Spiritual Healing

Spiritual healing reaches beyond the emotional level. The spiritual element of Man is too often ignored. Perhaps that explains the growing number of spiritually ill people. Whether pride has convinced us that first century people are ignorant and superstitious or through simple unbelief modern men find it easy to discount spiritual affliction. There is no doubt that Hollywood has tainted serious conversation about demonic-human interaction.

Demon possession and demonic oppression are real. The hurt is real; the damage is real and only the Spirit of God can heal it. Casting out devils was a vital part of Jesus’ ministry. No one who witnessed Jesus exorcising demons thought it a clever show. Sickness and disease of every sort came into our world through the door that sin opened. It is naive to think the door closed or that the entities behind sin did not follow it to earth. Theatrical exaggerations make for a good profit at the box office, but only serve to dull modern senses. The real devil is more subtle than his movie counterfeits. Camouflage is his speciality; lies are his cover and his greatest hope is that nobody believes in him. Possession is an extreme situation. The devil doesn’t go to extremes often--he doesn’t need to. Why show his hand by possession when a simple addiction will do?

Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit provides healing for those oppressed by the devil in today’s world. Biblical healing is whole man healing; body, soul and spirit. The captives Jesus came to free were not prisoners of the state, but those of the devil.

Time To Rise

The gifts of the Spirit are in all Christians in some measure. The purpose of both gift and Christian is to serve the Kingdom of God. Where then should the emphasis on gifts be? The manifestation of the Holy Spirit during worship is not primarily meant to thrill believers so that we walk away thinking about how good church was today. The Spirit’s presence will certainly accomplish that end, but that is not the goal. His purpose is to call the unbeliever to God while filling believers in preparation for service in the field.
When our walk is no longer on a separate path and clearly distinguishable from the rest world in thought and deed, there is no longer a need for the power of the Spirit in worship because our worship leads nowhere. Revival begins and ends with reclaiming the true purpose of the Spirit. That purpose is new men, thinking new ways and calling on others to join them. Jesus ate with publicans and sinners, but when supper was over and the dishes done, He called them away from their former life saying:
“ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
We are given wisdom, knowledge, faith and all the rest of the gifts for the purpose of rising from the table and giving them away to whoever will receive them. The power of the Spirit is in the rising. Sitting joined to old habits and old, selfish thinking offers nothing; gives nothing; inspires nothing. Sitters have nothing. Rise up, therefore, and walk worthy of the vocation with which you are called.

Discernment

     "For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom...to another discerning of spirits..."


    

Discerning of, or between, spirits seems a bit more otherworldly or supernatural than wisdom or knowledge. In a sense this is true for two reasons. We are familiar working of wisdom and knowledge in our carnal world so we tend to relegate the spirit world to fiction. Secondly, discernment looks beyond thoughts and actions into the intent and spiritual source.

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”

Peter was given spiritual insight into the intentions of Simon, the sorcerer of Samaria. After being baptised, Simon attempted to buy his way into the power of the Spirit. Simon’s request came from his desire to continue dominance of the townspeople rather than any thought of helping to spread the gospel. Peter’s answer sees beyond Simon’s words into his thoughts and the spirit motivating him.

“But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money...for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.”

This was not the first time Peter was used in discerning the intentions of supposed believers. Perhaps the most well known instance is in Peter’s encounter with a man named Ananais and his wife, Sapphira. This couple sold one of their possessions and conspired together to keep part of the money while telling everyone that they gave it all. They were well within their rights to keep all or part of the money. It was, after all, their possession to do with as they pleased. Their fault was in their thoughts and intentions.

“But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.”

The same scene was repeated a few hours later with Sapphira.

Discernment of spirits involves an awareness of spiritual sources. We are taught discernment in the natural world from a young age though we call it something else. We call it exercising good judgement. The world and many Christians balk at the idea of exercising judgement because of Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount.

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”

This is not a warning against discerning right from wrong. It is a caution against condemnation of people. Christians are to look for an occasion to mercy rather than condemnation. It is also a lesson about searching out, and dealing with, sin in our own life. Hand in hand with this caution about judgement comes another warning in which discernement is commanded.

“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”

Throughout the scripture Christians are taught to exercise discernment between good and evil. We will encounter both along our way and must be able to distinguish between the two. On a community level, this involves discerning whether teaching and prophecy come from God. We are to use the same standard to measure our own thoughts and beliefs to determine if they are godly or carnal; beneficial or harmful to others; compassionate or selfish.

The Spirit will work through us to this end. It is also important that we apply ourselves to a study of true things. It is not necessary, as the world tells us, to study every religion. Neither is it necessarily harmful except when this involves occult practices. It is wise to know that every religion and practice has a spiritual dimension. To open yourself to the teachings of the world is to also open yourself to those spirits. Let this truth be your guide. If you apply yourself to study the truth, you will quickly recognise the false when it appears. This is the work of the Spirit of God in you.

A good soldier is drilled in the use of his weapons so that when battle comes he is armed and ready to face it bravely. Because the Spirit takes us beyond our ability is not an excuse to neglect the gift that is in you.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”

A child learns that flames are hot enough to inflict pain. As he grows he comes to discern the same about glowing embers. Sometimes the learning process is pain, but in the end it yields a heightened sense of discernment. This is equally true of the children of God. His children learn His voice and by the Spirit, He speaks truth to them that they may discern what is right.

“ Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, ‘How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.’

Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me...’ “

The gift of discernment of spirits is an ear tuned to the spiritual world around us. “If any man have an ear, let him hear.”

Living Words

Christianity is not a set of tenets to be recited, nor is it a collection of prayers one speaks in times of distress. The promoters of our society call upon people to look a certain way; conform in their thinking and speaking; and accept every whim of man’s will as right.

Contrary to what the world thinks, Christianity is not about conformity--it is about transformation. Christ calls us to newness of life. A person cannot truly heed the call of Christ without it. Christianity allows a man to lay aside the weights and chains of his former life and live free. Perhaps it is this freedom to live apart from the dictates of society that makes Christianity so divisive.

Live for Christ and immediately those around you become defensive. From behind the walls of convention and conformity they take up ridicule and slander against our going a different direction. To live in such a hostile climate is not easy. It certainly requires more of us than words. It requires the working of faith within to be translated to a life of faith on the outside.

It is one thing to say, “Jesus is Lord!” It takes exceedingly more to live it. Our real confession is not our words, but our life. God’s word is powerful; able to change men down to the thoughts and intents of the heart. But, it is in living God’s word that our confession lives. When we do that, we will be hated on earth and applauded in heaven.

“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”

Me and We

“Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
When God created the heavens and the earth, He did so with purpose. However, unlike the stars, the seas, or the animals, He created one thing with which he endowed the power to defy His purpose---Man.

Man is a living soul which carries the breath of God in his genes. Man is capable of love in its truest sense; love freely given. Making Man capable of such love meant he would also be capable of denying it or worse yet, pointing it toward himself. The decision to make Man in His image has cost God dearly and there have been times when He was sorry he made it.

Divorce is a story as old as the Garden. It is the story of Man exchanging “we” for “me.” If in paradise a person was willing to choose himself over God, why should it surprise anyone that the practice continues? Marriage is not a tradition. It is the plan of God for a selfless union between man and woman.

If we see a great many divorces, it is not that the notion of marriage has changed. It is nothing less than of the elevation of “me” into self worship. Self adulation and self satisfaction is the first commandment of the god of this world. Man loves to worship at his altar and there is no room for two.

Do not fret husbands and wives, it is not that your partner loves you less. It is that they love themselves more. “Me” is king to whom “we” must bow and die.

Irrelevant By Reason of Age

For a number of years now there has been a move in the Christian world to promote local churches with the claim that they offer “relevant” preaching. The hook is that traditional preaching, and by way of implication, traditional values are irrelevant in the modern world.

I’ve reached a point in my Christian experience where the majority of my natural life has been spent as part of the church. I have heard sermons preached that were not well thought out. I have heard sermons that were lacking in substance;and some poorly delivered. To the best of my knowledge,I have never heard one that was irrelevant. In fact,the vast majority hit my spirit with deadly accuracy. My own secret thoughts hatched alone in the dark and malicious intent brewed in the heat of anger have routinely found their way into pastoral exhortations.

What could be more relevant than the personal guidance of the Holy Spirit addressed in the context of the word of God directed straight to my heart? I admit it; I didn’t become a Christian because I thought my sins were hidden. I became one because I was convinced my sins were clear in the sight of God. He knew. But,that was not the power of the sermon I heard. The point was now I knew. Through preaching I got a look at my sins and was told God offered forgiveness in place of the judgment of which I was worthy.

There is nothing relevant in all the world but that. A God’s eye view into our hearts will do more to resolve the issues of life than any balm applied to the surface. The word of God lives. It can undo the spin we put on our modern lives. Perhaps, that is the objection. Could it be, for all our gadgets, we are not so different from the original model? God knows.

“ For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

One Step Beyod

Long ago in the days of black and white television; rabbit ears; and rotary channels selectors with twelve positions, there aired a program called One Step Beyond. It was a half hour show about strange but true events not far removed from the stories of Alfred Hitchcock and Rod Serling.
Computer generated images and modern technology have since pushed the boundary of motion pictures far beyond anything we may have imagined.One thing has not changed; life is still filled with strange happenings. Most of these strange tales spring from the creature we call Man. As these events defy rational, natural explanation, they are consigned the label of supernatural, and by implication---fiction. Yet, the occur.
One step beyond natural explanation is where you’ll find God. God lives at your wit’s end. He inhabits the plane of rational exhaustion and impossible solutions. The psalmist describes His realm:
“They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.”
God lives beyond human power. You’ll find Him one step beyond the place in which your strength; your health; and your righteousness fail. You’ll find God where your heart breaks. He’ll be waiting where friends and family forsake you. In the spot where you fall under the burden of life; there you’ll find God’s outstretched hand. Where Man cannot go--God is there; one step beyond your ability.
“ Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD...”