A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (May 9, 2016)
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (John 16:7)
What if you were assigned to grade the human reaction to God’s three visits to planet Earth? How would you start? What grade do you personally think we have earned?
As I read and study the Bible I see God as a three part being (Father/Son/Holy Ghost) which is often referred to as the Trinity (1 John 5:7-8). The Bible to me is broken down into three separate eras. Those eras are the Old Testament which is the visit of the Father; the New Testament which is the visit of the Son; and the Book of Acts, which continues until today, and is the visit of the Holy Ghost. Let’s look at each period and how we have reacted to these three visits from God.
The Old Testament is replete with the rejection of God from Adam and Eve, to the Jewish people worshipping idols in the wilderness, to the wicked Kings of Israel, to the prophets of Baal, and on and on it went. God at one point had to wipe everybody out with the flood and start over again. He then had to let a whole generation of people die out before they could enter the Promised Land due to the lack of faith. This was even after these same people witnessed miracle after miracle as God delivered them out of Egypt, and they still rejected God! I would say we would have to give those generations a failing mark.
Then we come to the New Testament where God visited us with His only begotten son (Jesus). How did we do there? Well, we crucified the Lord of Glory!!! We rejected God again! I would have to rate that as a failing mark also.
Now we come to the visit of the Holy Ghost, which we are presently in. How are we doing? For the most part the vast majority of the organized church has rejected the Holy Ghost. They have explained the gifts away with their religious doctrine. They have tried to convince a generation of Christians that all of the works of the Holy Ghost passed away when the Apostles died. They have questioned the need for such things as the gifts of the Spirit. In other words, we are in the process of rejecting God again!!!
NEWSFLASH: God will never do things the way you and I think they should be done. His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8). Eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those that love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9). If you think you have figured God out with your intellect and religious doctrine you best think again. How arrogant can we be to think we can dictate to God how He should act or what He should or should not do?
Let me ask you a question. What if Jesus Christ himself walked into your church service today? How would you and your congregation react? How would your religious leadership react? What if Jesus started laying hands on the sick and healing people? Are you going to tell Jesus those actions are not appropriate and those gifts have passed away? Would you kick Him out of the church? You and I need to be in a place where if Jesus was to walk into our gathering we would immediately be on our face as John was in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 1:17).
You and I live in a very special time period when the Father sent the Holy Ghost to be our helper, teacher and guide (John 14:26). We all have a choice. We can receive Him, and everything that comes with Him, or we can keep going down that same old road of rejection. At some point I pray that each and every one of us would pick up a Bible and read it for ourselves with an open mind and open heart. God wants to speak to each one of us personally! It is time we receive what God has for us and quit relying on manmade religious doctrines that do not line up with the Word of God.
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)
He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. (Acts 19:2)
