A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (May 2, 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. (John 16:13)
When you refer to the work or move of the Holy Spirit most people think that you are talking about something wild and crazy. That is not necessarily so. Some of the strongest moves of the Spirit that we have witnessed over thirty years of ministry have been very calm, very sweet, and sometimes almost undiscernible at the time of the service.
I will never forget when we started attending New Life Christian Fellowship in Jacksonville FL after moving to that area. It was a small new church of about 300 people and they were meeting in an old Jewish synagogue. Pastor Paul Zink was the Founding Pastor and he was not a flamboyant preacher by any means. In fact, I would describe him as a very calm but great teacher of the Word of God.
We came to that church with a background in evangelism and I would say a good many of the teachers and preachers we grew up with were more flamboyant in their presentations than Pastor Zink. As my wife and I sat in New Life’s Sunday services for several weeks we commented to each other about the very calm preaching of Pastor Zink. However, we also noticed and commented on the fact that 25-50 people came forward each Sunday and gave their lives to the Lord. We were asking ourselves how this was possible without an on-fire flamboyant preacher for a Pastor.
Here is the answer we came up with. It had to be the Holy Spirit! We saw that church grow from 300 to 7000 and at one point saw 1500 people baptized in one night. We learned a lot from Pastor Zink during the time we spent at New Life. We still claim him as our Pastor even though we live in Georgia now.
I tell you that story because we are seeing that same thing happen in some of our recent meetings. People are being touched by the Spirit of God and they don’t really know what’s happening to them or how to explain it. They find themselves weeping uncontrollably as they sit in the service, or later as they read the Word, or as they drive down the road. That is the Holy Spirit!! I cannot fully explain it, but I do recognize it and it is a wonderful life changing experience. I can assure you this, it is not something you can manufacture or bring about with flamboyant or self-serving sermons. In my opinion, it only comes when pride and ego have been put under and the leadership is in agreement to welcome the Holy Spirit. In other words, as we have previously mentioned, “Victory is not in the fight, but in the surrender”.
I don’t know about you but I am sick and tired of dead religion and the cunning manipulation of man. God, deliver us from thinking we know it all or that we can somehow manifest the anointing of God with our actions! We need the power of the Holy Spirit to come along side us, minister through us, and minister to the people like only He can. That is the only way the hearts of men and women are truly changed.
Holy Spirit, you are welcome in all our meetings! Thank you for the work you have already started in the lives of the people that attended our last service. We ask you to bring the Word of God alive to them, guide them and direct them, and give them wisdom to make the right decisions as they grow in you.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)
