhand,Iam c onv i nc edt hatwi t ht hec omi ngofGod’ sgl or yandwi t ht hes uper nat ur al gi f t sof t heHol ySpi r i ti noper at i on,t her ewi l l bedec ept i v emi r ac l esandmani f es t at i onsr i ghtal ongs i det hat appear st obeex ac t l yt hes ame.Per haps ,i ti snott oodi f f i c ul tt oex pl ai nt hi s .Sat ani st hemas t er c ount er f ei t er .Hec ount er f ei t st hegi f t soft heSpi r i ts oast oc r eat eunt ol ddi f f i c ul t i est ot heChur c h( t hi si s i ngr eatpar t ,t hec aus eoft r agi cdi v i s i onsbet weent hePent ec os t al s ,Char i s mat i c sandt hedenomi nat i onal c hur c hes ) .Thi sdoesnot ,howev er ,l es s ent hev al i di t yands i gni f i c anc eoft hegenui negi f t soft heHol y Spi r i t( f orex ampl e,j us tbec aus et her ear ec ount er f ei tdol l arnot esorbi l l sdonotnegat et hos et hatar e genui ne) . Now,f ort hepas tmont hs ,Ibel i ev et heLor dhasbeendeal i ngwi t hmeaboutt hedi r ec t i onsoft heChur c h wor l dt hatc oul dbef at al .Manybel i ev er sr eadi l yembr ac et hes eemi ngl yhar ml es sf adsof“ c har i s mat i c ” pr eac her s ;wheni nr eal i t y ,i ti sadepar t ur ef r om t het eac hi ngoft heWor dofGod.Whatar es omeoft hes e f ads ?Iwantt oi dent i f yt hem ast hes e:Domi ni ont eac hi ng,i nnerheal i ng,pos s i bi l i t yt hi nk i ng,ps y c hol ogy , t hef our t hdi mens i on,v i s ual i z at i on,et c .Bec aus eoft hes ubt l et yoft hes eappr oac hes ,ev ens i nc er eand wel l meani ngChr i s t i ansar enoti mmunet os omeoft hes ephi l os ophi es .Howev er ,ac l os eanddi s c er ni ng s t udywi l l r ev eal t hatt heyar ei nef f ec ts ay i ng,“ Thebl oodofJ es usChr i s ti si nadequat e!Weneed s omet hi ngi naddi t i ont ot hec r os s ! ”Ther ei sanat t ac kupont hef i ni s hedwor kofChr i s t( andi ti snotf r om wi t hout ,butf r om wi t hi nt hec hur c h) !Godhel pust oday ! THESHAKI NG OFTHENATI ONS( ANDOFTHECHURCH) “ AndIwi l l s hak eal l nat i ons ,andt hedes i r eofal l nat i onss hal l c ome:andIwi l l f i l l t hi shous ewi t hgl or y , s ai t ht heLORDofhos t s .Thes i l v eri smi ne,andt hegol di smi ne,s ai t ht heLORDofhos t s .Thegl or yof t hi sl at t erhous es hal l begr eat ert hanoft hef or mer ,s ai t ht heLORDofhos t s :andi nt hi spl ac ewi l l Igi v e peac e,s ai t ht heLORDofhos t s ”( Haggai 2: 79) . Doy ouk nowofbel i ev er swhoonc ewal k edwi t hGodbutnol ongerar et oday ?Per haps ,i thur t sy out o r eal i z ehowt hei rf or merl ov eandz eal f ort heLor dhav ewax edc ol d,ot her sar enotev ens ur ei ft heyar e s t i l l “ i nt hef ai t h” . Ibel i ev et heChur c hoft heLi v i ngGodi sr i ghtont het hr es hi ngf l oort oday .Tur ni ngt oMat t hew3: 12,we r ead,“ Whos ef ani si nhi shand,andhewi l l t hr oughl ypur gehi sf l oor ,andgat herhi swheati nt ot hegar ner ; buthewi l l bur nupt hec haf fwi t hunquenc habl ef i r e” .Fr i ends ,i fy oubel i ev et hatt her ear enoempt yor was t edwor dsi nt heBi bl e,Ihumbl ybegy ounott oi gnor et hi ss er i ousands ol emnaf f i r mat i on! Wi t ht heout pour i ngoft heHol ySpi r i tuponal l f l es h,af ewt hi ngswi l l oc c ur .Ofapr i or i t y ,t hemov i ngoft he Hol ySpi r i tenabl esef f ec t i v er eapi ngoft hehar v es tofs oul s .Forex ampl e,t hec ol l aps eofc ommuni s m as awhol ehasl edmanyt obedi s i l l us i onedwi t hpol i t i c s .Butasas egmentoft hes epeopl et ur nt oJ es us , t heywi l l nev erbedeni edordi s i l l us i oned.Iam ov er whel medandt hr i l l edwhenev erIr eadorhearof r epor t sc onc er ni ngadv anc ement si nt hef ul f i l l i ngoft heGr eatCommi s s i onoft heLor dJ es usChr i s t . Real l y ,t hec ondi t i oni nt hewor l dwi l l notgetbet t er ;butGodi nHi sgr eatl ov eandmer c yi sr eac hi ngand t ouc hi ngmanywi t ht heGos pel .Pr ai s eGod!Hal l el uj ah!
Nex t ,bec aus eofi nt ens i f y i ngs pi r i t ual dec ept i on,t heHol ySpi r i ti st opr epar eGod’ speopl ef ort he dar k nes sahead. Thenal s o,Godi sgoi ngt os i f tandpur i f yHi sc hur c h.Bec aus eGodi shol y ,nooneout s i det hec ov er i ng oft hebl oodofJ es uswi l l es c apeHi sr i ght eousj udgment .Chur c h,t het i mei ss hor tandt her ei snomor e r oom f orc ompl ac enc yandc ompr omi s e.Wemus tmak eev er yef f or tt oadher ec l os el yt ot hepr ec ept sof God’ sWor dandnott r yt oc ov erups i nwi t hs l i c kex c us esort heol ogi c al per s uas i on.Yous ee,wemus t obeyGod;Hedoesnotobeyus .I fGodi suns c r i pt ur al l yt r eat ed,i twi l l bes pi r i t ual deat h!Now,Ir eal i z e t hatt hei mpor toft hes ewor dsar es t r ong,butIhav ear es pons i bi l i t yi nt hear easandc apac i t yt hatI bel i ev eHehasent r us t edunt ome-“ Bel ov ed,whenIgav eal l di l i genc et owr i t eunt oy ouoft hec ommon s al v at i on,i twasneedf ul f ormet owr i t eunt oy ou,andex hor ty out haty es houl dear nes t l yc ont endf ort he f ai t hwhi c hwasonc edel i v er edunt ot hes ai nt s ”( J ude3) . THEHOPETHATPURI FI ETH “ Andnow,l i t t l ec hi l dr en,abi dei nhi m;t hat ,whenhes hal l appear ,wemayhav ec onf i denc e,andnotbe as hamedbef or ehi m athi sc omi ng.I fy ek nowt hathei sr i ght eous ,y ek nowt hatev er yonet hatdoet h r i ght eous nes si sbor nofhi m”( 1J ohn2: 2829) . “ Bel ov ed,nowar ewet hes onsofGod,andi tdot hnoty etappearwhatwes hal l be:butwek nowt hat , whenhes hal l appear ,wes hal l bel i k ehi m;f orwes hal l s eehi m ashei s .Andev er ymant hathat ht hi s hopei nhi m pur i f i et hhi ms el f ,ev enashei spur e”( 1J ohn3: 23) . Yes ,J es usi sc omi ngbac k .Howev er ,Hei snotc omi ngaf t eraweakc hur c h,butac hur c ht hati sgl or i ous , “ nothav i ngs pot ,orwr i nk l e,oranys uc ht hi ng;butt hati ts houl dbehol yandwi t houtbl emi s h”( Ephes i ans 5: 27) .Yet ,i ti ss adt hatl i t t l e,i fany ,i spr eac hedont her apt ur eoft hec hur c ht hes eday s .Somet i mes ,I wonder ,“ Coul dt hi sbet hec aus eofs omuc hbac k s l i di ngofbel i ev er s ?” Al l owmet oas kaf ewper s onal ands oberques t i ons : “ Whati st hec ondi t i onofy ourhear tt oday ?” “ I fy ous i nc er el ybel i ev et hatJ es usChr i s tc oul dr apt ur et hec hur c hatanymoment ,woul dy ouhav et he c onf i denc e( ac c or di ngt o1J ohn2: 28)i nmeet i ngHi m?” “ Whatwi l l y ourans wert ot heLor dbe( notf ors al v at i on,buti nt er msofChr i s t i anac c ount abi l i t yand s t ewar ds hi p) ?” Ipr ayt haty ouwi l l ber eady . COPYRI GHT( C)1990WORLDHARVESTGOSPELPRESS ALLRI GHTSRESERVED ( Thi sar t i c l ewaswr i t t eni nt heear l y1990s .Themes s agei ss t i l l asr el ev antnowasi twasbac kt hen. )