A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (November 29, 2016)
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (Johutn 16:13)
Anyone who has attempted to write about Jesus understands the challenge involved. Whether you’re writing a song, a book, a screen play, movie script, or just a short devotional like this one, it is the same challenge. You want to do your very best but how do you expand, explain, or amplify on what Jesus said or did without adding to or taking away from the truth He has already provided in the Word of God? What are the proper words to use? How do you stay true to His message? And most of all, how do you capture the anointing?
As an example, there have been hundreds of thousands of songs written and performed about Jesus but only a very few have even come close to capturing the anointing. In my lifetime, two of those songs have been “Rise Again” originally sung by Dallas Holm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkIJfLfzZ0w, and “Mary, Did You Know” sung by Michael English https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ7DHo_WRJc. These two songs have some powerful lyrics that are very anointed. They are truth put to music but even then they do not come close to giving justice to the powerful anointing that Jesus walked in.
Now, let’s consider some of the words and phrases that Jesus said. He spoke to the demonic spirit that was in a man in the synagogue and told him to “hold thy peace, and come out of him” (Mark 1:25-26). And when the demon spirit came out of the man everybody was amazed. He spoke to a dead man in a tomb and said “Lazarus, come forth” and Lazarus came walking out of the tomb (John 11:43-44). He gave us scriptures such as John 3:16 and John 10:10. How do you compete with the power and simplicity of those words? The answer is, you can’t, by yourself. You need help to even come close!
One of the things that I learned early on as a minister was that you have to learn to listen to the Holy Spirit if you want to come anywhere close to the anointing. The scripture that helped me the most in this regard was the following:
Those things which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you. (Philippians 4:9)
The anointing to perform miracles and healings is not housed in the complicated but is clothed in simplicity. You never see Jesus preaching some deep theological message before performing a miracle or healing a sick person. He just simply said be healed, come forth, or come out. The power and anointing to speak those things came from His relationship with His Father. Jesus said He did not do anything unless He saw the Father doing it (John 5:19). That same power and anointing is available to us today if we would just simply believe and learn to listen to the Holy Spirit.
Many of us have learned over the years to listen to our bodies about medical issues. Our body tells us when certain drugs or supplements are not liked by our body. If we are smart, we listen to our body. In the same way, we can learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and pay attention to what is happening around us. God wants to talk to us and He will do it many times through life events. It is not always through a sermon or through reading the Bible. Listen up!! You have ears to hear and eyes to see. Pay attention!! God and His Holy Spirit wants to talk to us.
Just remember this, every great song, every great book, and every great devotional is co-written by God. Be at peace, pray and listen. We have a great partner!
