God Speaking

December 23, 2019

Having recently been asked to do some teaching on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, I’ve been re-examining Scripture on the matter, and I’ve decided that teaching on the gifts without a prior focus on the Giver would be a mistake. So, I’m digging into the broader subject, and came across something here in the Revelation that surprised me. In these first chapters of the book, Jesus Christ himself is speaking to the seven churches representative of us all. He identifies himself as the One who ideally fits the varied circumstances in which they find themselves, speaking a word of encouragement, instruction, and warning to the church leaders. But at the end of each little speech we find these words: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Did you catch it? Jesus preaches, but it is the Holy Spirit who speaks. This is the other side of the coin of Jesus’ words in John 15:26 where Jesus says, ““But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” —John 15:26 NKJV

We often desire validation or assurance in the form of a feeling that God is smiling upon us, and are just as often disappointed when that doesn’t happen. The presence and power of the Holy Spirit isn’t measured by miracles, feelings, signs and wonders. All of these can be manipulated and manufactured. The real question is, “Is this what Jesus said?” 

This morning I was listening to T.D. Jakes preaching on the Nativity story. The angel appears to Mary telling her she will be blessed above all women. “But don’t you know,” Jakes said, “that every blessing comes with a burden?” He continued, “Imagine if you will,” he said, “that you are Joseph.” Mary tells him she is pregnant, and he knows it’s not his baby. God tells him in a dream that this is of him, and that it will be OK. And now, they are headed to Bethlehem. She’s nine months pregnant; she’s uncomfortable, it’s ninety miles, and once they get there thinking the journey is done, there’s no place to stay. And all the while, God is silent. Through the pregnancy, with all the wagging tongues, through the long journey, to the confines of a stable, God speaks not a word. 

And yet, even in the silence, the promise of God holds true. The blessing would come, but so would the burden and buffetings. This was not the cozy, nostalgic scene we imagine. Jesus Christ came into a world that rejected him from the outset. The plan of God is not subject to our emotions. And the Holy Spirit speaks the Word of Jesus Christ to anyone willing to listen. It isn’t a comfortable word; it isn’t an easy word. It’s a word of challenge, of courage, of command! HEAR what the Spirit is saying; it is Jesus Christ himself who calls us to stand strong in the face of opposition, of temptation, of fear, with the Good News that he is Lord of heaven and earth.