Tuesday: Jesus and the Word
How are the functions of the Word of God and the Spirit of God similar? Read John 5:39; 16:14-15.
Image © Jeff Preston from GoodSalt.com
The Word of God bears witness of Jesus. The Holy Spirit also bears witness of Jesus. The Spirit leads us to a deeper experience with Jesus through His Word. The purpose of the Holy Spirit in revival is not primarily to manifest Himself through supernatural signs and wonders but to exalt Jesus through His Word. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not about our power to accomplish great miracles. It is about God’s power to transform our lives-and that’s what revival and reformation are all about.
The Word of God provides the foundation or the basis for all genuine revival. Our experience flows out of an understanding of God’s Word. Our praise and worship spring from minds saturated with the Word. A transformed life is the greatest testimony of true revival.
Positive feelings of praise may accompany revival, but they are never the basis for revival. Any so called “revival” based solely on external feelings or experience is shallow at best, deceptive at worst. It is an illusion of spirituality, not genuine godliness. When revival is rooted in the Word of God, it is an experience that lasts and makes a difference in our lives and in the lives of the people around us.
The story of Jesus’ appearance to the two disciples on the Emmaus road reveals the role that the Bible plays in initiating true revival. These followers of Christ were filled with confusion. Gradually, however, He “expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27, NKJV). He repeated the Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah. Jesus could have worked a miracle to prove His identity or showed the scars in His hands. He did not. Instead, He gave them a Bible study.
Notice their response as they reflected on what happened that day. “And they said to one another, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?’ ” (Luke 24:32, NKJV).
What an example of genuine revival!
Why can’t we trust our feelings? How can our feelings deceive us? What role do feelings have in our walk with the Lord, and what role do they not have?
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I am reminded of the words of a hymn: "...revive us again, fill each heart with Thy love,may each soul be rekindled with fire from above ..."
God's word tells of His love, testifes of Him dying to save us, living to clense us, coming soon to glorify us. That is the gospel. Period.
The disciples had heard and probably read the scriptures for themselves but they had devised their own meanings to the bible about the Messiah. Christ then explained to them, He who had the Holy Spirit. The Pharisees knew the bible from cover to cover but because they didn't read it with the Spirit leading them, they never understood anything.
Christ taught that we must become "doers" of the Word not just "hearing". He said, "whosoever heareth and doeth is likened to a wise man who built his house upon a rock" Matthew7:24. We know that Christ is the Rock, so those who hear and do are building upon Christ who is also the Word. He who doesn't do, is likened unto a foolish man who doesn't build on Christthe Rock and the Word. The difference between these two people is that their respective FOUNDATIONS. The moment we become doers of the Word of God, we never remain the same. In Revelation1:3 christ actually said blessed is who "READ", "HEARS" and "KEEP". If w do that we will never remain the same, but reading and knowing the 2300day prophecy without KEEPING is useless. Knowing about Christ and the Bible without a living experience of that in our lives is useless. Let us be doers of the Word and God will blee us abundantly just as He promised in Revelation and the whole Bible
I think the tuesday lesson proves to us that revival is not merely an outward physical manifestation as is being taught by churches of today but as the example taken from Luke 24(on the road to Ephesus) it clearly shows that revival starts from within and true revival is rooted in the Word of God. Instead of outrightly telling the two man who He was,Jesus instead gave them a bible study and only after that did they on their own realise who they had been walking with. The same in our lives today if we want true revival we will only get it from the scriptures because here is were we can meet and commune with God,our only source of revival.
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When the Word is read in the Spirit of God it becomes powerful and transformational. It is the only power needed for personal reformation. This is followed by the realisation of weightlessness which comes from sins forgiven and strengthened faith. Resulting emotion is joy, joy, joy, which I have to renew every minute of the day. May God be with us all on this journey.
When our focus is on God with His love and Truth, our hearts are warmed and thrilled. The experience and focus should remain upon God, His Word and the truth we find. The emphasis should never be upon our feelings and emotions. Those feelings and emotions may be present, but we do not need to take our minds off God and His love and place them upon the feelings.
No one likes very much trying to carry on a human relationship with someone who is only interested in the feelings we give them, the things we do for them and what they can get out of us than they are interested in us. Much better are meaningful relationships with people who value getting to know us deeply and who appreciate who we are. If we want a true revival and reformation, we are really saying that we want to know God and be with Him. Therefore, we are willing to do what it takes to focus on our relationship with Him as we find Him in His Word.
True revival cannot be based in feelings because feeling comes about from an external stimulus. Therefore revival is heart based and mind boggling. It brings you to a state of mind that is food for thought and change happens next. The Spirit is who enhances that change and maintains that change in the individual. It is deep not superficial or short lived.
The Holy Spirit and the Word point us to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. They both uplift, direct, points, letting us know how to live, interrelate with others, and inform us how to inherit eternal life. We notice that selfishness is not an issue where the Word and the Holy Spirit are concerned - all about Jesus, the Creator, Redeemer, and Saviour.
Feelings in general can be dangerous to go off in our day to day walk. Our feelings deceive us often, and our Faith is the foundation to it all. Paul probably had a days when he just didn't feel like dealing with God's people or getting up for that matter. I have days when i don't want to deal with myself... But faith we have a true revival can oversee that feeling. Thank you God
On this day, I have a renewed love and appreciation for the Word. Believers as well as unbelievers, through READING and maybe not STUDYING the Old Testament, saw God as a tyrant, someone who was exacting, one who eliminated or destroyed persons and families, even nations for not succumbing to His whims. My praise if for Jesus who came to clarify these inaccurate perceptions of our Loving Father. Through diligent study of The Word, if one is open to change, he or she will not be disappointed. The Word that says, "God rewards those who diligently seek Him" is a Truth.
Our lives are our testimonies to transformation. Our feelings and emotions, even though very strong, can be extremely deceiving, this is why we cannot rely on them. However, these make up who we are but it is also the avenue in which Satan uses to deceive, this is one reason we are counseled to buy form Him and lean on EVERY word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. We cannot be too careful anymore than we can leaving our children and grandchildren unprotected from strangers. It is a dangerous world we live in but praise God we can count on Him to keep His promises and assure us of His love and grace.
Praise God for His gospel and the power to transform lives though the power of the Holy spirit. Transformation is the evidence of the Holy Spirit. Feelings can mislead or be superficial. I can depend on the word of God to give me the feelings I need to rejoice in a changed life. Amen