CONTENTS

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter1 SailingIsBetterThanRowing

Chapter2 WhoIsThisPerson?

Chapter3 YouCanDotheWorksofJesus

Chapter4 GrowingBananasinAlaska

Chapter5 SpiritualPhenomena

Chapter6 It’sNotAllGod

Chapter7 SpiritualTools

Chapter8 TheTreasureintheMiddle

Chapter9 TheRudderInside

Chapter10 TheHolySpiritandWisdom

Chapter11 TheSpiritandtheMission

Chapter12 ThePinnacleandtheProcess

Chapter13 FindingaNewNormal

DiscussionQuestions

©Copyright2012—DanSmith

Allrightsreserved.ThisbookisprotectedbythecopyrightlawsoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica.Thisbookmaynotbecopiedorreprintedforcommercialgainorprofit.Theuseofshortquotationsoroccasionalpagecopyingforpersonalorgroupstudyispermittedandencouraged.Permissionwillbegranteduponrequest.Unless otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEWINTERNATIONAL VERSION®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used bypermission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from theAmplified®Bible,Copyright©1954,1958,1962,1964,1965,1987byTheLockmanFoundation.Usedbypermission. Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARDBIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,19 62,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The LockmanFoundation.Usedbypermission.ScripturequotationsmarkedNLTare taken from theHolyBible,NewLiving Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.,Wheaton,Illinois60189.Allrightsreserved.AllemphasiswithinScripturequotationsistheauthor’sown.PleasenotethatDestinyImage’spublishingstylecapitalizescertainpronounsinScripturethatrefertotheFather,Son,andHolySpirit, andmaydiffer fromsomepublishers’ styles.Takenote that thenamesatanand relatednamesarenotcapitalized.Wechoosenottoacknowledgehim,eventothepointofviolatinggrammaticalrules.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ThisbookisthefruitofGodworkingthroughmanypeopleinmylife.Theyhavecontributedgreatly,bothpersonallyandprofessionally,andIameternallygratefultoeachofthem.Iwouldliketorecognizethemhere.

Mywife,Jane,hasprovidedasafeandpeacefulplacetoliveandwork.Herloveandencouragementgavemeasolid foundationandhelpedme tosee thisprojectthroughtotheend.Shewasanenormoushelptomeasmyfirsteditor.Iloveyou,Jane!

Mydaughters,StephanieandLindsey,alongwithLindsey’shusband,Brent,are some of my biggest fans, and their love and encouragement has been atremendoushelpandsourceofstrength.

Myassociateandfriend,MikeFlynn,whohasauthoredfivebookshimself,wasagreathelpineditingthemanuscript,andinprovidingpracticalsuggestionsalong the way.Mike, I hope to keep learning from you and look forward toenjoyingmoretimestogetheratStarbucks.

My friend, Dr. Marèque Ireland, invested much of her time in readingportionsofthemanuscriptandmademanyhelpfulsuggestions,especiallywithChapter 2.Her comments and corrections as a theologian have enabledme torepresenttheHolySpiritmoreaccurately,andhavemadethisabetterbook.

TothewonderfulpeopleoftheVineyardCommunityChurchinCamarillo:Youaresimply thebestpeopleanypastorcouldhopefor,andIcouldn’thavedoneanyofthiswithoutyourlove,prayers,andencouragement.

I especially want to thank Bert Waggoner, who, although he carries theenormousweightof leading theVineyardmovement, took the timetoread theentiremanuscript,andtooffervaluableinsightsandanalysis.IcanthinkofnooneIwouldratherhavewrittentheforwardtothisbook.ThankyouBert!

I also need to expressmy heartfelt thanks toVinsonSynan,ToddHunter,

JeremyBegbie, JasonBridge,PhilGuthrie,RayBatt,AaronDunn,RoyBach,RickWright,RickTaylor,andPatrickBaligasima.Theyallreadthemanuscriptandgavemebothgreatencouragementandhelpfulsuggestions.

Special thanks to Doug Addison, who not only read the manuscript, butintroduced me to Drew Rivera at Destiny Image. Your ministry continues tobringjoyandfreedomtomany!

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for laying such a firm foundation of faith inJesus.YouintroducedmetotheWindandprovidedtherudderformylife.Andthanks,MomWilliams,whowassuchaprayerwarriorandsourceofinspiration.

Iwill always owe a debt of gratitude to JohnWimber, the founder of theVineyard movement. Thanks, John, for modeling humility and love for thewholeChurch.You taughtmesomuchand impactedmylifeprofoundly.Andthanksforthecostlypriceyoupaidtogivebirthtoandleadthismovement.

Finally, I want to thank Drew Rivera and the team at Destiny Image forbelieving inme as a first-time author, and forworkingwithme tomake thisdreambecomereality.

ENDORSEMENTS

TheWindandtheRudderisaninspirationalandinstructiveworkon“howtolive joyfully in the power of the Holy Spirit.” Dan Smith is not an armchairtheoretician; he has experienced and practiced the life in the Spirit he writesabout. Iencourageallwhoare thirsty toexperiencemoreofGod tomakeTheWindandtheRudderapriorityread.

BERTENWAGGONER

NationalDirector

VineyardUSA

Thisisaverywell-writtenandtimelybook.IrecommendittoanyonewholongstoknowandexperiencemoreoftheHolySpirit.

VINSONSYNAN

DeanEmeritus

RegentUniversitySchoolofDivinity(VirginiaBeach)TheWindandtheRuddergivesyou

greatbiblicalfoundationforlivingalifedirectedbytheHolySpirit.DanSmithhasawayofmakingthingsnaturallysupernatural.Thisbookisfullof

foundationalteaching,practicalstories,andexamplesfromhistory.Yourlifewillneverbethesame!

DOUGADDISON

AuthorofPersonalDevelopmentGod’sWaywww.dougaddison.com

TheNewTestament envisions a conversational relationshipwith theHolySpiritthatbuildsuptheChurchandprovidesgiftsandpowertoservetheworld.Butmanyof us have a difficult time finding such a relationship. It seems toohard to navigate waters that easily become weird. And it surely can invitecontroversy.Butwehaveno choice.There canbe noChristianitywithout theHolySpiritfrontandcenter.Ifyouarebeingledtoexplorethepersonandworkof the Holy Spirit, Dan Smith, while youmay not agree with every word hewrites,isaveteranandreliableguide.

TODDHUNTER

AnglicanBishopPastPresident,VineyardChurchesUSAPastPresident,AlphaUSA

AuthorofOurFavoriteSins(ThomasNelsonPublishers,2012)Danisaspiritualfathermanyofuswouldlikebeassoci-atedwith,andIhighly

recommendallbelieversandministersaliketoreadthisbook.

APOSTLEPATRICKBALIGASIMA

Founder/PresidentDiscipleshipMissionsInt.(Uganda)TheLordisabouttopouroutHisSpirit

innewandamazingways.MostChristiansareexcitedaboutthis,butareunawarethatGodwantstousethem.Dan’sbook,TheWindandtheRudder,willnotonlyopenyoureyestoseewhatGodhasalreadybeguntodoinourgeneration,butitwillcauseyoutohungerforallthatHehasforyou.Itwill

teachyouhowtobepreparedandequippedsoyoucanstepintoyourdestiny,soyourlifecanmakeadifferenceonearthforsuchatimeasthis.

RICKTAYLOR

DirectoroftheHealingRooms

oftheSantaMariaValley

IftheSpirit-ledlifehasbaffledyouattimes,thisbookisthekeytounlockthosemysteries.Inmy20yearsofministryIhaveyettorunacrossawritingthatsobrilliantlyexplainsthecomplexitiesofwhatitmeanstoworkinpartnershipwiththeHolySpiritlikeTheWindandtheRudderdoes.DanSmithhaspennedabookforministersand laypeople thatwillenhanceyourwalkwith theLordand give the biblical balance that is so needed in the lives of the 21st-centuryChrist-follower. Pick it up today, read it tomorrow, and begin putting it intopracticethenextday.

AARONDUNN

PastorofAssimilationandVolunteerMinistriesPhoenixFirstAssemblyPhoenix,Arizona

DanSmith’sbookisawelcomeandtimelycontributiontotheChurch.HispassionforGodandheartforpeopleshinethrougheachpageasheshareswithus his insight on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Stemming from alifetimeofministry,deepprayer,biblicalstudy,andpersonalexperience,SmithinspiresustoembraceouridentityaspersonsempoweredandledbytheSpirit.Thisbookisnotonlyforthosewhowishtobebetterequippedforministry,butforanyonewhowishestodeepentheirsensitivitytoandunderstandingofGod’spersonalandactivepresenceinthepersonoftheSpirit.

MARÈQUESTEELEIRELANDAffiliateAssistantProfessorofTheologyFullerTheologicalSeminary

If there is ever a time for apowerfulbook like this, that time isnow!TheWind and theRudder is an amazing reminder that, aswe “do life,” there is awonderful helperwho empowers us to fulfill our promised destiny—adestinywewere not created to fulfill alone. So sit back, and allowGod, throughHisSpirit, to fill your sail with an undeniable power, which will revive you andbringjoybackintothejourney.

JASONBRIDGESeniorPastor,WordofLifeFamilyChurchPhillips,Wisconsin

TheGreekword translated “disciple” (mathetes) literallymeans “learner.”DanSmith isa long-termlearner.Thisbook isnot theoretical; itcomesoutofpractical experience in putting theWord ofGod towork. I haveworkedwithDanfor9yearsandhavefoundhimtobeapractitionerofthethingshewritesabout in thisbook.Theword“balance”welldescribeshim:hegoesalloutfor

thethingsGodputsonhisheartandhedoesn’tpermitsuccesstoinfluencehisability to assess things maturely. You will enjoy the forthright stories in thisbook aswell as the conclusionsDan draws out of them. If you put them intopracticeyou’llfindthatthisbookhaschangedyourlife.

REV.MIKEFLYNNFounderandDirectorofFreshWindMinistriesAwarmandpassionate

testimonytothecreative,renewingenergyoftheHolySpirit,drawingonyearsofpastoralexperience.AtatimewhentheChurchdesperatelyneedsto“sail

withthewind,”thereismuchheretoponderandtaketoheart.

JEREMYBEGBIE

DukeUniversity

IenthusiasticallyrecommendTheWindandtheRudder.Forthoseofuswitheyestosee,wewillreceiveapictureofwhattheSpiritofJesusispreparingforHisbelovedBride.BiblicalandhistoricalexamplesoftheworkofHisSpiritarewoventhroughoutthepages.Theauthorisaseeker;amanofintegritywhomIhaveknownfor25years.Maturityandspiritualsensitivitywillbeneededforthegloriousdaysahead.Likeacompass,TheWindandtheRudderpointsustothecomingKing.

PHILGUTHRIE

FounderandPresident,RadioNuevaVidaScripturesaysthereisariverthatmakesgladthepeopleofGod.ThatriveristheHolySpirit.TheearlyChurchlearnedtoworkwiththeSpirit,andthatmadeallthedifference.Dangivesusclearinstructions,personalexperience,andwonderfulstoriesthatwillhelpus

navigatetheriverofGodinthecomingharvestrevival.Dan’sbook,ifbelieved,willhelpusnotmissourdayofvisitation.

RICKWRIGHT

SeniorPastor,TheGatheringPlaceStudioCity,California

FOREWORD

THERE WAS A TIME, AND it was not long ago, that the Evangelical church andmuchoftherestofthechurchwasafraidofthegiftsoftheSpirit.Prayingforthesick, speaking in tongues,andprophesyingwereat the leastheldsuspectoratthe most demonic. Theologies had developed that said all of these gifts andmanymorehadbeenavitalpartofNewTestamentexperience,butwiththefulldevelopmentoftheBible,theywerenolongerneededandthusceasedtooperatewhen the canonwas closed.TheBible then replaced the Spirit; it became theonlywaythatGodcouldspeak.

But things have changed. Early in the twentieth century the Pentecostalmovement erupted on the world scene that caused a tsunami of the Spiritaccompaniedwithsignsfollowingsuchas thoseoncerejectedor ignoredgifts.This was followed in the Sixties by a second spiritual tsunami called theCharismatic movement that upset the spiritual landscape in old-linedenominations, the Roman Catholic church, and many Evangelical churches.Though many in the church would continue to say that they are neitherCharismaticnorPentecostal,theywouldalsogoontosaythattheybelieveallofthegiftsoftheSpiritarefortodayandthattheywantthosegiftstobeexpressedintheirchurches.ItcouldberightlysaidthatthetwentiethcenturywasacenturyinwhichtheHolySpirit’sworkwasforcefullyfeltthroughallthechurch.

Anever-increasingnumberofbooksarebeingwrittenontheHolySpiritbyscholarsandpractitionersacrossthetheologicalspectrum.Yettheyarenotonlywriting about the Holy Spirit in redemption—inspiring the Bible, convictingsinners, illuminating theWord. These are all very important functions of theSpirit,buttheyareonlyasmallpartoftheSpirit’swork.Thereismuchmore.TheSpiritspeakstous,giftsustoservebothinthechurchandtheworld,andanoints us to do theworks of Jesus such as preaching the gospel, healing thesick,andfreeingpeoplefromspiritualbondage.TheSpiritbuildsthechurchto

be a reconciling community that breaks down thewalls of prejudice, destroyssectarianism,andcaresforcreation.ThereisnothinginourlivesthattheSpiritisnotrelatedtoinsomeway.

TheWindandtheRudderaddsanotherveryhelpfulbooktothisgenre.ItisaverypracticalguideforthosewhowanttoliveintheSpiritandwhoneedsomeskillstohelpthemdoso.Itisnotwrittenbyanarmchairtheoretician.Danisanexperiencedpractitionerwhohaslearnedtolivenaturallyinthesupernatural.Hehasprayedforthesick,prophesied,andcastoutdemons.HenotonlytellsyouwhattheSpiritwantstodoinyourlife,healsoshowsfromyearsofexperiencehow to cooperate with the Spirit in a non-religious way. Your heart will bewarmed,yourmindwillbechallenged,andyourfaithwillbestrengthenedinthereading.

BERTENA.WAGGONER

NationalDirector

VineyardUSA

INTRODUCTION

THENEXTGREATAWAKENINGHASalreadybegun.InSantaMaria,California, theHealingRooms, staffedbyvolunteers from

over 30 local churches, have seen hundreds of medically verified healings ofeveryimaginabledisease,andareseeingpeoplecometoChristalmostdaily.

AnevangelistwithInterVarsityinLosAngelestoldmethatherecentlygavean altar call at a secular university and was stunned when over 50 studentsresponded to the invitation to receive Christ. When I asked him if this wasbecomingatrend,hesaid,“Definitely.”

AgroupofChristians, trainedin“propheticevangelism,”recentlystaffedaboothattheSantaBarbaraCountyFair,onwhichtheyputasign,“RefreshmentfortheJourney.”Theyengagedcuriousindividualsinconversation,givingthemwordsofpropheticencouragementandinsight(whatmanywouldcall“WordsofKnowledge”).Suchwas their impact that theywereawardedFirstPrize in thenon-profitcategory!

In Redding, California, an army of youth regularly invade local malls,prayingforstrangersthattheyhadearlierreceivedcluesaboutinprayercircles,oftenwithdramaticresults(theycalltheseoutreaches“TreasureHunts”).TheirchurchhasbecomeatraininggroundforyoungpeoplefromalloverthecountrywhoaredesperateforthepoweroftheSpirit.

RadioNuevaVida, based inCamarillo,California, has become the largestSpanishChristianradionetworkinAmerica.Myfriend,PhilGuthrie,whoisthepresident and founder, shares with me week after week amazing stories ofhundredsuponhundredsofpeoplefindingChristthroughtheirbroadcasts.Theyregularly see people healed and delivered from demons right in their offices.GodisbringingrevivaltotheSpanish-speakingpopulationintheU.S.!

ThisisonlyasmallsamplingofevidencethatIhaveseeninthelastyearor

so,but Iwouldbetmanyofyoucan testify tosimilar things,andevengreaterworksof theSpirit in your owncommunities.Thousandsof people across theU.S. have been praying for a nationwide revival, and I just don’t believe thatGodwill ignore their cries.Someonehas said, “WheneverGod is ready todosomethingbig,HesetsHispeoplepraying.”WehaveallheardstoriesofhowtheSpirit hasbeenmovingwithpower inother countries, andmanyofus aregettingtiredofbeinglong-distancespectators.Youmayevenbeburnedoutasyoureadthisbook,butbeencouraged—Godhasnotforgottenyou,andGodhasnotforgottenAmerica.

In my own church, we have been sensing a growing desperation for amassiveoutpouringofGod’sSpirit,andasIhaveinteractedwithotherpastors,I’mfindingthesamethinghappeninginotherchurchesacrossthecountry.TheHolySpiritisuptosomethingbigandweneedtoprepare.

TheoutpouringofGod’sSpirit is theprimary thing,butnot theonly thingweneed.TherehavebeenmanytimesinhistorywhenthewindofGod’sSpirithasbeguntomovepowerfullythroughanindividual,inacityoracrossanation,onlytoseehealthy,long-lastingrevivalabortedduetothelackofarudder.Oneof theattemptsof thisbook is tohelpprovide thestabilizing forceofa strongrudderduringtimesofdramaticrenewalandrevival.

Adventure…………… Mystery…………… Power……………Grace……………Satisfaction……………Destiny……………Favor.

TheseareafewofthethingswearemeanttoexperiencewhenparticipatingwithJesusinthisincrediblemissionHehascalledusto.WhenHelivedamongus, the Spirit led Him into one adventure after another. He was anything butpredictable,conventional,orconforming.Hewasadoredbyoutcasts,hatedbythe establishment, and followed by thousands. ThemessageHe preachedwasrevolutionary,challenging,andcompelling.ThosewhowereprivilegedtoknowHimintimatelywerechangedforever.TheyhadbeencaughtinHisgravitationalpull,andwereundone,orbroken,orawestruck.Buttheyallknew,inawaytheyhad never known before, howdeeply theywere loved, howmuch theywouldsuffer,andhowgreatwastheirdestiny.Theywouldbecomeworld-changers.

“The Blackbird” is the nickname for the SR-71, perhaps the most highlydevelopedstrategicreconnaissanceplaneeverbuilt.Itwasdesignedwithametalskinthatwouldexpandbecauseoftheheatfromofflyingsohighandsofast.Itwasbuiltwithsixexpansionpoints,enablingittoliterallystretchinflight.Itwastruly amiracleof engineering.However,when itwas sittingon theground, itwouldleakfuelallovertheplacefromthoserelaxedexpansionpoints,needing

drippansplacedunderit,likeanoldcarinastaineddriveway,andwasanythingbutimpressive.

Allofthiswasbydesign,anditisapictureoftheChristian.Wehavebeendesigned for supersonic flight andmind-numbing performance.We have beendesignedtobelikeJesus.HemodeledtheSpirit-empoweredlife,challengedHisdisciples todotheimpossible(likefeedthousandswithaboy’s lunch,orwalkon water, or cast out stubborn demons), and seemed frustrated when theycouldn’t.Thereisawholedimensionoflivingthathasgoneun-experiencedbymostfollowersofJesus,andHestillwaits.WeareliketheBlackbird,designedforgreatnessandloftyflight,but,sadly,mostof the timewesit in thehangar,unimpressive.Wesitearth-bound.

There are also a fewBlackbirdswho fly fast and high, but, like the earlyprototypes, have flaws that make them unstable, and sometimes theconsequencesaredisastrous.Thefasterwefly, themorecrucial thestabilizingsystems become. At the risk of mixing metaphors, we are like sailing ships,designedforWindpowerandhelplesswithout it,butonce theWindbegins toblowandthesailsareraised,theintegrityoftherudderbecomesmostimportant.

A “revelation,” for lack of a betterword, came tome about 17 years ago,duringaprayermeetinginCanada,andwasaccompaniedbyamentalpicture.Inthispicture,Isawanoldship,perhapssomethingoutofthe17thor18thcentury.Theshiphadmasts,but thesailsweretiedupandhadnotbeenusedforsometimebecausetheseawasdeadcalm,andtherehadbeennowindforalongtime.Asa result, thesailorswerestrugglinghardwithmanyoars,similar to theoldVikingships,withrowsofsailorsoneachside,rowinghardtopropeltheheavyvessel.

Thensomething interestinghappened:Thewindbegan toblow,andas thewindblew, thesailors lookedaround,a littleconfused,because ithadbeensolongsincetheyhadsailedwiththewindbehindthem,andforawhiletheydidn’tknowhowtorespond.Atfirstafew,thenothers,beganheadingforthesails,tounfurl them.One by one the sails began to fillwith thewind, and the sailorsstartedpullingintheoars.Astheshippickedupspeed,thesailsnowcompletelydeployedandfilledwithwind,thesailorsbegansmiling,lookingatoneanother,someevenlaughing,asfatiguegavewaytojoyandrelief.

OneofthereasonsforwritingthisbookistosharewhatGodhastaughtmesince that “revelation” 17 years ago, as I have sought Him for clarity andunderstanding, andas Ihaveattempted toput those things intopractice inmyown church. If we believe that there is another historic windstorm of God’s

Spiritabouttobepouredoutacrosstheearth,thenitistimetolearnanewsetofskillsbecausewhatmanyofushavebeenpreparedforis“rowing,”butforwhatiscomingwewillneedtolearntosail!

TheBodyofChrist,andparticularlythoseinleadership,haslargelybecomeaccustomedtoamodeofministrythatislaboriousandexhausting.Buttherearestrong indications that there is a new andwonderful seasondawninguponus,bringingamomentumoftheSpiritthatwillradicallychangethewaymanyofusexperiencechurch.

I’ve been a Christian most of my life (except for a four-year period ofrebellion,between theagesof17and21).Asapastor’skid, Isawmyparentsputinmanylonghoursofhardwork,andsuffermuchheartache,whiledoingthe“workoftheministry.”Andhavingbeenapastormyselfforover30years,mywifeandIknowwhatitistolabor,plan,strategize,recruit,motivate,teach,andsufferdisappointment. Iunderstand theself-doubt, thebattlesagainstall formsof temptation, the constant struggle not to compare myself with other, more“successful”pastors,theyearningforaricherharvestandhealthierdisciples,theoccasionalburnout,thesicknessofheartoverhopedeferred,andcountlessotherchallenges faced daily by thousands of pastors and leaders. I have alsoexperienced those welcome surges of Spirit-given momentum that bring newhope,joy,relief,andpower,likethewindfillingthesailsoftheoldship,andIamonevoiceinagrowingchorusthatisshouting,“TheWindiscomingagain!”

Thisbookiswritten,bothforthosewhoidentifythemselvesasEvangelicalsandforthosewhocallthemselvesPentecostals/Charismatics(although,manyofusare,infact,amixture),andforthemanyCatholicsandmembersofmain-linedenominations who truly love Jesus. It is written out of a great love for thewhole Body of Christ, and with a passion that all of us become skilled atlearning to minister effectively and powerfully in the footsteps of Jesus. Formany of us, thismeans learning a new appreciation for and understanding ofwhat it means to work in partnership with the Holy Spirit and making thenecessary adjustments, so that we can move forward with Kingdomeffectivenessandtheologicalintegrity.

But theburdenof this book is really two-fold:Tohelp anoceanof Jesus-followers discover the thrill, the adventure, and the passionof theSpirit-filledlife theyhavebeen called to, and tohelpother believers,whohavehad someexperienceoftheSpirit,todiscoverbalance,understanding,andanewsenseofmission.WemusthaveboththeWindandtherudder.ItismyhopeandprayerthatthisbookwillhelptobringafreshpassionandunderstandingtotheChurchof JesusChrist, and that itmay be a helpful tool in the hands of theSpirit to

equipandmobilizethearmyofGodforthecomingharvest.

Chapter1

SAILINGISBETTERTHANROWING

“SincewelivebytheSpirit,letuskeepinstepwiththeSpirit”Galatians5:25

ITWASONEOFTHOSEtension-filleddaysinourhome.You’vehadthem,I’msure.ItseemedlikeeverythingIsaidcameoutwrong,andwhatwasworsewasthateverything my wife, Jane, or my daughters, Lindsey or Stephanie, said alsoseemedtocomeoutwrong,orbetakenwrong.Ifourhomewereabigpieceofmachinery, it would have sounded horribly noisy, like metal scraping againstmetal,desperatelyinneedofoilorgrease.Itwasasifeveryonehadgottenuponthewrongsideofbed,andthewholedayhadgonelikethat.Finally,sometimeintheearlyafternoon,Ihadtogotothestoreforsomething,and,tobehonest,wasrelievedtogetoutofthehouseandtoenjoy,foralittlewhile,thepeaceofbeingbymyselfinthecar.

WhenI returnedandpulled into thedriveway, Ipausedbefore I turnedoffthe motor and prayed a simple prayer: “Lord, help us. Help us change theatmosphereinourhome.”EvenbeforeI’dfinishedthatshortprayer,thewords“icecream”poppedintomymind.Itall tookaboutfiveseconds.Iwentinsideandannouncedtothefamily,“Let’sgetoutofhereandgogetsomeicecream.”Immediately everyone was on the same page—no disagreement here!Withinfiveminuteswewereinthecarandonourwaytotheicecreamstore,andjustlikethat,theentiremoodofourfamilyhadchanged!Wehadbeenrowing;nowweweresailing.

There are two distinctly different paradigms for ministry in the church ofJesus Christ. The first paradigm, with which we are all too familiar, is

characterizedbyhardwork,longhoursofplanning,diggingforideas,runningtothelatestworkshopsorseminarsthatpromisegreatresults,andoftenpressuringpeopletoserveinwaysthathelpfulfillsomeone’svision.Thisisrowing,andiscommoninanenvironmentwherethereislittle“wind”oftheSpirit.

The second paradigm forministry also involves planning and effort, to besure, but of a different kind. This mode of operation takes seriously thepartnershipdynamicofpeopleworkinginconjunctionwiththeHolySpirit.Itismoreheavilyweightedtowardprayer,sometimeswithfasting,andconsciouslylearningtobecomesensitivetotheimpressionsgivenbyGod—moregenerouslythanmany realize. This is sailing, and is more commonwhere there is somemovementoftheHolySpirit.

A friendofmine,Tom, is aSeniorVicePresidentof InformationSystemsforanationalcorporation.Heandhisstaffhadbeenstrugglingfordaystofindasolutiontoasoftwareproblemthathadallbutparalyzedtheirdepartment.Thenoneday,asTomwasdrivinginhiscarthinkingaboutwhattodo,itoccurredtohimthathereallyhadn’tprayedaboutthesituation.Sorightthere,inhiscar,heaskedGodtoshowhimwhattodo.Bythetimehegotbacktowork,everythingstarted clicking. Suddenly new ideas started coming, creative energy beganflowing,andtheproblemwassolvedwithinhours.Firsttheyhadtriedrowing;thencamesailing.Sailingisbetterthanrowing!

THESPIRITANDMOMENTUM

John Maxwell says momentum makes everything go better and makeseveryonelookbetter.Sportsteamsknowthis,whichiswhy,whenabasketballteambeginstorackuppoints,theopposingcoachwilloftencallatime-out.Heunderstands the importance of interrupting the momentum of the other team.When you have momentum going for you, everything seems easier, progresshappens more quickly, people are more supportive, your weaknesses areoverlooked,yourstrengthsaremagnified,andfavorseemstocomenaturally.Nowonder Maxwell calls momentum “The Big Mo!” Political campaigns knowthis, which is why they spend so much time, energy, and money trying todevelopit.Atacertainpoint,awaveofenergyseemstobuild,peoplearemoreandmoreinclinedtogetonboard,anditbecomesalmostimpossibletostop.

BeforetheDayofPentecost,thedisciplesweresimplywaiting.TheyknewJesuswasalivebecauseHehadrevealedHimselftothemseveraltimessinceHis

resurrection.Buttheydidn’tknowmuchofanythingelse.Wheredowegofromhere?Whatdowedonow?So,inobediencetoJesus’instructions,theysimplystayedinthecity,waitingandpraying.Thenithappened:Boom!ItissignificantthattheSpiritcame“likeaviolentrushingwind”(Acts2:2NASB).WhatbetterpictureofmomentumandpowercouldtheSpiritHimselfhavegivenLukeasheinspired him to write this account in Acts. Momentum is what the Spiritproducedon thatmemorablemorning,as thatdivinewindcarried thedisciplesfor years throughout the knownworld, expanding the kingdomwith explosiveforceandchanginghistoryforever.

PatrickBaligasima received Jesuswhile hewas practicing his engineeringprofession in Uganda, and knew God had called him into full-time pastoralministry.His fatherwas vehemently opposed, knowing hewould have a hardtimesupportinga familyasapastor, andbegan tellingeveryone inhisvillagethat his son Patrick had lost his mind. So for a full year, the entire churchconsistedofPatrick,hiswife,andonefriend.

Then his father became critically ill andwas unable to find a cure, eitherfromdoctorsorwitchdoctors.Finally,indesperation,hedecidedtovisithisson.Hehaddecidedthatifhisson’sprayercouldhealhim,hewouldturntoGod.AsPatrickbegantoprayforhisfather,ademonmanifested,andPatrickcastitout.Hisfatherwasimmediatelyhealed,andbegantestifyingalloverthevillage.ThefollowingSunday,300peopleshowedupatPatrick’schurch.From3to300inoneweek—that’smomentum!

That church has now grown to over 2,500 people, and 400 churches havebeenplantedalloverUgandafromthatonechurch.TheSpiritofGod,throughthe healing of oneman, initiated a wave of momentum that is still sweepingthousandsofpeopleintothekingdom.Sailingisbetterthanrowing!

Life ishard.Marriage takeswork.Raisingkids is a challenge.Ministryofanykindcanbeagrind,becauseministryisjustanotherwordforserving,andservingalwaysrequiressomethingfromyou.Sowhetheryou’re“ministering”toyourfamilyorservingatwork,oratchurch,orinyourcommunity,youareatriskofbeingworndown.Statisticsindicatethatonly10%ofpastorsarestillintheministrybytheageof65.ItsimplycouldnotbeGod’splanthatweshouldbemiserableandwornoutasaresultofservingHimorservingpeople.

Yes,ministrydoes requireanexpenditureofenergy.Thesaying,“nopain,nogain,”isaccurate,yetthereisa“goodtired”anda“badtired.”InEzekiel44,when God was giving the prophet instructions about the new temple andpriesthood,Hemadeitclearthatthepriestswerenottowearwoolengarments,

butclothesmadeonlyoflinen,sothattheywouldnotperspire.Ithasbeensaidthat some ministers try to compensate by perspiration what they lack ininspiration.This reflects thedifferencebetween aparadigmofministry that ishighly dependent on human effort, and a paradigm of ministry that is highlydependentonthepoweroftheSpirit.

When Zerubbabel was frustrated in his efforts to rebuild the temple, Godspoke through the prophetZechariah, “…’Not bymight nor by power, but byMy Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty…’Thismountain (of opposition) shall beremoved’” (Zech. 4:6-7 paraphrased). And as we know, in spite of greatopposition, with continued encouragement by Spirit-inspired prophets, thetemplewascompleted.

Aswestrugglewiththeoftendiscouraging,meagerresultsofourownbesteffortstobuildourchurchesandpersuadeadisinterestedcultureaboutJesus,it’stimetotakeafreshlookatabetterway.Jesustoldthedisciplesnottoleavethecityuntiltheywereempoweredbythe“giftoftheFather”(seeLuke24:49).Wemust become desperate for a new wind of the Spirit. Sailing is better thanrowing!

WAITINGFORTHEWIND

Ihatewaiting.Itisbyanymeasureoneofmyleastfavoritethingsinlife.Iget impatientwaiting in line at the supermarket. I get impatientwaitingat redlights, especiallywhen there are no cars anywhere to be seen in the oppositedirection!IhatewaitingforsomeonewhowassupposedtomeetmeatStarbucksfifteenminutesago.Ijusthatewaiting,period.Perhapsyoudotoo.Yetwaitingis one of themost important lessonswe have to learn ifwe are serious aboutbeingfaithfulandeffectivedisciplesofJesus.ItisthisdisciplineofwaitingonGod’s timing that tests every one of us.We are addicted to activity, to beingbusy,becausewetendtofeelthatifwe’renotbusy,we’renotbeingproductive.

Whenwearewaiting,itmayseemlikenothingishappening,butwaitingisdefinitelynot apassiveactivity.Waiting isneither easynorpassive. It ishardwork.It isduringtheworkofwaitingthatwebegintostrugglewithquestionslikewhetherwehavereallyheardfromGod.Itiswhilewewaitthatwebegintowonder ifmaybewemissedGod somewhere, or ifmaybewe have sinned insomewayandgotdisqualified.Afterafewyearsofwaiting,AbrahamandSarahbegantodoubtthatGodreallymeantHewasgoingtogivethemtheirownson,

sotheyhatchedanabortiveattempt tobringaboutGod’spromise in theirownwaybyhavingAbrahamsleepwithSarah’smaid(Gen.16:1-2).

WheneverGodbeginsasignificantwork,waitingisalmostalwaysapartofthe process for its unfolding and eventual fulfillment. King Saul failed thewaitingtestwhenSamueltheprophettoldhimtowaitforhisarrival,sohecouldmaketheoffering toGodbeforegoing towarwith thePhilistines(ISam.13).KingDavidpassedthewaitingtestwhen,afterSamuelanointedhimasking,hehadtofleeforhislifeandlivelikeanoutcastforyears,beforeGodfinallyhadhimappointedkingoverIsrael.

WaitingonGod’sperfect timingwasoneof the things thatmade Jesus soeffective, andwhatwillmakeus effective.Whengiven thenews thatLazaruswasdeathlyill,Jesuswaitedfortwomoredaysbeforegoingtohim(John11:5-6).BecauseHewaitedforGod’smoment,anddidn’treactoutofthepressureofthesituationoroutofacodependentreactiontopleasethosewhohadbeensenttogetHim,JesusexperiencedanincrediblevictoryandGodgainedgreatglory.

Ifwe are serious about learning to sail on thewindof theSpirit,wemustsubmittothedisciplineofbecomingincreasinglysensitivetoGod’stiming.Itisduring these seasons of waiting that we subjugate our own willfulness andindependence;thatwebegintodiscoverthatrealpowerdoesn’tcomefromourgood ideas,busynessor strategies, but from theSpirit ofGod.Oneof the lastbitsof instructionJesusgave toHisdisciplesbeforeascending toheavenwas,“Donot leave Jerusalem, butwait for the giftMyFather promised…in a fewdaysyouwillbebaptizedwiththeHolySpirit”(Acts1:4-5).Whatdidtheydo?Theywaited.Waitedandprayed,prayedandwaited.AndthentheWindcame!

Learning towait forGod’s timinghonors the sovereigntyofGod. Inotherwords,it’snotalluptous.SomuchofwhereweareinlifeissimplyafunctionofGod’ssovereignplan.Thereasonwehaven’tyetseenthefulfillmentofwhatGodhaspromisedusisnotnecessarilybecauseWe’vesomehowfailedorgoneoffcourse,orbecausewehaven’tgottenthe“formula”right.Perhapsitsimplyisn’tHistimeyet.GodisGod—Heisalwaysincontrol!

WaitingonGodisnotonlyimportantinthepersonalissuesoflife;itisalsoimportant in the context of ministry. For example, in training our church’sministryteam,weteachthemthatwhensomeonecomesupforprayeraftertheservice, they should not assume that what the person asks prayer for isnecessarilythefirstthingGodwantstoaddress.Theyknowthatthefirstthingtodo is towait forasenseof leadingfromtheHolySpirit.Godknowswhat themost important issues are in their lives, and ifwe learn to partner effectively

withHim,wewillbethemosthelptopeople.This is exactlywhat Jesusdidwhena crippledman’s friends loweredhim

throughtheroofandsethimdowninfrontofJesus(Luke5:17-26).Mostofus(assumingwewould even have enough faith to attempt to pray for theman’shealing) would charge right in and begin to pray that God would heal hisparalysis.But Jesus said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”Only after themanwas restored in his relationshipwithGod did Jesus address the physical issueandhealtheman.IfwewanttolearntosailwiththewindoftheSpirit,wemustlearntoseewhatGodsees,hearwhatHe’ssaying,andwaitforthepromptingsoftheHolySpirit.

I used to love to watch a pastor named John Wimber during his “clinictimes,”whenhewouldmodelministry.Typically,afterteachingfromthebible,hewouldsaysomethinglike,“Okay,nowputyourbiblesandnotesaway.We’regoing toprayand invite theHolySpirit,andHe’sgoing tocomeandbegin totouchpeople.”Thenhewouldprayasimpleprayer, invitingtheHolySpirit tocome;andthenhewouldwait.Andwait.Andwait.

ThefirsttimeIsawhimdothis,hewaitedsolongIwasbecomingfidgetyanduncomfortable(remember,Ihatetowait!).Hewouldjustpaceonthestageand occasionally look out over the congregation. Then eventually, he wouldbegin to sharewhat the Lordwas saying, and, inevitably, therewas a fruitfultimeofministry.Ifwe’regoingtobecometrulyeffectiveinministry,wehavetolearn to “dial down” our emotions (rather than getting hyped-up), get ourspiritual antennas up, andwait patiently, untilwe senseGod speaking. Itmaytakelongerthanwelike,butit’ssoworthit.Sailingisbetterthanrowing!

LETTINGGO

Abouteightyearsago,aclosefriendandformermemberofourchurch,whohadsincemovedfromCaliforniatoTexas,calledmewithwhatshebelievedwasa“wordfromtheLord.”Loistoldme,“TheLordwantsyoutoletgo.”Thensheadded,“You’reworkingtoohard.”

I’ve always believed in the value of hard work. I believe in the Judeo-Christianwork ethic, and thatwe should seeourwork as a noble calling.ButI’ve always guarded against becoming a workaholic; I’ve observed my“Sabbaths,” taking Mondays off and even napping when possible during myworkday, because I’m in this for the long haul. Sowhen Lois toldme I was

workingtoohard,Ididn’tunderstand.Andwhatwasthisabout“lettinggo”?Letgoofwhat?

I’malittleslow(“little”wouldbeanunderstatement!),becauseit’stakenmeeight years to begin to understandwhat “letting go”means.But I’ve come tobelieve it’s one of themost important lessonsGodwants to teach us, and it’svitalifwe’reseriousaboutlearningtoministerinthepoweroftheHolySpirit.Ithas to dowith learning to switch gears.Becausewe are unable to control thewind(that’sGod’sarena),wemustworkdiligentlytothebestofourabilityinthe absence of wind (what I call “rowing”), learn to discern when the windbeginstoblow,thenswitchto“sailing”bylettinggooftheoarsandliftingthesails.What Imean is this:When theSpirit begins to initiateministryof somekind—an unexpected encounter, a burst of inspiration, inner impressions or“pictures,” etc.—we must learn to pay attention, to “let go” of our agenda,schedule, other priorities, and followHis lead. Itwas this holy flexibility thatmade Jesus and the first disciples so effective. They knew how to detect themovingoftheSpiritandmadeittheirhabittorespond…withwonderfulresults.

ThisisnotalessonthatcomeseasilyforWesternerslikeus.Wehavebeenmarinatedinthejuicesofamaterialistic,scientificworldviewforthreecenturies,sincetheso-called“Enlightenment,”andwe’remuchmorecomfortablewithourbindersofplansandstrategies,andthesupportoftechnology.Obviouslythereisa place for these things, but for many of us, ministry today bears littleresemblance to what was modeled for us by Jesus and the first-centuryChristians.What oncewas vibrant, powerful, and unpredictable has too oftenbecomestale,ineffectivedrudgery.

Theissueisnotwhethereffortisinvolved—allministryrequireseffort.Theissueisthesourceoftheenergy.HowmuchoftheenergyiscomingfromusandhowmuchenergyisbeingprovidedbytheSpirit?Oneofthecluesistheeffectministry has on the ones providing it. When we are functioning on our own“steam,”wetendtoexpendmoreenergyandhavelessjoy.WhenwehavethewindoftheSpiritbehindourbacks,weexpendlessenergyandhavemorejoy.Whenthe70disciplesreturnedfromtheirmission,Luketellsusthey“returnedwithjoy”(Luke10:17).Therecanbejoyinministry!

AccordingtotheApostlePaul, inSecondCorinthians3,theministrywe’reinvolvedinis“theministryoftheSpirit,”andis,byitsverynature,“glorious.”Whenweattempt todo theworkof theSpirit in thepowerofourownenergy(physical, emotional, or mental), ministry stops being glorious and becomespredictableandcumbersome.

FINDINGTHEFLOW

PopularScience, inoneof itspast issues,hadaninterestingarticleaboutacompanythatisdesigninghugekitestohelppullcargoshipsacrosstheoceans.Theideawasthatthesekiteswouldbereleasedfromtheshipsandascendtotheair currents high above,where theywould fly ahead of the ships and provideextrapull.Itwasestimatedthatthesegiantkiteswouldcutenergyandfuelcostsbyatleastone-third.

Inmuchthesamewayastheseaircurrentshighabove,thereisa“flow”ofenergy that theHolySpirit provides, faintly discerniblemuch of the time, butthankfullymoreobvioussomeof the time.Wecanlearn todetect thesedivinebreezes,and,indoingso,becomemorefruitfulandless-exhaustedpartnerswiththeHolySpiritintheministryofJesus.

Lloyd Ogilvie, former pastor of Hollywood Presbyterian Church andchaplainoftheU.S.Senate,relatesthestoryofhowhediscoveredthisdynamicduringaparticularlychallengingweek:

Exhaustion set in. While doing a television taping I realized theoverloadwasmakingmelessthanmaximum.Whatwasusuallydonewitheasebecamearduousanddifficult.Livingonmyownresourcesprovedtobeveryinefficient.Thebusinessofthepreviousdayshadshortened my devotional time and the pressures had distracted meenough so that I didn’tdrawon thedivine energy Iusually find sosufficient through moment-by-moment prayer through eachresponsibility.

It was during this time that Ogilvie also experienced an electrical powerfailureathishouse.HethengoesontorelatehowtheLordspoketohim:

“Myson,youwerecreatedtobeatransmitterofme.You’veblockedtheflowofmyspiritbyattemptingmoreinthisweekthanIguidedandsetaspriorities.You’vehadapowerfailurejustlikeyourhouse.Todomywilleffectively,youmustdependonmeand the flowofmypower.”1

Ihaveexperiencedthismanytimesinpreparingmysermons.OftenGodwillgiveme a burst of inspiration (usually duringmy times of prayer in the earlymorning),andI’llbeginwritingnotes.Atfirst theideaswillflowquickly,andthe beginnings of an outline will form nicely. Then, before long, I’ll startsearchingmymental “hard-drive” formore ideas or illustrations, and before I

know it, usuallywithin 15-30minutes, the flowwill slow to a trickle. That’swheninspirationmorphsintoperspirationandthefunstops,usuallywithoutmyevenrealizingit.That’swhatI’mtalkingabout.That’swhenI’veleftthe“flow”oftheSpirit, likeabirdveeringawayfromtheaircurrent thatwascarryingit,andIbegintolosealtitude.

NowI’velearnedthatwhenthathappens,Isimplyputdownmynotesanddosomethingelseuntilanothertime,when,hopefully,thewindwillblowagain.Or I simply stay put, return to the simplicity of meditating on Him and theknowledgeofHisloveandgoodness,quittryingtogetasermon,andoftentheinspirationreturns.Don’tmisunderstand;Ilovedivingintomyreferencebooksandcommentaries,butifIcandothiswithoutlosingmyawarenessoftheHolySpirit,thereisusuallyagreatersenseofinspirationandenjoyment.

Haveyoueverbeeninaplanewhenithitanairpocket?You’reflyingalongnicely,readingyourbookortakinganap,whensuddenly,“Thump!”Theplanedrops unexpectedly, the engines rev as the air around the plane changescomposition,andeveryonegetsalittleshakenup.That’swhatitfeelslikewhenyou veer away from Spirit-given momentum and begin relying on your ownresources.

Proverbs3:5says,“TrustintheLordwithallyourheart;donotdependonyourownunderstanding”(NLT).Anotherwayofsayingthisis,“DependontheLord and on His resources, and don’t depend on your own energy orintelligence.” Isaiah 40:30-31 says, “Even youths grow tired and weary, andyoungmenstumbleandfall;butthosewhohopeintheLord[sometranslationsread,‘waitontheLord’]willrenewtheirstrength.Theywillsoaronwingslikeeagles;theywillrunandnotgrowweary,theywillwalkandnotbefaint.”Whatanamazingpictureofthosewhofindthe“flow”oftheHolySpirit;likeeagles,theysoar,carriedbythemomentumofaholywind!Waiting,dependingonGodinapostureoffaith,willrewarduswiththeenergyofGod.Sailingisbetterthanrowing!

The thing about sailing is that you are utterly dependent onwind. In thatrespect,rowingiseasier,becauseyoucan,atleast,dosomething!Butifwearetocross theoceansofKingdomadventure, rowing isdefinitelynot theway togo.AndifweareevertobecomeremotelyaseffectiveasJesuswas,wehavetounderstandthatthereissimplynootherwaythanbeingdeeplyandcontinuallyempoweredby thesamepower thatmoved inand throughHim—thepoweroftheSpirit.

UnderstandingthatJesusintendedforustoemulateHimisthestartingpoint.

But that understandingmust developwithin us a desire for theHoly Spirit totransformandempowerus, toproducefruitandactivategifts.And,ultimately,thatdesiremustbefannedintoaflameofpassionatedesperation,fueledbyanunshakableconfidencethatHewilldoit.

ENDNOTE

1.LloydOgilvie,PrayingWithPower(Ventura:RegalBooks,1983),p.90.

Chapter2

WHOISTHISPERSON?

“TheSpiritgiveslife;thefleshcountsfornothing.ThewordsIhavespokentoyouarespiritandtheyarelife.”John6:63

One evening, after having spent some time teaching my eighth-gradedaughter the various properties of math (the distributive property, associativeproperty,substitutionproperty,etc.),Iwasprayingwithheraftertuckingherin.InthecourseofmyprayerIsaidsomethinglike,“…andHolySpirit,surroundherwithYourpresence.”AfterIhadprayed,Stephaniesaid,“Dad,isitokaytopraytotheHolySpirit?”Ireplied,“Well,istheHolySpiritGod?”Towhichsheimmediatelysaid,“Yes.”ThenIsaid,“IsitokaytopraytoGod?”Shethoughtforamomentandsaid,“Oh,Igetit,thesubstitutionpropertyofequality!”

Thisdeliciouslyprofound statementofTrinitarian theology froman eighthgraderrevealssomethingofthedelightfulsurprisesandexcitingadventurethatawaitusasweexplorethismysteriousandwonderfulPerson.

Thefirst thingtoestablishabouttheHolySpirit is thatHeis, indeed,God.That has been firmly decided over centuries of church history and theologicalreflection. It is also enshrined in some of ourmost endearing hymns, such as“Holy,Holy,Holy”—whichends,“Godinthreepersons,blessedtrinity.”HowabouttheDoxology:“PraiseGodfromwhomallblessingsflow.PraiseHimallcreatures here below. PraiseHim above ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son,andHolyGhost.”

What?Praise theHolyGhost?Canwereallydo that? Imean,allbelievershave no problem praising God, and most believers are comfortable praisingJesus,butthinkaboutit—don’tyougetjustalittleuncomfortablewiththeidea

ofpraisingtheHolySpirit?Whenwasthelasttimeyoudidthat?Infact,whenwasthelasttimeyouevenspoketotheHolySpirit?

One of my favorite choruses in the 1970’s went like this: “Praise You,Father; bless You Jesus; Holy Spirit, thank You for being here, being here,Lord.”SoaddressingtheFather,Son,andHolySpiritisnothingnewtomostofusinourworship.Still,talkingtotheHolySpiritwithoutthesupportofmusicseemsoddlystrangetomanyofus.

JesusmadeitclearthatitwasagoodthingforHimtoleaveandfortheHolySpirit tocome. InJohn16:7,Hesaid,“I tellyou the truth: It is foryourgoodthatIamgoingaway.UnlessIgoaway,theCounselorwillnotcometoyou;butifIgo,IwillsendHimtoyou.”WheneverJesussaid,“Itellyouthetruth”(or“verily,verily”intheKingJamesVersion),HewasemphasizingsomethingveryimportantthatHedidn’twantthelistenerstomiss.Hewassaying,“Guys,listenup.PayattentiontowhatI’mtellingyou.Iknowyoudon’twantMetoleave.Iknow you don’t understand, but trust Me—the next step in My plan for theworldisvital:There’sanewchapterabouttounfold,andyourplaceindestinyhinges onMe sending the Holy Spirit. He will enable you to take what I’vebegunandfilltheworldwiththemessageandthepoweroftheKingdom.”

Oneof thegreatmysteriesof theTrinity ishow theFather,Son,andHolySpiritcanbeone,yetthreedistinctPersons.Butit’spreciselythismysterythatdrawsusdeeperintoGod,aswecommitourselvestoalifetimeofadventureindiscoveringmore about each of them. Each is God, yet each one is differentfromtheother.

Iunderstandthatthiscanallbealittleconfusing.Tryingtograsptheconceptof “God in three Persons” has been a challenge to believers throughout thecenturies,andhasbeenthesubjectofmanylongtheologicaldebates.Oneday,whileIwaspraying,Isaid,“Lord,sometimesIgetalittleconfusedaboutwhichone ofYou to address.”And immediately I heardHim say back tome, “JustthinkofUsasone.”Well,Iknowthatsoundsverysubjective,butyou’vegottoadmit,itissoundbiblically!

Lukeusedtheterms“HolySpirit”andthe“SpiritofJesus”interchangeablyin Acts 16:6-7. First he says they had been “kept by the Holy Spirit frompreaching theword in theprovinceofAsia.”Then, in theverynext verse, hegoes on to add,“When they came to the border ofMysia, they tried to enterBithynia,buttheSpiritofJesuswouldnotallowthemto.”

I have longmaintained that theministry of the Spirit and theministry ofJesus are inseparable. When the presence of the Holy Spirit is palpable in a

gathering,andpeoplearepowerfullytouched,encouraged,orhealed,itdoesn’ttakelongtorealizethatthoseareexactlythekindsofthingsJesusalwaysdidinscripture—Hetouched,healed,andencouragedallwhocametoHim.Andwhenthe Holy Spirit is powerfully present, invariably Jesus is praised and God isglorified.

SomepeopleareconcernedthatallofthisfocusontheHolySpiritdetractsfromthecentralityofJesus.ButI thinkthisis, toalargeextent,anunfoundedfear.Jesussaid that theHolySpiritwould testifyaboutHim(John15:26),andonewaywerecognize theHolySpirit isexactly that:TheHolySpirit loves toexalt Jesus!SowhenHe’s present in a gathering,we invariably feel drawn toJesus;wearemovedtopraiseJesusandtoglorifyHimasLordandKing.Soinmyprayertimesandoftenthroughouttheday,Igobackandforth,givingpraiseandthankingtheFather,theSon,andtheHolySpirit.

I can just hear someone thinking, “But what if you thank the Spirit forsomethingJesusortheFatherdid,orviceversa?”Well,Ifigurethey’rebigboysandcanworkitoutupthere!Imean,comeon,doyoureallythinkthere’sanyhintof competitivenessor confusionamong the threemembersof theTrinity?EachofthesewonderfulthreePersonsisunique,yetsoperfectlylovestheothersthatTheyarealldelightedatwhateverpraisecomestoanyofThem,andTheyarequicktooverlookanyimperfectionsinourpraise.

THEJOYOFTHESPIRIT

As a pastor for over 30 years, I’ve been in many meetings where thepresenceofGodhasbeenmanifestedinunusualways.Sometimesthere’sbeenaquiet sense of deep reverence, accompanied by lots of tears; at other timesthere’s been a powerful anointing on themessage, so that unplanned thoughtsandwordsflowlikeariver,andIexperienceafeelinglikeelectricityasIlookoverthecongregationandknowthatthepeoplearegrippedbyGod’spresence;atstillothertimes,differentpeoplewillbegintogetmessagesfromtheSpiritintheformofpictures,phrases,scriptures,orthoughts.Butsomeofthetime,thereissimultaneouslyawonderfulsenseoflightheartednessandjoy,oftenbubblingup into playfulness and laughter. (Please read my story under “Laughter” inChapter5.)

On several occasions, Jesus indicated that He wanted His followers toexperiencejoy.I’lljustmentiontwofromtheGospelofJohn.InJohn15:11,He

said,“IhavetoldyouthissothatMyjoymaybeinyou,andthatyourjoymaybecomplete.”Notice,He saidHewantedHis joy tobe inus.SinceHe is thepurest, least inhibited, least contaminated, least fearful person in the universe,canyouimaginewhatHisjoyfeelslike?Justthinkaboutit.Ithastobebetterthan any joy we can experience by ourselves! And He emphasized that Hewantedourjoytobecomplete!That’sthekindofjoyIwanttolivein,andtheHolySpiritisthevehicleforthatkindofliving.

InJohn17:13,inHisfamousprayertotheFather,Jesussaid,“Iamcomingtoyounow,butIsaythesethingswhileIamstillintheworld,sothattheymayhavethefullmeasureofMyjoywithinthem.”Thefullmeasure!

TheHolySpirit has come to continuedoing in us the things Jesuswanteddone, and that includes experiencing the joy of Jesus. In Galatians 5:22, joycomes secondonly to loveas theevidenceof theHolySpirit living inus (the“fruit”oftheSpirit).

Lest you think joy is simply unnecessary “fluff” in the lives of believers,listentowhatNehemiahtoldthepeoplewhentheyhadgatheredtoheartheLaw:“Goandenjoychoicefoodandsweetdrinks,andsendsometothosewhohavenothingprepared.ThisdayissacredtoourLord.Donotgrieve,forthejoyoftheLord is your strength” (Neh.8:10). Joyhas a strengtheningeffectonyou.Obviously there are timeswhenwe need toweep andmourn, andwe shouldnever skip the crucial, healing phase of grieving our losses, or weeping inrepentance, but this was not such a time, and Nehemiah had the insight torecognizeit.

When the Holy Spirit is at work, joy happens! Joy has always been ahallmarkof revival.Whether the revival inHezekiah’sday (IIChron.30), theoutpouringatPentecost inActs2,Philip’s revival inSamaria(Acts8:5-8), theFirst and Second Great Awakenings, the Azusa Street revival, or the yearssurroundingtheJesusMovementinthe1970’s,joyhasalwaysbeengenerouslypresentwhen theSpirit ispouredout.When theKingdomofGodcomesnear,one of the things we should expect is for the Holy Spirit to give “aninexpressibleandgloriousjoy”(IPet.1:8).

THEFELLOWSHIPOFTHEHOLYSPIRIT

AftertheHolySpiritcameontheDayofPentecost,oneofthemostvisiblesigns that Jesus was powerfully at work was the intense closeness the new

Christians felt toward each other. Jesus had prayed, in John 17:11,“that theymaybeoneasWeareone.”Threetimes,inActs2:44-47,Lukeusestheword“together.”All the believers“were together and had everything in common”;they“continuedtomeettogether”;and“theybrokebread…andatetogether.”HereistheSpiritatworktoanswertheprayerofJesus.

Over the years, one of the things I have noticed when God has beenobviouslyatworkinagroupofbelievers,whetherpastorsorlaypeople,isthattheleveloffellowshipintensifies.Therecomesagreatersenseoftransparency,trust,andloveastheydrawclosertotheLordandexperienceHimtogether.ButI have also noticed that all of this comes, specifically, from the person of theHolySpirit.

I have always enjoyed fellowship with pastors and leaders from differentmovementsanddenominations,butinvariably,whenImeetanotherpastorwhoshares a common experience of theSpirit, there is a quicker and deeper bondbetween us. It doesn’t matter whether they are Pentecostal, mainline,independent, orCatholic.Oncewediscover thatwebothvalue the fullnessoftheHolySpiritandHisgifts,wesimplyclickandbecomefastfriends.

Just today, I had lunch with another pastor in a neighboring city. Afterspending some time in conversation catching up on each other’s lives, thesubjectturnedtomycommitmenttopursuetheHolySpiritwithanewpassion.Although I had no idea of his stance toward the work of the Spirit, heimmediately perked up and our conversation seemed to take on a fresh andspecialquality.WewerebothpowerfullyencouragedbyourmutualaffectionforthePersonoftheHolySpiritandHiswork,andbythetimeourlunchended,wewerebothashappyastwoclamsathightide!

Thebestway to describe the effect of this time together is to say that ourspiritswererefreshed.Idrovehomegreatlyencouraged,smiling,evenlaughingand praising God!We had just experienced, what Paul referred to in SecondCorinthians13:14asthe“fellowshipoftheHolySpirit.”

Doyouknowsomeonewhoalwaysseemstobe“fulloftheHolySpirit”?Doyouknowsomeonewhoalwaysseemstostimulateyoutodrawcloser toGod,andwhohasthekindofeffectonyouthatIjustdescribed?Itmightbeagoodideatotakethemtolunchorbreakfast,orhavecoffeeatStarbucks,andseewhattheHolySpirit does as you simply hangout together and talk about theHolySpirit.

TheSpirit truly is the great unifying factor of theChurch. Paulwas beingverydeliberatewhenhesaid, inEphesians4:3,“Makeeveryeffort tokeep the

unityoftheSpiritthroughthebondofpeace.”Unityinindividualchurches,andalso among churches is, specifically, a work of the Spirit, and wherever theSpiritiswelcome,thereexistsgreaterpotentialforunity.

THEPOWEROFTHESPIRIT

Kim lay there, flat on her back, in front of the church, overcome by thepresenceoftheHolySpirit.Afterabout20minutes,shemanagedtopullherselftoherfeet,andthencameuptomeandtoldmethatduringher“floortime”theLordhadspokentoheraboutreconcilingwithhermom.Shehadnotspokentohermominseveralyears,sothiswasasignificantmomentforher.

Kim did, in fact, follow through with that clear message from God, andcalledhermom.Overthenextfewyearstheyagainbecameclose,andwhenhermomwashospitalizedforcanceratCedarsSinaiHospitalinLosAngeles,Ihadtheprivilegeofprayingwithherforhealing.ItwasoneofthoseawkwardtimeswhenIonlyhadacoupleofminutestopraywithherbeforethenursecametobeginaprocedure,andIdon’tevenrememberwhatIprayed,butKimcalledmeacoupleofdayslatertotellmethedoctorscouldfindnotraceofcancer!

ThethingIneedtomentionisthatKim’smomwasnotevenabelieverwhenGodhealedher!However,asgreatamiracleasherhealingwas,theLordhadanevengreatermiracle instoreforher,aswevisitedher inadifferenthospitalafewyearslater,andprayedwithhertoreceiveJesus,justweeksbeforeshedied.

ThisentireseriesofeventsbeganwiththeHolySpiritshowingupinoneofourservices,andministeringtoanareaofdeepemotionalandrelationalpaininadaughterHeloved.Shemayormaynothavearrivedatasimilarplacethroughmonths or years of professional counseling, but the Holy Spirit accomplishedthislovingandtransformingworkinafewminutesbyHispowerfultouch.

I’msurethatmanyofyouwhoarereadingthisrightnowcantestifytootherpowerfulworksoftheSpiritthatyouhaveseen.Infact,thereisagrowinglitanyofhealingsandmiraclesfromalloverthecountry,which,tome,isevidencethatawaveisbuildingwhichwillbringanewGreatAwakening.

Paulseemedtoindicatethatthegospelwasonly“fullyproclaimed”whenitincludedthepoweroftheHolySpirit.ReadwhathesaysinRomans15:18-19:

I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ hasaccomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by

what I have said and done—by the power of signs and miracles,through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the wayaroundtoIllyricum,IhavefullyproclaimedthegospelofChrist.

Thisgospelofours,atitsverycore,isagospelofpower.InActs10,whenPeterwaspreachingtoCorneliusandhisfriends,hetoldthem,“…GodanointedJesusofNazarethwiththeHolySpiritandpower,and…Hewentarounddoinggoodandhealingallwhowereunderthepowerofthedevil…”(Acts10:38).ItwasthepoweroftheSpiritthatenabledJesustohealandperformmiracles.

InFremont,California,ayoungmannamedJackinvitedhisfriend,Dan,tochurchonaFridaynight.AlthoughDanhadbeenraisedinchurch,hehadgoneastray for the past few years, but recently had begun praying again, and feltdrawnbacktochurch.Atonepoint,theguestspeakerstoppedinthemiddleofhismessageandsaid,“There’sayoungmanheretonight,who’sbeenthroughanumberofdeep,personal thingsoverthepastfewyears,andhasbeenrunningfromGod,buttonightGodiscallinghimback.”Almostbeforehecouldfinish,Danletoutagroan,hishandsshotupintheairashestoodtohisfeetandbegangushing out a heavenly language at the top of his voice. By the time he hadregained his composure a fewminutes later, the entire churchwas on its feetpraisingGod!

IamthatDan.Thatwasmyexperiencebackin1971,andI’veneverlookedback.ManypeoplecometoJesusthroughthetestimonyofafriend,orreadingabook, or by an altar call or some kind of invitation, but in my case, I wasapprehendedbyGodthroughapowerfuloutpouringoftheHolySpirit.Thiswasnot the exception inNewTestament times, but seems tohavebeen a frequentexperience,assignsandwondersandgiftsoftheHolySpiritoftenaccompaniedthepreachingoftheword.

Paul tells us, in First Corinthians 2:4-5, “My message and my preachingwere not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of theSpirit’spower,sothatyourfaithmightnotrestonmen’swisdom,butonGod’spower.” Don’t you long to seemore of the power of the Spirit to savemen,women,andyoungpeople?Don’tyouyearn toexperiencemoreofHispowerforyourself?ThesameWindthatcameontheDayofPentecostwantstoblowafreshinyourchurchandinyourcity!Jesussaid,inLuke11:13,“Ifyou,then,though youare evil, knowhow to give goodgifts to your children, howmuchmorewillyourFatherinheavengivetheHolySpirittothosewhoaskHim!”

THESATISFACTIONOFTHEHOLYSPIRIT

ThereissimplynothingthatsatisfiesoursoulsasdeeplyastheHolySpirit.Manytimeswespendafewminutesinprayerorreadingourbibles,experienceatasteofGod’sblessing,andgetupfeelingprettygoodaboutourselves,readytogetonwithourday.ButthereisaplacethattheHolySpiritisinvitingusinto—aplacewhereHewants to flowinto thedeepest recessesofoursouls—intosomepocketsthathaven’tbeensaturated,perhapsforalongtime,withHisjoy,peace, faith,and fullness.A fullness thatbringsanunshakableconfidence thatwithGodallthingsarepossible;afullnessthatchangesouroutlookandattitude;a fullness that reassures us that nomatterwhat happens in our lives or in ourcountry,GodwillaccomplishHisgoodpurposesandplansforus,andthatHelovesusbeyondanythingwecanimagine!

When my first daughter, Lindsey, was an infant, I used to get up in themiddleofthenightandfeedher,becausemywife,Jane,wasworkingnightsasanurse.IwouldgetsomebreastmilkthatJanehadstoredinlittlebaggiesinthefreezer,microwavethem,andtakethebottleintoLindsey’sroom.ThenIwouldpickLindseyupoutofhercribandsitupwithherinmybed,holdingherinmyleftarmandfeedingherthebottlewithmyrighthand.Thewholetimeshewasnursingfromthebottle,shewouldstareupintomyeyeswithherbig,blueeyeswideopen—apricelesstimeofbondingthatI’llneverforget.Whenshewasfull,shewouldslowlyclosehereyes,herlittletonguestillshowingbetweenherlips.Itwas a look of utter satisfaction!Shewas satiated—full and happy, ready toresumeherpeacefulsleep.That’swhatitfeelslikewhenyouhavedrunkdeeplyfromtheSpiritofGod.Hesatisfies!

THELIFEOFTHESPIRIT

Jesussaid,inJohn6:63,“TheSpiritgiveslife;thefleshcountsfornothing.ThewordsIhavespokentoyouareSpiritandtheyarelife.”Thatexplainswhy,when people listened to Jesus, theywere gripped, confronted, or transformed.But they never stayed the same, because thewords that flowed fromHis lipscamefromanotherworld.Afewverseslater,whenthecrowdsbegantodesertHim,JesusaskedtheTwelve,“Youdonotwanttoleavetoo,doyou?”TowhichPeterreplied,“Lord,towhomshallwego?Youhavethewordsofeternallife”(John6:66-68).TheywerewordsoftheSpirit.

In thenextchapterof John, thechiefpriests andPharisees sent the templeguards toarrest Jesus,butafter listening to Jesus speak forawhile, theywentback.Thechiefpriests andPharisees asked them,“Whydidn’t youbringHimin?”Theyanswered,“Nooneever spoke theway thismandoes” (John7:45-46).Hiswordswere“Spirit,”andcouldnoteasilybedismissed.

InRomans8:2,PaulreferredtotheHolySpiritasthe“Spiritoflife.”Hewasspeaking as onewho had experienced his own rebirth and filling of theHolySpirit asAnanias laidhandsonhim.But hehad also seen abundant evidence,over many years of ministry, that the Spirit was the lifegiving force of thechurch,asmenandwomenwereradicallysaved,healed,anddelivered,andasnewchurcheswereplantedalloverAsia.

WhentheSpiritispresentinapersonorinachurch,Hebringsapowerthattransforms people. My constant prayer as a pastor is, “Lord, let this be alifegivingchurch.” It’ssoeasy to fall intowhat’scozyandfamiliar, todefaultintoourroutinesandwell-practicedagendas,butlifeflowswhenwedeliberatelyfollow the promptings of theHoly Spirit.Whenwe commit to embracing theSpirit,ourservicesmaynotalwayslookpolishedorpredictable,butpeoplewillfindlife,becausetheSpiritofLifeispresent.

When Jesus burst onto the scene, His competition was the stale, lifelesstradition of the Pharisees and Sadducees. His ministry, in contrast, wasunpredictable, controversial, liberating, exciting, miraculous, and empoweringbecause He had been anointed with the Holy Spirit at His baptism. Likechampagneexplodingfromabottle,theJewscouldnotrestrainHimorlimitHisinfluence;theycouldn’tkeepHimquietortameHim;theycouldonlykillHim.Andeventhen,thegravecouldnotholdHimdown!

WhentheHolySpiritcameontheDayofPentecost, theChurchwasborn,like a kicking, screaming baby, and quickly grew into a force that wouldoverwhelm the Roman Empire. And over the centuries since then, despiteopposition,persecutions,andscandals,theChurchcontinuestoexpandallovertheworld,because,inthefinalanalysis,itisacreationoftheSpiritandhasaneternaldestiny.

Someyearsago,anewchurchwasplanted inourcity. Iknewa ladywhowaspartofthechurchplant,andwehadnumerousconversationsabouttheHolySpiritandHisgifts.Unfortunately,whensheapproachedthepastorandleadersabout thegifts of theSpirit, they camedownhard andmade it clear that theywouldneverallowthe“charismatic”giftsintheirchurch.AfewdayslaterIhadadreamthatawomanwasdrivingacar,andathickplasticbagwasbeingpulled

tightlyoverherhead,suffocatingher.IawokewiththedistinctimpressionthattheLordhadspokentomeaboutthisnewchurch,whichwas,likethewomaninthe dream, being suffocated by not allowing the Holy Spirit to work in thechurch.Withinafewshortmonths,thechurchplantfailed,andthepastorslefttown.TheSpirit is the life of theChurch. It is costly to say “no” to theHolySpirit!

THEMYSTERYOFTHESPIRIT

WhetheryoucallyourselfEvangelical,Pentecostal,Charismatic,Catholic,orOrthodox, you have been taught to believe that God exists eternally in threePersons:Father,Son,andHolySpirit.Youhavealsobeen taught that theyarecoequal,andthesameinsubstance,butexistingindistinctpersons.Yet,inspiteoftwothousandyearsoftheologicalreflection,somuchmysterystillsurroundsthepersonoftheHolySpirit.

Mystery.ThatissomethingweintheWesternworldareuncomfortablewith.Weareaddictedtofindinganswersandresolvingdiscrepancies.Ourscientific,rationalisticworldviewhasconditionedus tobelieve that thehumanmindcansolveallmysteries.Thankfully,oneof theblessingsof thispost-modernageistherealizationthat themodernage,whichispassingintohistory,hasnotbeenable to provide satisfying answers to someof themost important questions oflife,and that it isokay to livewithsomedegreeofapparentcontradictionandirresolution,somelevelofmystery.InthatwaywearebecomingmoreliketheChristiansinthefirstfewcenturies,whenpeoplewereabletoholdwhatappeartobeopposingtruthsintension(suchasthesovereigntyofGodandthefreewillofman).

Yet,eventhoughtheHolySpiritremainsthemostmysteriouspersonoftheTrinity,He has revealed enough ofHimself in scripture so thatwe can knowHimandengageintheexcitingadventureofworkinginpartnershipwithHim.Myintent,here,hasnotbeentounravelallofthecontroversyortoanswerallofthequestionssurroundingthetheologyoftheHolySpirit—therearemuchmorecapable minds that have tackled that—but to bring enough clarity to help usmove forward effectively in doing theworks of Jesus. Following is a biblicalsurveyoftheworkandministryoftheHolySpirit,alongwithsomeobservationsabouthowwecanliveinaconditionofSpirit-fullness:

1.IntheOldTestament,theSpiritcameonlyuponselectedpeople.

Forexample,theSpiritimpartedgiftsofartisticcreativity.InExodus31:1-5,wearetold:

…TheLordsaidtoMoses,“See,IhavechosenBezalelsonofUri,thesonofHur,ofthetribeofJudah,andIhavefilledhimwiththeSpiritof God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts—tomakeartisticdesignsforworkingold,silverandbronze,tocutandset stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds ofcraftsmanship.”

TheSpirit also came uponSamson and gave him supernatural strength. InJudges14:6weread,“TheSpiritoftheLordcameuponhiminpowersothathetorethelionapartwithhisbarehands….”

David’s lifewas dramatically changed after theHoly Spirit came on him,following his anointing by Samuel. We are told in First Samuel 16:13, “SoSamueltookthehornofoilandanointedhiminthepresenceofhisbrothers,andfrom that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power.”Immediately, in thenextverses,weseeGod’s favoronhimasDavid isbeingenthusiastically recommended to Saul, the king, and the following chapterrecords his historic victory over Goliath. Many other victories would follow,culminating in David becoming the greatest king in the history of Israel andJudah.WhatadifferencetheHolySpiritmadeinthelifeofDavid!

2.Theprophets promised that a timewould comewhenGodwouldpouroutHisSpirituponallofHispeople.

InthecourseofprophesyingaboutthefuturedestructionofIsraelbecauseofherrebellion,Isaiahpromisedthattherewouldfollowatimeofrestorationanddivine blessing. The focal point of this blessing would be the outpouring ofGod’sSpirit.“ForIwillpourwateronthethirstyland,andstreamsonthedryground; Iwill pouroutMySpirit on youroffspring, andMyblessingon yourdescendants”(Isa.44:3).

EzekielechoedthisthemeofrestorationandtheoutpouringofGod’sSpirit:“‘IwillnolongerhideMyfacefromthem,forIwillpouroutMySpiritonthehouseofIsrael,’declarestheSovereignLord”(Ezek.39:29).

But themostquotedpassage is fromJoel2:28-29,where theprophet,afterpromisingthatGodwould“repay[them]fortheyearsthelocustshaveeaten,”wentontodeclare:

Andafterward,IwillpouroutMySpiritonallpeople.Yoursonsanddaughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams; your

young men will see visions. Even on My servants, both men andwomen,IwillpouroutMySpiritinthosedays.

Asweknow,Peterquoted from thispassageon theDayofPentecost, andaffirmed that the Pentecostal outpouring was a fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy(Acts2:16-21).

3.JesusHimselfwasempoweredbytheHolySpiritandemphasizedtheroletheSpiritwouldplayinthelivesofHisfollowers.

After Jesuswasbaptizedby John in the JordanRiver,weare told that theHolySpiritdescendeduponHimintheformofadove(Luke3:22)andthatafterHistimeoftestinginthedesert,Hereturned“inthepoweroftheSpirit”(Luke4:14).TheincredibleministryofJesus thatfollowsthroughout thegospels isacommentary,an“unpacking”oftheimplicationsofthisprofoundempowerment.

What Jesusexperienced through theHolySpiritwas tobecome themodel,thetemplate,foreachofHisfollowers.OnthelastandgreatestdayoftheFeastofTabernacles,Jesusstoodupandsaidinaloudvoice,“Ifanyoneisthirsty,lethimcometoMeanddrink.WhoeverbelievesinMe,astheScripturehassaid,streamsoflivingwaterwillflowfromwithinhim”(John7:37-38).Johngoesontoexplaininverse39,“BythisHemeanttheSpirit,whomthosewhobelievedinHimwerelatertoreceive.”AnobviousreferencetotheriveroflifeinEzekiel47, this isoneof Jesus’mostpowerful andunambiguous statements about thelifegivingfunctionoftheHolySpiritinandthroughHisfollowers.

ThelastthingJesustoldHisdisciples,beforeascendingtoheaven,wasthatthey were not to do anything until they had received the power of the HolySpirit.InActs1:4-5Heinstructedthem(LukesaysHe“commanded”them),“…Donot leave Jerusalem, butwait for the giftMyFather promised,which youhaveheardMespeakabout.ForJohnbaptizedwithwater,butinafewdaysyouwill bebaptizedwith theHolySpirit.”Then inverse8,He continued,“…youwill receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be Mywitnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of theearth.”

4.TheearlyChristianleadersunderstoodthenecessityofbeingfilledwiththeHolySpirit.

WhentheyoungandgrowingchurchinJerusalemwasexperiencingitsfirstadministrativecrisis,theapostlescalledthepeopletogetherandsaid,“Brothers,choosesevenmen fromamongyouwhoareknown tobe fullof theSpiritandwisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them…” (Acts 6:3). The

interesting thingabout this is that thesepeoplewerenotprimarilygoing tobeconcerned with preaching or church planting, or healing the sick, but withadministration—a function that we don’t necessarily think of in terms ofrequiringthefullnessoftheSpirit.Inlightofthispassage,someofusmayneedtorethinkthat.

Another interestingsituationoccursas thechurchbegins toexpandbeyondtheconfinesofJerusalemandJudea,northwardintoSamaria.Wearetold:

WhentheapostlesinJerusalemheardthatSamariahadacceptedthewordofGod, theysentPeterandJohn to them.When theyarrived,theyprayedforthemthattheymightreceivetheHolySpirit,becausetheHolySpirithadnotyetcomeuponanyofthem;theyhadsimplybeenbaptizedintothenameoftheLordJesus.ThenPeterandJohnplaced theirhandson them,and theyreceived theHolySpirit (Acts8:14-17).

Paul’sownradicalconversionrequiredthathebefilledwiththeHolySpirit.InActs9:17weread:

ThenAnaniaswenttothehouseandenteredit.PlacinghishandsonSaul,hesaid,“BrotherSaul,theLord—Jesus,whoappearedtoyouontheroadasyouwerecominghere—hassentmesothatyoumayseeagainandbefilledwiththeHolySpirit.”

Jesus Himself had made it explicitly clear to Ananias that, in addition toneedinghiseyesightrestored,PaulneededtobefilledwiththeSpirit.

Finally, when Paul encountered a group of disciples in Ephesus, his firstquestionwas,“DidyoureceivetheHolySpiritwhenyoubelieved?”WhentheyconfessedignoranceabouttheHolySpirit,hequicklybroughtthemuptospeed,laidhandsonthem,andtheSpiritcameuponthem(Acts19:1-6).

Inhisbook,Paul,theSpirit,andthePeopleofGod,GordonFeemakesthisstatementaboutPaul’sattitudetowardtheHolySpirit:

One reads Paul poorly who does not recognize that for him thepresence of the Spirit as an experienced and living reality,was thecrucialmatterforChristianlife,frombeginningtoend.”1

5.TheFillingoftheHolySpiritisbothinitiatoryandcontinual.There are five occasions in the book of Acts when new believers were

describedasbeingfilledwiththeHolySpiritforthefirst time(Acts2:4;8:14-19;9:17-18;10:44-46;19:6).Allfiveof theseoccasionswereaccompaniedby

observablephenomena—eitherspeakingintongues,prophecy,orotherexternalsignsnotexplicitlydescribed.Inotherwords,theyandthosearoundthemknewthattherehadbeenanin-breakingofGod’spower.

EventhoughallbelieversinChristhavetheHolySpiritwithinthem(Rom.8:9),inEphesians5:18weareurgedtocontinuebeingfilledwiththeSpirit.(Inthispassage,Pauluses theGreektensethatdenotescontinualaction—literally,“be being filled.”) Even the first disciples, not long after experiencing thedramaticoutpouringoftheSpiritatPentecost,hadtheirownrefilled,aswereadinActs4:31.

WhydoweneedtobefilledandrefilledwiththeSpirit?Theshortansweris,we leak! The daily grind of our lives and our spiritually hostile environmenthaveawayofsappingourstrengthanddrainingusofSpirit-fullness,forcingusto be perpetually dependent onGod.Beyond that, it is simply notGod’s bestplan forus thatwe liveonlyonmemoriesand storiesofpast experiences,butthat God’s work in and through us always is fresh, new, wonderfullyunpredictableandgloriouslypowerful!

6.HowtobefilledwiththeHolySpiritRepentAtPentecost, at theconclusionofPeter’smessage to thecrowd, theysaid,

“Brothers, what shall we do?” to which Peter replied, “Repent and bebaptized…andyouwillreceivethegiftoftheHolySpirit”(Acts2:38).Although,incontext, thiswasaddressed to first-timebelievers, Ihave found, inmyownexperience, thatwhenever theHoly Spirit showsme an area inmy life that Ineedtochange,afterIdorepent,thereisanewexperienceofGod’sgraceandpower. It isalways true that themorewe turn fromthose things thatdispleaseGodandtowardthosethingsthatareconsistentwiththecharacterofJesus,themorewemakeroomfortheHolySpirit.

[Thenexttwoactionitems,whichwillhelpustobefilledwiththeSpirit,arebothcontainedinLuke11:9-13.]

Ask(Pray)Inthischapter,Jesushasjusttoldtheparableofthemanwhohasadesperate

neighborpoundingonhisdooratmidnightforsomefoodtosharewithhisownunexpectedguest.Thepointoftheparableisthepowerofpersistentprayer,andtheverbsJesususesareallintheGreektensethatdenotescontinualaction,asin“keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking.” Scripture is full of examples ofmen and women who refused to take “no” for an answer, and, as a result,

obtained the blessing they were seeking from God. Developing the habit ofprayer,includingfrequent,shortprayersthroughouttheday,aswellasoccasionsofextendedprayer,sometimeswithfasting,isoneofthebestwaystobefilled,andtostayfilledwiththeSpirit.

BelieveJesusmadeclearinthispassagethatourconfidencethatGodwillanswerour

prayer for the Holy Spirit is rooted in the very nature of God as a good andlovingfather.Listencloselytowhathesays:

Whichofyoufathers,ifyoursonasksforafish,willgivehimasnakeinstead?Or if heasks foran egg,will givehima scorpion? If youthen, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to yourchildren,howmuchmorewill yourFather inheavengive theHolySpirittothosewhoaskHim!(Luke11:11-13).

Our God delights in giving good gifts to His children! When you ask(persistently) for theHolySpirit to fillyou,youcanbemostassured thatGodwillanswer.

ImmerseyourselfinanenvironmentrichinthepresenceoftheHolySpirit.One of the things that has frustrated many pastors is the habit of some

Christianstogorunningaftereverynewrevival,whileneglectingthedailyandoften less flashy, mundane responsibilities to their families, church, andcommunity. Often, these “hallelujah hobos” seem infatuated with every newspiritualfadthatcomesalong,orwitheverynewchurchthatpopsupinthearea.

Havingsaidthat,thereissomethingtobesaidforthekindofspiritualthirstthatstopsatnothingtodrinkfromagenuinewelloftheHolySpirit’srefreshingand empowering presence. Some of the more significant moments in mypilgrimage have come as a result of traveling, sometimes great distances, to aplace that Iheard fromcrediblesourceswas“the real thing,”or to spend timewith a person who had more of what I wanted. I have found that the HolySpirit’sblessingsreallycanbetransferredbyosmosisandimpartation.

WhatI’mnotsuggestingisthatyouassumeyoushouldleaveachurchjustbecause the Spirit doesn’t seem to be powerfully present, and to find amore“lively” one, but that you assume you should stay unless God confirmsotherwiseoveralongperiodoftime.(Howcanwetransformwhatweleave?)

Irecentlymetafriendwhohadprayedforyearsaboutleavinghischurchoutoffrustrationaboutthisissue,buthadneversensedGodgivinghimpermission(ah,yes,gettingGod’spermission—nowthere’saconceptthat’sforeigntoour

consumeristculture!).Anyway,hefinallyaskedthepastor ifhewouldmindifhe started a group for thosewanting to experiencemore of the Spirit in theirlives,andthepastoragreed.Nowtherearehundredsofmenattendingthisgroupregularly, including the pastor! The Holy Spirit wants to come to thirstychurches!

Giveyourselfaway.The old illustration about the Dead Sea being that way because it has no

outletcertainlyholdstruewhenitcomestotheimportanceofministry.OneofthebestwaystokeepbeingfilledwiththeSpirit is tofindwaystominister toothers.And findingways tominister in pairs or groups increases both the joyandtheimpact,especiallywhenministryisextendedtothoseoutsidethechurch.Ifyouonlyseekgreaterfullnessof theSpirit tosatisfyyourownappetite,youwillsoonbecomeingrownandoflittleuseintheKingdom.Butifyougrowinyour desire to help others throughHis power,Godwill delight in giving youmoreandmoreofHisSpirit.Hereallycaresaboutpeople,andoneofHisgreat,unchanginggoalsistogrowthisloveforothersinus.

ENDNOTE

1.GordonFee,Paul,theSpiritandthePeopleofGod(Peabody,MA:Hendrickson,1996),p.xiii.

Chapter3

YOUCANDOTHEWORKSOFJESUS

“Itellyouthetruth,anyonewhohasfaithinMewilldowhatIhavebeendoing.”John14:12

Neverland………TreasureIsland…………Camelot…………

NarniaThese are theplaces that occupyour childhood thoughts and captivate our

imaginations, because these are the places of adventure, where everything ispossible,andwheregoodalwaystriumphsoverevil.Howmanyofus,askids,imaginedthatwewerehuntingforhiddentreasure,sure that justover thenexthill,orunder thenext rock,wewould finda fortune ingoldand jewels?Howmanyofus imaginedthatwewerelivinginthetimesofcastlesandlords,andthatwewerethekingsorqueens,surroundedbyservantsandrulingwithpower?

Yet as we grow up, and are introduced to the real Kingdom of God, weusually assume we have traded the beauty, innocence, and wonder of thoseplacesforsomethinglessexciting,somethinglessstimulating, lesscaptivating.But would God do that to us? Would God really give us imaginations anddreamsthatcannotbematchedbytherealityofwhatHehasforus?Pauldidn’tthinkso.InEphesians3:20-21,hesaid

NowtoHimwhoisabletodoimmeasurablymorethanallweaskorimagine,accordingtoHispowerthatisatworkwithinus,toHimbeglory in the churchand inChrist Jesus throughoutall generations,foreverandever!Amen.

ManyofusliveChristianlivesthatarenottoodifferentfromthedrabblackandwhiteTVpicturesofourparents’generation,buttheKingdomthatweareintroducedtoinscriptureispaintedinbrillianthigh-definitioncolors.Thisisaplacewhere glorious angels fight for us,where riversmagically appear in thedesertandturnthebarrenlandscapeintoalushgarden.Thisisalandwherethemountainsburst intosongandthetreesofthefieldclaptheirhands,wherethechildrenofGodarefinallyrevealedintheirglorioussplendor,whileallcreationcelebrates!Thisis theplacewheremenwalkonwater,andeverysicknessanddisease is banished, where every bondage is broken and every potential-inhibiting dysfunction is shattered. This is the land where dreams come true;wherethepoorareenrichedandthelonelyembracedintohealthyfamilies.Thisis the place where evil is destroyed, temptation disappears, and all tears arewipedaway.

GodexperiencesgreatpleasureinseeingHischildrenblownawaywithjoyandwonder as they do things they never thought possible.When the 70 newbelievers returned from their firstmission of healing and casting out demons,LuketellsusthatJesuswas“filledwiththejoyoftheHolySpirit”(Luke10:21NLT). ImaginehowHe feltwhenPeterwalkedonwater!Myhope is that, asyou read this book, you will become more and more disenchanted with the

“normal” life and will step out of your boat and follow Jesus into thewonderfullyunpredictableandrewardingworldofKingdomlifeandministry.

LEARNINGTOHEAR

InFebruaryof2005,sixofus, includingmywifeandourassociatepastor,MikeFlynn,andhiswife,Sue,andtwootherswereinUgandaattherequestoftheAnglicanChurch,toconductahealingconference.Onedayweweredrivingon a long, isolated stretch of road between towns, surrounded by nothing butbanana treesandmilesandmilesof reddirt,when thevanbeganoverheating.Weeventuallymadeourwaytoadilapidatedservicestation,wherethemaninchargetoldusourenginehadblownaheadgasket,whichwouldtakehundredsof dollars and five or six hours to repair. Thiswas not good!We didn’t haveeitherthetimeorthemoneytospare,butneitherdidwewanttobreakdowninthemiddleofUganda,withno towninsight forahundredmilesormore.Wetalkedforsometimewitheachotheraboutwhattodo.

Finally,MikeremindedusofthescriptureinColossians3:15:“LetthepeaceofChristruleinyourhearts….”Hesharedwithusthatthewordusedfor“rule”wasfromthewordforumpire,andthattheSpiritoftenmadethisrealtohimbygiving him a physical sign, which manifested itself through either a sense ofcalm or a sense of disturbance beneath his sternum. Now, obviously, NewTestament scholars will probably want to parse this interpretation and theapplicationofthisverse,butneverthelesswe,collectively,didindeedarriveatasenseofpeaceaboutgoingonwithourtrip.Sowesimplyfilledtheradiatorwithfreshwater and coolant andwent on to the conference in the city ofMbararawithoutfurtherincident.

Ihave“heard”theaudiblevoiceofGodperhapsfourtimesinmylifethatIrecall.Actually,onlytwoofthosetimesweredefinitelyaudible;theothertimeswereinnerimpressions,sosuddenandsoclearthattheyhadtheimpactofbeingaudible words from God. I share with you now one of those times I was sodeeply spoken to by God that it has marked my soul like nothing else I canremember.

Itwasearlyinthemorning,aboutsixo’clockorso,andIwassittingontheporchof a beautiful bed andbreakfast inBallard, a small town about anhournorthofSantaBarbara,California,whereagroupofus,pastorsandwives,hadgathered for a leaders’ retreat.As I sat there in the cool stillness of the early

morning,thedewstillonthegrass,withonlythesoundofabirdortwonearby,IfoundmyselfwonderingatthemagnificenceofGod’screationasIstaredattherosejustinfrontoftheporchrailing.SoftlyIsaid,“Lord,it’ssobeautiful!”AndimmediatelyIheardHimsay,“It’snothingcomparedtowhatI’mdoinginyou!”

That simple, yet exquisitely loving statement was so unexpected and sounlikeanythingIcouldeverimaginethinkingaboutmyself,thatIwasstunnedanddeeplymovedat thesame time.And in the fiveor sixyearssince then, itstillhasthepowertomovememorethananythinginmyrecentmemory.ThatJesuslovesmeinsuchapersonalway,thatHeisshapingmylifeandfillingitwith significance, beauty, and value,makes sense of all the pain, failure, andstruggleofthepastfifty-plusyearsandgivesmeprofoundhopeandfaithforthefuture.

Theologians can explain those same truths to us, the truths about GodfulfillingHispurposes forus,and thatour liveshavesignificance,andwecangain a degree of insight into them fromour own reading of scripture, but it’ssimply not the same as having theAuthorHimself speak to us in this deeplypersonal way. (Please understand, in noway is this intended tominimize theabsoluteimportanceofscripture—IhavealwaysmaintainedthatoneofthemostpowerfulwaysGodspeakstousisfromHiswrittenword.)

NowimagineGodspeakingtoyouinasimilarwayaboutsomeoneelse,tosharewiththemforthepurposeoftouchingtheirlives,bringinggreaterhealing,empowerment, and joy to them than anything most of us have seen in ourChristianexperience.ImagineGodregularlyusingyouasaconduitforHislife-transformingword.Thiskindofthingisnot“fluff”or“charismania,”butpartoftheessenceofbiblicalandhistoricChristianity.

ThisiswhatJesusdidwhenHewasfirstintroducedtoPeterandsaidtohim,“You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas, which, translated,meansPeter or ‘Rock’” (John1:42).OrwhatHedidwhenHe sawNathanielandsaidtohim,“HereisatrueIsraelite,inwhomthereisnothingfalse”(John1:47).OrwhenHe encountered thewoman at thewell and said to her,“Youhavehadfivehusbands,andthemanyounowhaveisnotyourhusband”(John4:17-18), yet said itwith no sense of judgment or rebuke and offered her the“livingwater”whichcould(anddid)changeherlifeforever.

You,too,canlearntohearGod,bothforyourselfandforothers.You,too,can learn to touch people with words of Spiritoriginated power, watching ingratefulawe,asJesusmeltstheirheartsandhealstheirsouls.ItisthemessageoftheNewTestament that thesepowersof thecomingageof theKingdomhave

alreadyarrived,inmeasure,throughthegiftoftheSpirit.Buthow,exactly,dowelearntohearGod?I’vefoundthatIhearGodbest

early in the morning, or when I take time to seek Him through prayer andfasting, and especially when I get out of town to a place where I can beundistracted.Butforstarters,justaskHimforearstohear.ThatisaprayerHelovestoanswer.

Intheirbook,TheRabbitandtheElephant,TonyandFelicityDalelistafewbasicwaysthatareagreatbeginning.TonysaysthatthemostcommonwayGodspeakstousisprobablythroughourthoughts,andrelatesthefollowingstory:

Felicity used to do a lot of counseling. In order to reduce the timespent in counseling, shewould pray prior to each session and thenwritedownthethoughtsthatcameintohermindaboutthatperson’ssituation. Thoughts often seemed to come from left field, but shewrotethemdownanyway.About85to90percentofthetime,whenFelicitywent back and reviewed her notes, the things that she hadwrittendown—thethingsthatshethoughttheLordhadshownher—were accurate. On one occasion, a girl with depression came forcounseling, and the Lord had already told Felicity that the girl’sfatherhadabusedher.Soittookonlytwoquestionstofindtherootofherdepression:“Howwasyourrelationshipwithyourfather?”and“Did he abuse you in any way?”…That exercise taught Felicity totrusttheLordtospeaktoherthroughthat“thoughtoutofnowhere”assheprayed.1

IMAGINE

Whatwouldhappenifsomeoneinyourchurchexperiencedarealmiracle?I’m not talking aboutGod healing someone’s headache or sore elbow, but anindisputablemiracle,likesomeonewhomeveryoneknowsisblind,andhasbeenblindfrombirth,who’sbeensittingnexttoherseeing-eyedoginchurcheveryweek, and someone lays hands on her and sHe’s instantly healed and can seewith20/20vision!Canyouimaginetherepercussions?Thewordwouldbeoutall over the community, and eventually themediawould pick up the story. Itwould be on YouTube, and all over the country it would be the topic ofconversation around water coolers, in lunchrooms and chat rooms, and overneighborhoodfences.

Nowimaginebeingpartofachurchwherethiskindofthing,andmanyothermiracles and healings, happen on a regular basis. ImagineGodmoving in theheartsofpeopleinthechurchtosuchaprofounddegreethattheybeginsellingtheirvacationhomes, investmentproperties,andextracarsandgivingmillionsof dollars to the poor and to the church. Imagine people from the communityflooding into the churchbecause they’vebeen so impressedwith the love andpower flowing from these ordinary people that they simply have to find outwhat’s going on. Imagine hundreds, even thousands, of people in that cityembracingJesusastheirSaviorandLord,beingbaptized,connectingintosmallgroups,andgrowingstrongintheirrelationshipwithGodundertheinstructionofgodly lay leadersandpastors. Imaginebeingcaughtup in thiswhirlwindofSpirit-inspired excitement, getting together every day in homes, at Starbucks,over lunch or dinners, or at schoolwith otherswho are also experiencing theelectricenergyofthisdivinewave.ImaginechurchbeingmorefunandexcitingthananymajorleaguegameorNewYear’sEveparty!

Soundfar-fetched?Butthat’sexactlythepictureofthechurchgiventousattheendofthesecondchapterofActs:

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about threethousand were added to their number that day. They devotedthemselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to thebreakingofbreadandtoprayer.Everyonewasfilledwithawe,andmanywondersandmiraculous signsweredoneby theapostles.Allthe believerswere together and had everything in common. Sellingtheir possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.Everydaytheycontinuedtomeettogetherinthetemplecourts.Theybroke bread in their homes and ate togetherwith glad and sincerehearts,praisingGodandenjoyingthefavorofallthepeople.AndtheLordaddedtotheirnumberdailythosewhowerebeingsaved(Acts2:41-47).

The book of Acts continues with story after story of ordinary people,empowered by the Holy Spirit, doing extraordinary exploits in the name ofJesus,forthegloryofGod.WemustrecapturethetreasureoftheHolySpirit’spower promised to the Church by Jesus, and dust off the gifts that He hasdistributedandcontinuestogive.TheChurch,whichinmanyrespectshasbeena“sleepinggiant,”mustbe awakenedandmobilized to forcefully advance theKingdomofGodinadeterioratingworld.

LEARNINGTOSEE

JesuscoulddonothingbyHimself.ThatwasHis confession in John5:19.Actually,whatHe saidwas,“Very truly I tell you, theSoncandonothingbyHimself;HecandoonlywhatHeseesHisFatherdoing,becausewhatevertheFatherdoestheSonalsodoes.”

It’s essential tounderstand that Jesus’ability to“see”what theFatherwasdoingwasaresultoftheSpiritcominguponHim.OneoftheearliestpropheciesaboutJesusisfoundinIsaiah11:1-3,whichforetoldHiscomingasadescendentofJesseandDavid.Weread:

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots aBranchwillbear fruit.TheSpiritof theLordwill restonHim—theSpirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and ofpower, theSpiritofknowledgeandof the fearof theLord—andHewilldelightinthefearoftheLord.HewillnotjudgebywhatHeseeswithHiseyes,ordecidebywhatHehearswithHisears….

JesusdidnotdrawconclusionsbasedonwhatHesaw,orwhatpeople toldHim.Hedidnot react to situationsbasedonpredictablehuman responses.Hehadlearnedtobesensitivetoasuperiorsourceofinformation—theHolySpirit—and that is the real reason forHisphenomenal effectiveness, and thekey towhatcouldbeours.

So,returningtowhatJesussaidinJohn5:19,oneofthelessonsweneedtomasteristoseewhattheFatherisdoing.Inotherwords,weneedtodevelopourspiritual eyesight, our spiritual discernment. This is one of the basic skillswehaveneglectedovercenturiesofdisuse,andwhichwemustreclaim.Howdowedo this?Likeall spiritualgifts,wedevelop thisability throughdesperation foreffectiveness,bypursuingJesus,bybelievinginthegenerosityandgoodnessofGod,byacommitment to risk-taking,andbyapassionateappreciation for thepersonandworkoftheHolySpirit.Letmesharewithyouarecentexampleofhowithasworkedforme.

OneSundaymorningIbeganwithashortteaching,followedbyareminderthatweareallcalled todo theworksofJesus(John14:12),andsuggestedwepray and invite theHoly Spirit to direct us inministry.As I began to pray, Iimmediatelysaw(inmymind’seye)apictureofafoot.AttheendoftheprayerI asked, “Does anybody here have a problemwith their feet?” First one handwentup,thenanother,andeventuallyeightpeopleresponded.Iinvitedthemto

come forward for prayer and had them stand up on the stage, facing thecongregation.Then I asked for thosewhowantedGod tobeginusing them toheal the sick to come forward and pray for them. I coached them through asimple healing prayermodel, and interactedwith the congregation aboutwhattheHolySpiritseemedtobedoingineachofthepeoplebeingprayedfor.Attheendoftheprayertime,Iinvitedanyoftheeightwhohadnoticeablyexperiencedanydegreeofhealingtosharewiththecongregation,andseveraldidso.TheirsenseofhavingbeentouchedbyGodwasobvious,aswastheincreaseoffaiththroughoutthechurch.

TheimportantthingtoknowisthatIamdefinitelynottheonlypersoninourchurch to “see” these spiritual pictures.We havemany lay peoplewho “see”thesekindsofpicturesregularly,andI’mconvincedthateverybelieverinJesushasthepotentialtoactivatethisandmanyothergiftsoftheHolySpirit.Hehasinvitedustoask!

WhatenabledJesustochangetheworldinthreeshortyearswasnotthefactthatHewasGodintheflesh.Hehadleftbehind,inheaven,alldivinerightsandinherent super-powers, and had become fully human. It is essential that weunderstandandembracethistruth.WhatenabledJesustochangetheworldwasthepoweroftheHolySpirit,whichcameuponHimatHisbaptism.WhenPeterwas introducing Cornelius and his friends to Jesus, he said,“…God anointedJesusofNazarethwiththeHolySpiritandpower,and…Hewentarounddoinggoodandhealingallwhowereunderthepowerofthedevil,becauseGodwaswithHim”(Acts10:38).

IfweseriouslybelievethatJesusintendedforustoimitateHimanddothethingsHedid,wemustbegintoseeHislifeandministryasourexample.Jesuswas not only the savior of the world; He was and is our model for life andministry.Heapprenticedordinarymenandwomen,commissioningthemtohealthe sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead—first the twelve, then seventymoregenericdisciples(Luke10:1).WeneedafreshapproachtothegospelsandActs:Notjustas“biblestudy,”butalsoasatrainingmanual.Inthatwaywewilldiscoverwhatmade Jesus and the firstdisciples soeffective, andhowwecanemulatetheirsuccess.

Peter and other disciples understood clearly that Jesus’ mission had beenhandedofftothem—andtous—justasinarelayracearunnerhandsoffabatontothenextrunner.TheyhadobviouslylearnedtheirapproachtoministryunderthetutelageofJesus;theyhadtakenoverthebaton,andrantheirlegoftheracewell.

For example,Mark described how Jesus took only Peter, James, and Johninto the home of Jairus, whose daughter had died (Mark 5:37-43). Then theywatchedasJesusputallthenoisymournersoutoftheroomandraisedthegirltolife. It’sprofoundlyamusing to readActs9:40and toseePeterdoexactly thesamethinginhisraisingofTabithafromthedead.Firstheputthemournersoutoftheroom,thenprayed,turnedtowardthedeadwomanandtoldhertogetup.He had learned ministry by observing Jesus, he had been empowered by thesameSpiritasJesus,andnowhecontinuedinthefootstepsofJesus.Highfive,Peter!

MYSTERY,IDENTITY,ANDDESTINY

“InthebeginningwastheWord,andtheWordwaswithGod,andtheWordwasGod”(John1:1).TheverychoiceofthosewordsbytheHolySpirit,asHeinspired the prologue of John’s gospel, should tell us something of theunfathomablemysteryofJesus’truegloryandidentity.Asmuchasthegospelsand theotherwritingsof theNewTestament revealaboutJesus, there remainsevenmoreaboutHimthatwehaven’tfullyexplored,andperhapsnevercan,thissideofeternity.ButifwewouldonlytakethetimetoexploreasmuchofHimasscripturereveals,especiallythosemysterious,tantalizingglimpsesgiventousinpassages such as the one above, or in Hebrews 1, we may find ourselvesbecoming preoccupied, wonderfully distracted from lesser pursuits, captivatedbyHisbeautyandpower.

Oneofthereasonsweshouldengageinsuchseeking,isthat,inthepursuitof Jesus, in thediscoveryof all thatHe is,we findour true selves.TheSpiritHimself said as much through the Apostle Paul, as he wrote the words ofColossians3:3:“…foryoudied,andyourlifeishiddenwithChristinGod.”It’sas ifGodhas theblueprint forour lives,all thatHedesignedus tobeanddo,rolledup,sealed,andhiddeninavaultcalledJesus.AswediscoverthePersonofJesus—allHewasinHispre-incarnateglory,allHewasinthemissionofHishumanity,allHewasinHispost-resurrectionbody,andallHeisnow,asHesitsat the right handof theFather in eternal glory,webegin to discover our owngloriousdesignanddestinyasGod’ssonsanddaughters.

AswecontemplatetheamazingSonofGod,webegintoseeourtrueselves,createdtobetheimage-bearersofGodinthisworld,redeemedandrestoredtoourrightfulplaceasheirsofGodandco-heirswithChrist.AndwebegintoseethatwearecalledtobepartnerswithJesus,empoweredbythesameSpirittobe

fellow-rescuersofafallenplanet.We have been given both future glory and present power.We have been

redeemed;wearebeing transformed;wewillbeglorified.WeareeachGod’smasterpiece,butamasterpiecewithapurpose.UnlikeMichelangelo’sDavidorDaVinci’sMonaLisa,wearenotdesignedtobeonstationarydisplaylikestaticworksoftheGreatArtist,buttoreflectHisgloryinthedailycourseofourlives,tomovegracefullythroughtheworld,speakingthewordsanddoingtheworksofJesusinthepoweroftheSpirit.

MypurposeinthisbriefoverviewistoshowthatourministryinthepoweroftheHolySpiritisnotintendedtobesomethingextraoresoteric,butis,infact,a very part of our essence, our nature. The word theologians would use is“ontological.”Thatistosay,itispartofourverybeing,ourDNA.

Yetthispowerisnotforustoemployindependently.ThepoweroftheHolySpirit isderivative. It flowsoutofavital,ongoing relationshipwithJesus.Hesaid,“IfyouremaininMeandIinyou,youwillbearmuchfruit”(John15:5).That simple statement of the intimacy that Jesus intended for each of us toexperiencewithHimisperhaps thegreatestkey todoing thewonderfulworksHedid.MarktellsusthatJesus“appointedtwelvethattheymightbewithHimand thatHemight send themout topreachand tohaveauthority todriveoutdemons”(Mark3:14-15).Theorderisimportant!Theirfirstprioritywassimplyto “bewithHim.” Itwas out of that intimacy that powerwould flow throughthem.Thepowerwasnotonly through impartationandcommissioning; itwasfirstthroughosmosis.

FROMPHARISEETOFREEDOM

What a difference the Holy Spirit makes! Over the years I’ve seen stale,religiouspeopletransformedintofresh,excitingpeople-magnetsbythepowerofthe Spirit. I’ve watched lukewarm believers recapture their first love andembrace a new sense of adventure with Jesus. I’ve seen firsthand how entirechurcheshavebeenrevivedwithanewsenseofmissionandenthusiasmastheHolySpirithassweptoverthemlikeEzekiel’slife-givingriver.

PaulhadbeentrainedasaPharisee.Hehadbeenthoroughlyschooledinthescriptures of theOld Testament, and, like any good Pharisee, hadmemorizedlongpassages,andcould repeat thembyheart.Theproblemwas,even thoughthesescriptureswereinspiredbytheHolySpirit,thewayheandotherslikehim

usedthesescripturesresultedinbondageinsteadoffreedom.Andalthoughtheyknewthescriptures,probablybetterthanmostofustoday,theywereblindtotherealityofJesusastheSonofGod.

ThenPaulhadalife-changingencounterwiththerisenJesusonhiswaytoDamascus,wasbaptizedbyAnanias,filledwiththeSpirit,andembarkedonanentirelynewlifeandministry.HisfascinatingwordsinSecondCorinthians3:6explain thedifferencebetweenthe“ministryof the letter”andthe“ministryofthe Spirit.” Paul says, “He has made us competent as ministers of a newcovenant—not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spiritgives life.” It is obvious from this statement that it is possible to use thescriptures (“misuse”wouldbemoreaccurate) in away that results in spiritualbarrenness—evenspiritualdeath.

Keep inmind, the scriptures of theOld Testament, whichwere so highlyregardedby thePharisees,wereeverybitas inspiredby theHolySpiritas thescriptures of the New Testament. These were the same scriptures that Jesusreferred to so often in His own ministry, yet when Jesus spoke them, theyproduced life, healing, and freedom; when the Pharisees spoke them, theyproducedbondage,guilt,anddeath.Weshould, then, inferthat thesamecouldbe trueof theNewTestament scriptures:Theycan result either inbondageorfreedom,dependingonthepersonspeakingthem.

After explaining how superior theNewCovenant is to theOld Covenant,Paul goes on to reveal this “Spirit” he is talking about. In verse 17, he says,“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there isfreedom.”By“Lord,”he is referring to Jesus, andhe is substantially equatingJesuswiththeSpirit(“theLordistheSpirit”).WhatPaulissayingisthatwhenweministerinthepowerandgraceoftheSpirit,weare,infact,enteringintotheministryofJesus.AndwhatwastheministryofJesuslike?Onedoesnothavetolook far to find theanswer.Thegospels are filledwith Jesus’powerfulwordsandworks.

TheministryoftheSpirit(whichisalsotheministryofJesus)combinesthewordsofscripturewith thepowerfulworksof theHolySpirit.Paul,andmanylater disciples, emulated theministry of Jesus by powerfully quoting scriptureand byworkingmiracles in the nameof Jesus through the power of theHolySpirit. If we are tominister in the Spirit of Jesus, if we are to faithfully andaccurately representHim to theworld,wemust followHis example, speakingHiswordsanddoingHisworks.

AtthispointIbelieveit is important toprovideanoverarchingperspective

foranyministrycharacterizedbysignsandwonders.OneofthecriticismsIhearabout some churcheswho are experiencing “renewal”-type phenomena is thatthey seem self-absorbed, content to simply “play” in their charismatic parties,with little regard to the needs of the lost community around them. Itmust beemphasizedthatthepurposeforthepoweroftheSpirit istoequipbelieverstohelp bring Kingdom transformation to unchurched people, cities, and nations.This includesdoingall theworksof Jesus: freeingpeople from the ravagesofsinandbringingthemintothewonderfulfreedomofthebodyofChrist,feedingthehungry,clothingthenaked,impartingredemptiveloveandcompassiontotheemotionallybruisedandhurting,contendingforjusticeandmercyonallfronts,healingthesick,castingoutdemons,etc.,withspecialemphasisonreachingouttothepoor.

After the Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost, one of the first things thechurch did was to take care of the widows in the city of Jerusalem. It’s nowonder that in thosedays the churchenjoyed the favorof the community andgrewdramatically.Beingamissionalpeoplewillhelpprevent thechurchfrombecoming introverted, irrelevant, and isolated from the culture. We will dealmorewiththistopicinChapter11,“TheSpiritandtheMission.”

ENDNOTE

1.TonyandFelicityDaleandGeorgeBarna,TheRabbitandtheElephant(CarolStream,IL:2009),49-50.

Chapter4

GROWINGBANANASINALASKA

“WithGodallthingsarepossible.”Matthew19:26

ILIVED INZIMBABWEUNTIL theageofeleven,and,alongwithamini-vineyardmydadhadplanted,wegrewavarietyof tropical fruit—guavas,passionfruit,papayas, and bananas.The sub-equatorial climate,with its humidity and rainyseason,wasconducivetoarangeofinterestingplantsandfruit,includingsugarcane,whichwebought in six-foot lengths fromvendorson thedirt roads.Wewould cut the cane into lengths of about eight inches, strip the hard covering,andchewthesugarcaneontheinside,swallowingthesweetjuiceandspittingouttheleftoverpulp.(ThisprobablyhelpstoexplainwhysomanyAfricankidsareadentist’snightmare!)

WefoundsimilarfruitintheHawaiianIslands.WhenJaneandItraveledtoKauaiforour25thanniversary,wehadbarelydrivenoutoftheairportwhenwebeganpassingfieldsofsugarcane.Alongwithmangos,papayas,andguavas,wealsoenjoyedthebestpineapplesintheworld!

OnewouldnotbesurprisedtofindthesekindsoffruitgrowinginAfricaorHawaii, but imagine getting out of a plane in Fairbanks, Alaska, barely ahundredmilesfromtheArcticCircle,andfindingbananaplantationsorfieldsofpineapples! Imagine huskies pulling your sled through fields of guavas andmangos,whileyouwavedatpolarbears!OrpictureyourselfdrivinguptoyourAlaskanhotelinmid-winter,andinsteadofseeingnothingbutsnowandiceformilesaround,youseepeoplewalkingaroundinshortsandflip-flops,playinginthepoolorsunbathingin80-degreeweather,latheredwithsunscreen.

Ofcourse,weknowthatscenariossuchastheoneaboveonlyoccurinsci-fi

movies, right? I mean, where else can you find a barren wasteland suddenlytransformedintoalushgarden?(NotthatAlaskaisabarrenwasteland,foranyAlaskanswhomaybereadingthis.IwasreferringspecificallytotheareaaroundtheArcticCircle.)Whatwouldittakeforthatkindofradicaltransformationtohappen?Nothinglessthanaclimatechangeofhistoricproportions.

Actually,theprophetEzekielsawasimilarlyimprobablesceneunfoldbeforehisveryeyes.ListentohowhedescribesitinEzekielchapter47:

Theman[angel]broughtmebacktotheentranceofthetemple,andIsawwatercomingout fromunderthethresholdof thetempletowardtheeast(forthetemplefacedeast).Thewaterwascomingdownfromunderthesouthsideofthetemple,southofthealtar.Hethenbroughtmeout through the north gate and ledmearound the outside to theoutergatefacingeast,andthewaterwasflowingfromthesouthside.

As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, hemeasured off a thousand cubits and then ledme throughwater thatwasankle-deep.Hemeasuredoffanotherthousandcubitsandledmethroughwaterthatwasknee-deep.Hemeasuredoffanotherthousandand ledme throughwater thatwasup to thewaist.Hemeasuredoffanother thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross,becausethewaterhadrisenandwasdeepenoughtoswimin—ariverthatnoonecouldcross.Heaskedme,“Sonofman,doyouseethis?”

Thenheledmebacktothebankoftheriver.WhenIarrivedthere,Isawagreatnumberoftreesoneachsideoftheriver.Hesaidtome,“ThiswaterflowstowardtheeasternregionandgoesdownintotheArabah,whereitenterstheSea[theDeadSea].Whenitemptiesintothe Sea, thewater there becomes fresh. Swarms of living creatureswilllivewherevertheriverflows.Therewillbelargenumbersoffish,because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; sowhere the river flows everything will live. Fishermen will standalongtheshore;fromEnGeditoEnEglaimtherewillbeplacesforspreading nets. The fishwill be ofmany kinds—like the fish of theGreat Sea…Fruit trees of all kindswill grow on both banks of theriver. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Everymonththeywillbear,becausethewaterfromthesanctuaryflowstothem.Theirfruitwillserveforfoodandtheirleavesforhealing.”

Just pause for aminute and reflect on this amazing picture.What Ezekiel

sees isa stream,which flows from the templeandgrows largerand larger thefartheritmovesintothedesert,bringinglifewhereveritflows.Notonlydoesitproducelargeamountsandvarietiesofmarinelife,butthelandaroundtheriverbecomesa tropicalparadise,with“allkinds”offruitgrowinginabundance!Adesolate,barrenwildernessistransformedintoabeautiful,fruitfulgarden.

JesusverylikelyhadthisfamousOldTestamentpassageinmind,when,onthe last and greatest day of the Feast of Tabernacles, He stood in the templecourts and said in a loudvoice,“Ifanyone is thirsty, let himcome toMeanddrink.WhoeverbelievesinMe,astheScripturehassaid,streamsoflivingwaterwillflowfromwithinhim.”ThenJohnadds,“BythisHemeanttheSpirit,whomthosewhobelievedinHimwerelatertoreceive”(John7:37-39).

JesuswassayingthatwhoeverputstheirtrustinHimwillnotonlyhavetheirownspiritualthirstquenched,buttheywillalsobecomeasourceofrefreshmentandlife-transformationtoothers.Whatabeautifulpicture:BelieversinJesusarepeople out of whom can flow life-giving streams, bringing transformation toindividuals,churches,cities,andnations,bythepoweroftheHolySpirit!

There’sanotherplaceinscripturewhereagardenliketheoneinEzekielismentioned. This one is in Genesis chapter 2 and it’s called “The Garden ofEden.”We all know about the human tragedy that occurred as a result of theFall: Man was banished from the garden, and all of his relationships wereprofoundlydamaged—hisrelationshipwithGod,withothers,andwithhimself.ButGod, inHisgreat love,didnotabandonman to thedesolatewildernessofhissin,butimmediatelysetinmotionHisplantoredeemmanandtorestorehisaccess to the “Garden,” which will find its ultimate fulfillment in the futureKingdomofGod.

Uganda is an example of what can happen when an entire nation istransformedbytheSpiritofGod.UnderthebrutaldictatorshipsofMiltonOboteand Idi Amin, the nation suffered unimaginable pain, as thousands of men,women, and children were savagely killed. For years, no westerners dared totravel to this country because of the darkness and danger. But on our trip toUganda a few years ago, we saw a completely different nation. There wasstability,optimism,andanoticeablevibrancyinthepeople.Throngsofstudentsinuniformswereeverywhere,walking safely to theirvarious schools;vendorswere selling their goods in roadside stands andmarket squares, and the storesweredoingabriskbusiness.Therewasanimatedconversationand laughteronstreets and in neighborhoods throughout the capital of Kampala. Churches alloverUgandawerefulleverySunday,someofthemseveraltimesduringtheday.Infact,theaverage-sizechurchinUgandahasaround700peopleinattendance

(bycomparison,theaverage-sizechurchintheU.S.hasabout70).What caused this transformation? As related by some of the pastors, the

peoplebegancryingout toGod indesperation.Manywouldspendentiredaysandnights,hidinginthejungle,prayingwithdeepgroaningandtearsforGodtodelivertheircountry.Therehavebeensomanymiraclesinthewakeofthiswindof the Spirit that they have been impossible to track, including hundreds ofdocumentedhealingsfromAIDS.1EventheAnglicanChurch,whichisseveraltimes larger than its counterpart in the U.S., the Episcopal Church, has seenmany healings andmiracles, alongwith the proliferation of other gifts of theHolySpirit.

EXPECTTHE“IMPOSSIBLE”

ThestoryofUgandaisonlyoneofmanyexamplesthatcouldbepresentedasevidencethattheHolySpiritcantransformcitiesandevenentirenations.ButbeyondthehistoricalevidenceisthepowerfultestimonyofEphesians3:20-21:

NowtoHimwhoisabletodoimmeasurablymorethanallweaskorimagine,accordingtoHispowerthatisatworkwithinus,toHimbeglory in the churchand inChrist Jesus throughoutall generations,foreverandever!Amen.

Ourimaginationsanddreamsofrevival,nationalrenewal,andaworldwideharvest can sometimes seem fanciful and exaggerated, but here Paul isprofoundlyclearthatevenourmostambitiouslongingsanddesiresarenomatchforGod’spower!Heisalwaysabletodomorethananythingwecanimagine.AndHedoesitthroughthepowerofHisSpiritthatisatworkinus!

Jesussooftenchallenged,invited,andencouragedHisfollowerstoattemptwhatseemedhumanlyimpossible(likewalkingonwaterorcastingoutthemoststubborndemons).Buteven ifHehadnever saidordoneanyof those things,thisverse,allbyitself,shouldbesufficientencouragementforustoexpecttheimpossible.Ifwecantrulycometogripswiththeimplicationsofthisscripture,thetransformationofourchurches,cities,andnationswouldbepatentlywithinour reach.Read it over and over, slowly, and let its truth sink deep into yourheart. God is able to do immeasurably more than anything you can ask orimagine!

OnafatefulSundaymorningin1988,ourservicetookanunusualturnwhenseveral soberingpropheticwordswere shared. Iknew thepeoplegiving them,

andtheyweren’tflakes,soIfeltsomethingwasup.Ourchurchwasaboutfiveyearsoldat the time,andwehad justcrossed the100barrier,but,as I sharedwith a close friend, I feltGodwas about to change some things andwewereabouttolosesomepeople.

Withina fewweeks, IhadasternphoneconversationwithawomanIhadmistakenly given too much freedom and authority to, and things started tounravel.Shesharedwithherlargehomegroupthatshewasleaving,andbecauseshehadtakenontheroleofspiritualmother,theyalldecidedtoleavewithher.

Itwouldhavebeenhardenoughtoseeallthosefamiliesleave,butbecausesomeofthemhadothercloserelationshipsinthechurch(asisnormalforsmallchurches),bythetimethesmokehadclearedoverthenextfewmonths,wehadbeen gutted! Within less than a year, we were down from just over 100 inSundayattendancetoaround50.Butitdidn’tendthere.Maybebecauseit justwasn’tafunplacetobeanymoreormaybebecauseIhadsunkintodepressionafter the wind had been taken out of my sails, some of the more solidlycommitted also began to find other churches.At the bitter end of the exodus,around a year later, we had settled in at around 25 people—adults and kids.Someofthosepeopleareamongourclosestfriendstothisday—goingthroughhelltogetherwilldothattoyou.

Ihadto,onceagain,findasecularjob,andforseveralweeks,Iwouldsitinmycaratlunchtime,cryingandbeggingGodtohelpmegrowthechurchagain.ButGod is never in the same hurry aswe are, andHe took threemore yearsbefore things turned around. During those years, God was changing me(rememberthepropheticwordsaboutacomingchange?Ishouldhaveguessedthatmostofthatchangingwouldbeinme!).Thosethreeorfouryearswerethemostdifficultyearsofmylife.Duringthattime,mywife,Jane,sufferedatubalpregnancy and we lost that baby. Not long afterward, our beloved worshipleader’swifediedaslowandbrutaldeathfromleukemia,whichhaddecidedtoreturnaftereightyearsofremission.

Rightnowyoumaybethinking,“Thisisdepressing;Ishouldhaveskippedthis chapter,” but stay withme, it gets better. One night I came back from ameetingandsharedwithJanethatIthoughtGodhadsaiditwastimetoclosethechurch. We cried and cried like we were saying good-bye to someone thedoctorshad justgivenupon, andwedecided therewasnothing left todobutmakethe“funeralarrangements.”Butthenextday,IfeltGodwastellingmeitwasnotafinaldeath,butmorelikewhathappenedwhenAbrahamhaddecidedtosacrificeIsaac.Ididn’tknowforsureifIhadheardGod,butIdidknowthatIdidn’thaveanystrengthormotivationoranounceofcreativityleftinme.Isaid,

“Okay,we’llcontinuetomeettogetheronSundays.We’llworship,I’llpreach,andwe’llgohome.”Andthat’sexactlywhatwedid.Wedidnothingelse,didnothingdifferently,but Ihademotionally letgoof thechurch.Thedepressingheaviness I had labored under for the past four years was gone, and all of asuddenpeoplestartedshowingup.

Peoplearen’tnormallyattractedtoachurchof25people,unlessit’sanewchurch,whichalwayscarriesacertaindegreeofexcitementandadventure.Butthiswasnotanewchurch.ItwasachurchthathadbeenintheICUforthepastfour years andhadnothingnewor exciting to offer.Butwithinweeks of thatdecision to bury the church, there were 40, then 60, then 75 showing up onSundays.Thenwemoved into a new facility and continued togrow.Lifehadreturned towhat had looked like a corpse, like E.T.’s little red heart vaguelyvisiblethroughtheplasticwheneveryonethoughthewasdead.

InowknowwhatitmeanstoseeJesusbuildHisChurch.Ialmostfeltlikeaspectator, as I watched Him bring and enfold people into our little group ofmotleybelievers.That experience changedme. I now love theChurch. I havediscovered that the Church is more than just the sum of its members—it’s aliving,breathingbeingthatismoreprecioustoJesusthanwecanimagine.Ithasalifeofitsown;it’sHisbride!

I’vealsodiscoveredthatinthemostbarren,hopelessdesertoflife,theRivercan change everything and bring new life where there was only defeat,depression, and death. TheHoly Spirit, the life-giving River, can transform abarrenwastelandintoagarden.

Are you in the midst of an impossible situation? Are you a mom or dadwhosekidisoutofcontrolandonapathofself-destruction?Areyoufacingafinancialnightmarewithnoendinsight?Haveyouheardalife-endingprognosisfromarespecteddoctor?Isyourmarriageontheropeswithnosolutiononthehorizon?Areyouapastorwhohasgrowntiredandreadytogiveupthefight?Thenhearthis:OurGodisagoodGodandHeisfirmlyincontrol.Helovesyoumorethanyoucancomprehend!HealwayscaresaboutHiskids,andHealwayshears when they cry out to Him. He can turn back all the powers of hellmobilizedagainstyou,Hecan turn thedesert intoagarden,andHecanmakebananasgrowinAlaska!

ENDNOTE

1.Reportedinthevideo“Transformations,”bytheSentinelGroup.

Chapter5

SPIRITUALPHENOMENA

“Truerevivalhascommonlybeenopposedbecauseitcamedressedoutlandishly,awildanduncouthinvader.”—JohnWhite

WHENWETALKABOUT“SPIRITUALPhenomena,”wearesimplyreferringtothosecurious things that happen in a Holy Spirit-saturated environment, such aspeoplefallingtotheground(whatispopularlyreferredtoasbeing“slainintheSpirit”), laughing uncontrollably, trembling, shaking, crying, feeling heat onvariouspartsoftheirbodies,andahostofotherunusualmanifestations.

Arethesethingsevenworthdiscussing?Dotheyreallymatter?Myanswertobothofthesequestionsis“NoandYes.”“No,”becausenoneofthesethingsarewhat Iwould call “of first-order importance.”That is, they simply arenotissuesthatweshouldfocuson,callattentionto,engageindebateover,orlosesleepover.Whetherornotanyofthesethingsarevalidorinvalidshouldnotbea front-burner issue for serious bible scholars, theologians, pastors, leaders, orlay-people. None of the things mentioned above necessarily make a person abetter disciple, a better person, a better friend, a better husband or wife, or abetterchurchleader.

Having said that,my other answer is “Yes,” because they always seem tocreateastir,arousecuriosity,bringaboutconfusionorevendivision,butattheveryleastcallforexplanation.ManywhohaveexperiencedthosethingstestifythattheyhavesensedGod’spresenceinanewanddeeperway,orhavereceivednew insight or revelation into some important issue in their lives or intoscripture,orhavefelttheirfaithmoregroundedthanever.TheytestifythatGodnowseemsmorerealtothem,theyloveJesusmorethanever,andhaveanew

appreciationforthePersonoftheHolySpirit.OftentheyclaimtohaveafreshloveforGod’swordandanewmotivation toprayor toengage inministryofsomekind.

Whateveryourparticularbias is toward these spiritualmanifestations, theydon’t seem tobegoingaway, so it’sprobablyhelpful todiscuss them. I’ll tellyouupfrontthatmypersonalbiasistobeprettyopentothesethings,probablybecauseofmyearlyPentecostalupbringing,butalsobecause I’veexperiencedsomeofthesephenomenaenoughtimestoconvincemethattheyareoftenvalidexperiencesof theHolySpirit’spower.Havingsaid that, thesamePentecostalexposure,alongwithanM.A. in theologyfromFullerSeminary,hasmademeleerytoassumeeverythingdoneinthenameofGodisactuallyfromGod.Paulwas truly inspired by the Holy Spirit, when he wrote, in First Thessalonians5:19-20,“DonotputouttheSpirit’sfire…testeverything.”Ifchurchleaderscanmaintainthatcrucialbalance,wemaybeabletoenjoyalong-lastingandhealthyrevivalintheyearstocome.

Atthispoint, ifyouleantowardbeingskepticalofanykindofphenomenaliketheoneswe’rediscussing,youmightsay,“Iwon’tputouttheSpirit’sfire,but I’mnot convinced these things are even from theSpirit.”And youwouldhave a legitimate concern. To begin with, our starting point in any kind ofdiscussionaboutspiritualphenomenamustbescripture.Butbeprepared—whenwebegintosearchthebible,we’regoingtofindanabundanceofevidenceforstrangespiritualphenomena,beginningwiththeministryofJesus.

I’mremindedofwhatapastornamedJohnWimbersaidtosomeconcernedwomen who confronted him one Sunday, after the Holy Spirit had moveddramaticallyinhischurch,CalvaryChapelofYorbaLinda(beforeitbecametheVineyard).Theywalked up to him and demanded, “Just how far is all of thisgoingtogo?”Hehappenedtobecarryinghisbible,sohehelditupandreplied,“No farther than thisbook!”Theyseemed reassuredand left satisfiedwithhisanswer.ButasJohnwalkedaway,hethought tohimself,“Havetheyread thisbook?Dotheyknowwhat’sreallyinhere?!”

Johnknew,asanyonetrulyfamiliarwith thebibleknows, that thisbookisfullofstrangethings!First,therearethemanyOldTestamentaccounts,suchasfoodfallingfromthesky(manna,inExodus16),Elijahstretchinghimselfuponthewidow’sdeadson(IIKings4),thetalkingdonkeyandBalaamtalkingbackto him! (Num. 22), and enough dreams, visions, and miracles to leaveconservativechurchladiesinshock!

There are also dozens of strange phenomena in the New Testament,

beginningwiththeministryofJesus.EveryonehasheardaboutJesuswalkingonthe water and then inviting Peter to do the same (see Matt. 14). On anotheroccasion,whenamanwhowasdeafandcouldhardlytalkwasbroughttoHim,JesusputHisfingersintheman’searsandputspitontheman’stongue(Mark7)!Intheverynextchapter,Jesushealedablindmanbyspittingonhiseyes—howwouldthatgooverinyourchurch?!

The book ofActs is filledwith accounts of people speaking in tongues orprophesying,alongwithdramatichealings,miracles,andpeoplebeingdeliveredfromdemons. Inchapter5,AnaniasandSapphiraarestruckdeadfor lying. Inthesamechapter,peoplebroughtthesickintothestreetssothatPeter’sshadowmightfallonsomeofthemashepassedby,andtheywerehealed!AsStephenwaspreachingtotheSanhedrin,inActs7:55,wearetoldthat“Stephen,fullofthe Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and JesusstandingattherighthandofGod.”Inchapter8,Philipbaptizedtheeunuchandwasimmediatelytransportedtoanothertown!

Wecouldlistdozensmoreexamplesofstrangephenomenainthebibleandthroughout church history, but you get the point: Just because something isstrange does not necessarily mean it’s not from God. On the other hand, weshould not glorify strangeness. Some believers have an unhealthy fascinationwith strange phenomena, as if the strangeness somehow makes those thingsmorespiritual.

Wealsoneedtostressthatsomeofthesethingsareoftendifficulttoexplain,because people react differently when acted upon by the Holy Spirit. WhensomeonebeginstremblingorshakingorfallsdowninthepresenceoftheSpirit,or feels heat on a part of their body, it is simply their body reacting to thepresence of God. The difference in responses from person to person cansometimesbeexplainedintermsofdifferenttemperaments,differentemotionalconditions, theological conditioning, or even crowd dynamics. But we shouldunderstand that in almost every revival, when the Holy Spirit comes uponpeople,strangethings(evenoffensivethings)oftenhappen.

IhavesometimesthoughtitwouldbeniceiftheHolySpiritcouldjustmovein great power and bring a nation-transforming revival, without any of themesses and controversy that so often seem to accompany revival. But I nowbelievethatisanunrealisticwish,becausewhereveryouhaverevival,therewillalwaysbeadegreeofmessiness.It’sneverjustGod.It’salwaysGodinpeople.

ThelateAnglicanpriestandauthor,DavidWatson,toldhowtheLordhelpedhimunderstandthis.Herelatedhow,oneafternoon,whenhewasinhisstudy,

the roombecame stuffy, so he opened awindow.Apleasant breeze filled theroom, bringing a refreshing change in the air. But suddenly his papers beganblowingaroundandfallingallover thefloor.Nowhehadadecision tomake:Shouldheclosethewindowandlettheroomgetstuffyagain,sohecouldhaveallhispapersinorder,orshouldhejust leavethewindowopenandfindsomeweightstoholdthepilesinplace?Hechosetoleavethewindowopenanddealwiththebreezethebesthecould.

That’s exactly what it’s like when we invite the Holy Spirit. He brings arefreshingbreezethatcarrieswithitnewlife,greatjoy,arenewalofpassionforJesus, and a wonderful sense of anticipation. But it also creates somecomplications,unexpectedreactions,theologicalchallenges,somediscomfortaswe give up a measure of control, and even some strange phenomena. Thequestioneachofusneedstowrestlewithis:HowdesperateamIforagenuinemoveoftheHolySpirit?AmIwillingtoputupwithwhateverdiscomfortandcontroversy comes with the package in order to see true revival? Remember,once youopen thewindow, all bets are off, because theSpirit is theWindofGod,and“theWindblowswhereveritpleases”(seeJohn3:8).

Nowlet’stakealookatsomeofthesephenomena.

FALLINGUNDERTHEPOWEROFTHESPIRIT(BEING“SLAININTHESPIRIT”)

Idon’tknowwhocameupwiththeterm,“slainintheSpirit,”butI’veneverbeencomfortablewith it.However, the termhasgainedsomuch tractionovertheyears that to introduceanewphrasewouldprobably justcreateconfusion,so,forpurposesofthisbook,I’ve(reluctantly)chosentostickwithit.

MyfriendJohnisanengineerandteachesphysicsatauniversitynearby.Heishighlyanalyticalandskepticalofanythinghecan’tunderstand.HelovestheLord, but he will not fall down, nomatter howmany people around him arefalling,ifhedoesn’twantto.Johnsharedwithmethatafewyearsago,heandhis wife, along with another couple, decided to visit a church in SouthernCaliforniaknownfor renewalphenomena,because theyhadheardof theguestspeaker.At theendof themessage,when theopportunitywasgiven for thosewantingprayer,allfourofthemwentforward,alongwithabout80otherpeople.Within minutes, his friend was on the floor, then his friend’s wife, and thenJohn’swife.ButstillJohnstoodthere.Hesayshewasbeingblessedasateam

prayedforhim,butfeltnoinclinationtofall.Eventhespeakerpointedhimoutandsaid,“God’safterthatguy!”Johnisnoteasytomiss—he’sabout6’7”—somorepeoplegatheredaroundhimtopray,butstillJohnstood.Hewasn’ttryingtobedifficultorto“quenchtheSpirit.”Hejustdidn’tfeellikefallingdown,sohedidn’t.Itoldhimthatwascommendable,becausealotofpeoplewouldjustcaveintopeerpressureandfalldown,sohis“stand”reflectedintegrity.

ButJohnalsorelatedtomeanotherexperienceyearsearlier,justweeksafterhe receivedJesus.Hehadgonewithhis friends toachurch toheara speaker,andafterwardthemancameuptoJohntopraywithhimforbursitisinhisleftknee.AsJohntellsit,theguygentlyputhishandonhisshoulderandbegantopray,andbeforeheknew it,hewason the floor,and lay there for some time.Whenhegotup,hefelthehadbeenhealedofthebursitis,butwasscheduledforsurgerythenextday.Hewenttohisappointment,butaskedthedoctortox-raythe knee, just to be sure, so the doctor consented. Sure enough—no bursitis!Johnhadbeenhealedthenightbefore.Nowsomemightsay,“Well,heprobablywouldhavebeenhealedevenifhedidn’tenduponthefloor.”Thatmaybe,butattheveryleast,being“slainintheSpirit”certainlydidn’tdoanyharm!

Anotherman,JohnRottman,graduatedfromCalvinCollegewithmajorsinGreek and philosophy, earned an MA from the University of St. Michael’sCollegeinearlyChristianhistory,anMDivfromCalvinTheologicalSeminary,andaThDinhomileticsfromEmmanuelCollegeoftheUniversityofToronto.PriortohisseminaryeducationheworkedforfiveyearsatapsychiatrichospitalinwesternMichigan.HewentontobecomeapastorintheChristianReformedChurch and adjunct faculty at Ontario Theological Seminary. Here is histestimony.

ItwasnotuntilDecemberin1995, twodaysbeforeChristmas, thatIwent to check out what was happening out at the Airport VineyardChurch.IhadalwaysbeenwaryofPentecostalChristianity,threatenedabit,skepticaltoo,notsupposingit tobesomethingthatsomeoneasemotionally stable as myself would find useful or edifying. As aReformedChristianwithacertainamountofcuriosity,Ididseesomevalueinobservingitfromafar.

Thewholeatmospherethateveningratherputmeoff.Ifoundmyselfgetting increasinglymorewary as people aroundme laughed for noapparent reason, jerkedas if in the throesof amild seizure,ormorerarely,staggereduptheaisleasiftheyweredrunk.

And yet certain features of the meeting also invited a positiveresponse. The preaching was orthodox, though not spectacular. Theofferingwasunderplayed.Andboththepeoplewholedandthosewhogave testimonies exuded a kind of unpolished genuineness, anauthenticity thatwas difficult to dismiss as overheated emotionalismor out-and-out charlatanry. They even gave an invitation to acceptJesusChristattheendofthesermoninclassicevangelicalstyle.

As I stood near the front in this sea of people, I couldn’t help butnotice thatmanypeople felloverbackwardswhenpeopleprayed forthem.“Well,thatisfineforthem,”Itoldmyself,“butIamnotthesortto fall over backwards just to humour some wellintendedminister.”Afterabitofawaitawomanstoodinfrontofme.SinceIwasdressedinjeansandrunningshoes,Iwasabitstartledtohaveherlookatmeandconfidentlysay,“Iblessuponyouthegiftsofpastorandteacher.”Luckyguess.

ShethenaskedmetoextendmyhandspalmsupandtoreceivewhatGodwantedtogiveassheprayed.SheplacedherhandsseveralinchesabovemineandbegantopraythattheHolySpiritwouldfillme,“likeNiagaraFalls.”Ithoughtthiswasabithokey,butitwasherprayer.Ifurtherresolvednottoplayoutthefallbackwardsscenario.

Butthenseveralminutesintoherprayer,Ifeltasortofelectriceffectlikeachillupmyspine.Andthenitwasas ifsomeonebeganto tugfirmly at my calf muscles. As my calf muscles involuntarilycontracted,Ifoughtfallingbackwards.Andthenmuchtomysurpriseandembarrassment I foundmyself lyingonmyback in frontof thisstrangechurch.Iwasfullyconsciousoftheoddnessofthisevent,andalsoawareofasortofwaveofpeacewashingoverme.Andwiththepeace came a sort of illumination, a sense that everything that IbelievedaboutthegospelofJesusChristwasnotmeretalk,butreallyreal.

AfterIhadlainthereforseveralmomentsthewomankneltbymeandaskedmeratherpointedlyaboutacertainaspectofoneofmypersonalrelationships.Shedirectedmetoprayaprayerofforgiveness,whichIdid.ShewentawayandafterafewminutesIgottomyfeetandwenttolookformyfriend.

In thedays that followed, I foundmyselfspirituallystrengthened inseveralways. I hadneverbeenespeciallyvaliant inmyprayer life.Prayer was like dieting, if I attended to it with great will power Icouldmaintain a regular prayer life. In themonths that followed, Ifound myself drawn into prayer in new and natural ways. Prayerbecamemorelikesailingandlesslikework.IalsofoundthatwhenIread the Bible, I often had the sense that my attention was beingdrawntoaparticularpartofthereadingandthatitwasintendedforme at that moment. Could it be God? Further, I found myselfstrengthenedinmyfightagainstanareaoftemptationinmylifethathad besetme formany years. I foundmyself enabled to fight andwoulddescribemyselfasfreed,inthatthegripthatitheldonmewassignificantlyalleviated,thoughnoteliminated.1

InChapter 2, I told the storyofKim,whoendedupon the floor after theHolySpirit cameuponher during one of our services.TheLord spoke to herduringthat“floortime,”andsheinitiatedthereconciliationwithhermom.Yearslater,hermotherwasinstantlyhealedofcancerwhileatCedarsSinaiHospitalinLosAngeles,andsomeyearsafterthatshereceivedJesus.AllofthatwonderfulfruitcanbetracedbacktotheHolySpiritworkinginKim’slifeduringhertimeonthefloor.

SHAKING,JERKING,WAILING

HereisthewitnessofCarolWimber:On Mother’s Day of 1981 we had a watershed experience thatlaunchedusintowhattodayiscalledpowerevangelism.AtthistimeJohn [Wimber] invited a young man who had been attending ourchurchtopreachonaSundayevening.Bynowwehadgrowntoover700 participants. The young man shared his testimony, which wasbeautiful and stirring, then asked for all the people under the age oftwenty-five to come forward.None of us had a clue as towhatwasgoing to happen.When they got to the front the speaker said, “Foryears now theHoly Spirit has been grieved by theChurch, but he’sgettingoverit.ComeHolySpirit.”

AndHecame.

Mostoftheseyoungpeoplehadgrownuparoundourhome—wehadfourchildrenbetweentheagesoffifteenandtwenty-one.Weknewtheyoungpeoplewell.Onefellow,Tim,startedbouncing.Hisarmsflungoutandhefellover,butoneofhishandsaccidentallyhitamicstandandhetookitdownwithhim.Hewastangledupinthecord,withthemic next to his mouth. Then he began speaking in tongues, so thesoundwentthroughoutthegymnasium[wheretheyweremeeting].Wehadneverconsideredourselvescharismatics, andcertainlyhadneverplaced emphasis on the gift of tongues.We had seen a few peopletrembleandfalloverbefore,andwehadseenmanyhealings.Butthiswas different. The majority of the young people [over 400] wereshakingandfallingover.Atonepointitlookedlikeabattlefieldscene,bodieseverywhere,peopleweeping,wailing,speakingintongues.AndTim in themiddleof it all babbling into themicrophone.Therewasmuchshoutingandloudbehavior!

Johnsatbyquietlyplaying thepianoandwideeyed.Membersofourstaffwere fearful and angry. Several people got up andwalked out,nevertobeseenagain—atleasttheywerenotseenbyus.

ButIknewthatGodwasvisitingus.Iwassothrilled,becauseIhadbeenprayingforpowerforsolong.ThismightnothavebeenthewayIwantedtoseeitcome,butthiswashowGodgaveittous…Iaskedoneboy,whowasonthefloor,“What’shappeningtoyourightnow?”Hesaid,“It’slikeelectricity.Ican’tmove.”IwasamazedbytheeffectofGod’spoweronthehumanbody.IsupposeIthoughtthatitwouldall be an inward work, such as conviction or repentance. I neverimaginedtherewouldbestrongphysicalmanifestations.

But Johnwasn’t as happy as I.Hehad never seen large numbers ofpeople sprawled out over the floor. He spent that night readingScripture and historical accounts of revival from the lives of peoplelikeWhitefieldandWesley.

…Buthisstudydidnotyieldconclusiveanswerstoquestionsraisedfromthepreviousevening’sevents.By5A.M.Johnwasdesperate.HecriedouttoGod,“Lord,ifthisisyou,pleasetellme.”Amomentlater the phone rang and a pastor friend of ours from Denver,Colorado,wasontheline.“John,”hesaid,“I’msorryI’mcallingyousoearly,butIhavesomethingreallystrangetotellyou.Idon’tknow

whatitmeans,butGodwantsmetosay,‘It’sMe,John.’”2

FEELINGHEAT

Overmany years ofministry experience, I have observed that very often,whenindividualsarebeingprayedfor(hands-on),theybegintofeelheat,eitheronaspecificpartoftheirbody,orsimplyhotallover.Wheninterviewingthemlater, we have found that there is often a connection between the heat andhealingoftheirbodies.Sonow,whenourteampraysforsomeone,theypausetoask,“What’shappening?”Ifthepersonindicatesthattheyfeelheat,theteamisencouragedtokeepprayingandtoasktheHolySpiritformorepower.

Thereisnothingnecessarilyspiritualormysticalabouttheheat.Webelieveit’ssimplythebody’sresponsetothepresenceofGod.I’mremindedofthetimeSaulwasinpursuitofDavidinFirstSamuel19.WhenSaulandhismenwereapproaching the place they heard David was supposedly hiding, the Spirit ofGodcameuponthemandtheyprophesied.Saul,however,wassoovercomebythepresenceofGodthathestrippedoffhisrobesandlaytherealldayandnight.It’sverylikelythathetookoffhisrobesbecausehewashot.

Thisstoryraisesanotherimportantpoint:JustbecausesomeoneexperiencessomespiritualphenomenondoesnotmeantheyareholyorespeciallypleasingtoGod. (Godhadalready rejectedSaul,andSaulwasonamission tokillDavidwhen he became overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit.) It simply means God ispresentinpower.ThisisgoodnewsformostofHischildren,butcouldbebadnewsforthoseinrebellion!

Therehavebeenmanybookswrittenonthesubjectofspiritualphenomena.Interestingly, I have hardly ever heard of or read a critic of these phenomenawhohasexperiencedanyof them.Thecriticsalmostconsistentlyarespeakingfroma lackof experience and from their personal theological bias.What theyhave sometimes claimed is serious research has been discredited as selective,shoddy, and unscientific when weighed against the facts.3 But almostuniversally, thosewho have had an encounterwith the Spirit ofGod that hasresulted in them falling, trembling, shaking, experiencing heat, or other suchphenomena, have testified that, indeed, it was God. And their numbers aregrowing so dramatically that it seemsmore andmore disingenuous to simplydismissthemas“flakes”ortheirexperiencesasinvalid.

LAUGHTER

In 1994, I traveled to Toronto, because I had heard that God was doingpowerful things in one of the local churches, called, at the time, the AirportVineyardChurch.Iwasnotdisappointed,asIsawdemonstrationsoftheSpirit’spower that surpassed anything I had ever seen before. But the most unusualpersonalexperiencehappenedinaMondaymorningprayermeetingwithabout20ofuspresent.

Whileotherswereprayingvariousprayers,Ibegantoseea“picture”(theoldshipImentionedintheIntroduction),accompaniedbyastrongimpressionaboutwhatitmeant.IstoodandsharedwhatIsawwiththegroup,withdeepemotion,but as soon as I sat down I felt a powerful eruption of joy coming up fromsomewhere inside of me. I immediately left for the restroom because I knewwhatwas coming—I had already seen it happen to other people over the lastcoupleofdays.AsIhurriedintothemen’sroom,Icameungluedwithlaughter!Ihowledandhowledas Ibouncedoff thewalls, to thepoint thatmystomachhurt.AndjustwhenIthoughtIwascomposed,hereitcameagain!Itfeltalittlelike when I was a kid and my brother had just told me a funny joke duringchurch,andIwasdoingmybesttocontrolmylaughter,butallwehadtodowaslookateachotherandIwouldhavetocovermymouthandbendoverinafutileattempttostiflemylaughter.

Ihadheardpeople talkingabout “holy laughter”before,but Ididn’tknowwhat to think about it, and for sure had never experienced it until that day inToronto.ButIcantellyounowthatIdidabsolutelynothingtobringinon;infactItriedtoexitthescenewhenitstarted.I’maprettylevel-headedguy,andpeoplewhohaveknownmeovertheyearswilltellyouthatI’veusuallyleanedtowardtheanalytical/scholarlyapproachtospiritualthings.ButasI’vereflectedon that experience, and the other similar experiences that have followed sincethen,I’veconcludedthatwhatGodisdoingisgivingusalittleforetasteofthejoythatwillbeoursinthecomingkingdom.NowIrealizewhywe’regoingtoneednewbodies.Thelove,peace,andjoyGodhasinstoreforussimplycannotbecontainedinthesepresentones!

MISTANDFIRE

Iremember,yearsago,hearingJackHayford,pastorofChurchontheWay

inVanNuys,California,describingthemistthathadmovedintothesanctuaryof his church.He talked about how,whenhe asked theLordwhat itwas, theLordansweredthatHehadchosenthechurchasadwellingplaceforHisSpirit.

ForthehundredsofthousandswhoattendedtheAzusaStreetrevivalinLosAngelesbetween1906and1910,thevisiblemistwasacommonoccurrence.Forthose three and a half years, one of the consistent features, according toeyewitnesses,was thevisiblepresenceofGod in the formof aheavymist. Infact,sometimesthemistwassothickthatyoungpeopleactuallyplayedhideandseekinit,andbabiessleepingunderthewoodenbenchesbreatheditin.Itwasinthat glorious environment that astounding miracles took place every day forthreeandahalfyears.4

Accordingtomanyeyewitnessreports,therewasalso,onseveraloccasions,fireabovethebuildingwheretheAzusaStreetserviceswereheld.Thefirewasvisible for several blocks, andmore thanonce the firedepartment showedup,butleftaftertheyascertainedtherewasnodanger.5

Manystudentsofscripturewill immediately remember thatsmokeandfirealso accompanied the presence of God onMount Sinai, when God met withMosesandgavehimthecommandments(Exod.19).Also,at thededicationofSolomon’stemple,thepresenceofGodmovedintothetempleintheformofacloud,sointensethatthepriestscouldnotperformtheirservice(IKings8:11).

It’sinterestingtonotethatWilliamSeymour,theleaderoftheAzusaStreetrevival,prophesiedthatGodwasgoingtosendanevengreaterrevivalinaboutahundredyears.6Itappearswemayberightontime!

ENDNOTES

1.JamesBeverly,RevivalWars(Ontario,Canada:EvangelicalResearchMinistries,1997),46-48.

2.CarolWimberinJohnWimberandKevinSpringer’sbook,RidingtheThirdWave(Basingstoke,Hants:MarshallPickering,1987),45-46,quotedinDonWilliams,Signs,WondersandtheKingdomofGod(VineBooks,1989),89-91.

3.Beverly,RevivalWars.Oneofthebetter-knowncriticsofthephenomenadiscussedinthischapterisHankHanegraff,authorofCounterfeitRevival.JamesBeverlywroteRevivalWarspartlyasacritiqueofHanegraff’s

book.Inhisintroduction,BeverlysaysheandHankHanegraffarefriends,andthatheencouragedhiminhiswritingofCounterfeitRevival.However,herelateshisdisappointmentinHanegraff’sfinalproduct:“Tomydismay,whenIreceivedanadvancecopy,itwasobviousthatHanegraff’sworkwasmuchinferiortowhatIwouldhavepredicted.Isawimmediatelythatmuchofhisresearchwasoutdatedandthatlargeportionsofhisanalysiswererootedinfaultylogic,selectiveuseofevidenceandaninexplicablefailuretoexaminedatathatwascontrarytohisownposition”(pp.7-8).Beverlythengoesontogiveexhaustiveevidenceforthenext90pages.

4.Dr.J.EdwardMorrisandCindyMcCowan,TheyToldMeTheirStories(DaretoDreamBooks,2010),21-23,49-50,90.

5.Ibid,37,101.6.Ibid,102.

Chapter6

IT’SNOTALLGOD!

“Testeverything.Holdontothegood.”IThessalonians5:21

UP TO THIS POINT, I’VE been talking about things that are dear tomy heart andenjoyable to write about—the wind of the Spirit in our sails, the wonderfulpersonalityof theSpiritandHiseffectsuponus,and theexcitingchallengeofdoing theworksofJesus,etc.However, thisbook isnotonlyabout theWind;it’salsoabouttherudder,becausenomatterhowwonderfulitiswhenthewindof the Spirit blows, without a rudder we can easily end up on the rocks ofburnout,devastation,orerror.

TESTEVERYTHING

IfwearecommittedtomaintainingintegritywhilefollowingtheSpirit,itisessential that we learn to discern what is genuinely fromGod versus what ismerelytheproductofourimaginationsoremotions.TheministryoftheSpiritissubjectivebynatureandthereforeneedsdiscernment,testing,andconfirmation.Thefactis,peoplesometimesmakemistakes.Thesamescripturethatsays,“DonotputouttheSpirit’sfire;anddonottreatprophesieswithcontempt,”exhortsusto“testeverything”(IThess.5:19-21).TheHolySpiritisnevertheproblem;theproblemarisesbecausetheSpiritresidesinpeople!

Sometimeback,mywifeJaneandIhadlunchwithRickandPamWright,ourdearfriends,inPasadena,California.Afterlunchwewalkedtotheparkinglot,and,astheyhavesoeffectivelydonemanytimes,theybegantosharewith

us what they felt the Lord had to say to us. But as soon as he sensed hispropheticgiftstirring,Ricksaid,“Holdonaminute,”andwalkedtohiscar togethisrecorder.RickandPamhadlearnedtobeaccountableforeverypersonalprophecytheygiveby taping themselvesandgivingacopyto thehearer.Thispracticenotonlyhelpsthepersonreceivingthemessagetohavearecordtoreferbackto,butitalsoprotectsthepersongivingthemessagefrombeingmisquotedormisinterpreted.

Twoyearsago,ItraveledtoCorona,California,tomeetwithamanwhohadministered deeply to a number of us years earlier.Ken is a pastor, but is alsohighly gifted prophetically. He and his associate ministered to me throughprophecyformorethan30minutes,whiletheyrecordedeverything.ThentheyburnedittoaCDandgaveittome.Overthepasttwoyears,mywifeandIhavelistenedto thatCDmanytimes,andcontinue tobeencouragedandblessedbythose wonderful words given by the Spirit. It has also given us the safety ofbeingabletotestthatmessageovertime.

THERUDDEROFTHECHURCH

UnliketheOldTestament,whentherewereonlyoneortwoprophetsforthenation, in the New Testament gifts such as prophecy have been dispersedbroadly to the Church, and we each only get a part of the package. God haspurposelydesignedit thatway,so thatwewoulddependoneachotherfor thefullexpressionofHisrevelations.ItwasPaul,who,inFirstCorinthians13,said,“weprophesy inpart…”Thenhewenton inchapter14 toemphasize the factthat everymember of theBody needs every othermember. It takes all of thepartstocompletethepicture.

Theconceptofthelonerangerisunbiblical.InHebrews10:25,forexample,the author strongly exhorts us to not give up on meeting together with otherbelievers,buttokeepencouragingoneanother.Itisoneofmany“one-another”scriptures,whichemphasizetheimportanceofmaintaininghealthyrelationshipswith a group of Christians. Prophecy, along with all of the other gifts of theSpirit,ishighlydesirable,butshouldbetested,sostayconnected!

After I hadmydramatic encounterwithGod atMissionValleyChurch inFremont, California, in the summer of 1971, I set off for bible college inOklahomaCity.Iwas“onfire”withpassionforGod,butIalsorealizedtheneedfor preparation before embarking on serious ministry. I was doing well and

enjoying my classes, but about halfway into the first quarter we had a guestspeakerwhofannedmyflamesforevangelism.IdecidedtoquitschoolandgobacktoCaliforniatogetonwiththe“realbusiness”of“winningsouls.”Isharedmyheartfeltpassionwithsomeofmyfriendsandtwoofmyteachers,whoallfeltIwasmakingamistake.Ontheiradvice,Idecidedtogiveitafewdays,and,aftertheinitialeuphoriafaded,IdecidedIstillhadafewthingstolearn!

There is great value in getting confirmation of our impressions fromothermaturebelievers.Proverbs11:14says,“…intheabundanceofcounselorsthereis victory” (NASB). I know of far toomany believerswho thoughtGodwasleading them in a direction and took action based on their own impressionswithout going tomoremature believers or church leaders for their input, andtheyendedupmakingcostlymistakes.

One of the most valuable resources we have for providing stability andhealthaswepursuetheexcitingbutsubjectiveworldoftheSpiritistheBodyofChrist.Thisbecomesespeciallyimportantwhendevelopingspiritualgifts,suchas prophecy, orwhen learning to interpret dreams, visions, inner impressions,etc.Itiswhenindividualsfunctionwithoutaccountability,orarenotgroundedinhealthyfellowshipwithagroupofChristians,thattheybecome“loosecannons,”andvulnerabletoerroneousguidance.

We experienced this firsthand a few years ago, when considering anexpansion of our facility.We lease space in a large commercial building, andwhenamajortenantmovedoutnextdoor,Ididawalk-throughoftheirspace.Icould immediatelyseehowthismovecouldbenefitourchurch,andI feltGodwas leading us to expand, but there was the matter of finances (not anuncommonissueforchurches leasingcommercialspace inCalifornia). I foundout what the build-out for the new auditorium would cost and arranged ameetingofourleadershipteaminthenewspace.Aftergivingthemthetour,wesatdowninoneoftheroomsanddecidedtocommitthemattertoGodinprayer.Wehadbeenlearningabout“listeningprayer,”andafterourprayertimeoneoftheladiessaid,“Ikeepgettingtheword,‘wait.’”ThiswasnotthewordIwantedtohear,andshecouldtell.Shewentontosay,“I’mnotsayingtheLordmeanstowait a long time; it could just be aweek or two. I don’t know, I just keephearing‘wait.’”Severaloftheothersagreed,sowetalkedabouthowtoproceed.

Therewasanotherpartywhohadapproachedthebuildingownerabout thefacility, so naturally I felt a little nervous and impatient; I didn’t want thisopportunitytobesnatchedoutfromunderus.Butwedidfeelthatweneededtotrust God in thematter, so we decided to wait at least a week or two beforemaking a firm decision, and in the meantime we would let the church know

about the opportunity. This would allow us more time to sift through ourimpressions,weighprosandcons,andtoseeif thefinanceswouldbethere,atleasttoalargeenoughdegreetomakeuscomfortablemovingforward.

The following Sunday, right after worship, I shared the matter with thecongregationandweadjournedtothevacantareaforatour.Wehadlabeledtheroomsandofficesandexplainedhowthenewauditoriumwouldbeconfigured.Thenwe simply asked them topray andaskGodhowmuch they shouldgivetoward thisproject, and told themwewould receive anoffering the followingSunday.

The followingFriday, two days before theSundaywewere to receive theoffering,mywifeand Ihadanappointmentwithawoman inourchurch.Shehadbeenthroughadivorcebeforecomingtoourchurch,andtwoyearspriorherteenagesonhadbeenkilledinafreakpole-vaultingaccidentatschool.Bythistimeshehaddecideditwastimetogetonwithherlife,andweassumedshejustwantedustocounselherregardinganewrelationshipshehadbeenconsidering.

Shortlyafterweallsatdownintherestaurant,shebegansharingwithusthebittersweet news that her ex-husband had justwon a legal settlement over thefatalaccidentandthatshewantedtotitheonhershare.Sheaskedthatpartofthemoneybeusedtosetupamemorialfundfortheyouthgroup,inherson’sname,butsaidthatwecouldusetherestinanywaywesawfit.Thispartalonecametomostoftheamountrequiredforthebuild-outwewerecontemplating!

MywifeandIwereaghast,buttriedtosubdueourexcitement.Isaidtoher,“Thisisamazingtiming!Youknowaboutthebuild-outprojectWe’veaskedthechurchtoprayabout,right?”Shesaid,“No,whatproject?”Shehadn’tbeenatchurchthepreviousSundayanddidn’tevenknowaboutthewholeexpansionwehad been considering, butGod had arranged everything to coincide perfectly!Armedwiththisgreatnews,theleadersnowfeltexcitedaboutmovingforward,and I was so glad I had followed their advice to wait.When we submit ourimpressionstoothermaturebelievers,thingsalmostalwaysworkoutbetter.

IcouldtalkaboutmanyotherinstanceswhereIthoughtGodhadspokentome,someofwhichturnedouttobejustmyownthoughtsordesires,orothersthatwereconfirmedlatertoindeedhavebeenfromGod.ButinallcaseswhereIturned to a group ofmatureChristians for confirmation and further guidance,Godblessedmyactionsandprotectedmefromdecisionsthatwouldhavebeencounterproductive.AsProverbs11:14says,“Inthemultitudeofcounselorsthereiswisdom”(AMP).

InActs13:1-3,agroupofleadersinthechurchgatheredtogetherforatime

of fasting and prayer, during which the Holy Spirit gave specific instructionsaboutsendingPaul(thencalled“Saul”)andBarnabasontheirfirstmission.Weare not told how this message came, but most likely through a message ofprophecy by one of them. Even then, they continued fasting and praying(probablytoestablishwithcertaintythatitreallywastheLordwhohadspoken),afterwhichPaulandBarnabaswerecommissioned.Intheirminds,therewasnodoubtthatthisprophetic“word”wasfromGod.Lukewrites,“Thetwoofthem,sentontheirwaybytheHolySpirit…”(emphasismine).Hereismodeledforus,superbly, the value and strength of the church community when we areattemptingtohearfromGod.

Theseexamplesshowhowimportant it is for individualsseeking to followthe Spirit not to become independent, but to bewell-grounded in relationshipwithagroupofmatureChristians.Butitisequallyimportantforentirechurches,andevenchurchmovements,tomaintainasenseofcommunityandpartnershipwith the largerBodyofChrist.Whenweonly read thebooksormagazinesofour denomination or movement, when we only attend their conferences andseminars,andlistenonlytotheirspeakers,werobourselvesofagreatwealthofwisdomandstrengththeHolySpirithasdepositedinotherpartsofthechurch.

Ihavediscoveredgreatvalueinthediversityofgiftsandteachingsscatteredthroughout the largerChurch,andIbelieve Iamabettermanforhavingbeeninfluencedbymanybrothersandsistersfromtraditionsdifferentfrommyown.Withoutthevarietyofthesetruthsbeingspokenintoourlives,Ibelieveweruntheriskofdenominationalerrorandelitism.TheBrideofChristisbeautifulinherentirety!Let’snotlimitthecommandto“loveoneanother”toonlythoseofourparticulartribe.

THERUDDEROFSCRIPTURE

Themost important piece of the “rudder” that will keep us headed in therightdirectionaswepursueaSpirit-empoweredlifeisahighviewofscripture.AgoodknowledgeofGod’swordistheveryfoundationforlifeandministry.InourpassionatedesiretohearGod’svoice,weneedtoberemindedthatGodhasalready spoken abundantly over centuries through His prophets, His apostles,andHisSon,andthattheseprofoundlypowerfultruthshavebeenwrittendownforourbenefit.Anycontemporarypropheciesor“words”fromGodhavetofirstbe consistent with God’s previous prophecies, teachings, or revelations inscripture.Verysimply,GodwillnotcontradictHimself.

Someofmymostmemorable timesofGod’sdealingswithmepersonally,and many of my most powerful revelations from the Holy Spirit, have comeduringthoseintimatetimesofprayerfulreflectiononGod’sword.Thesamewastrueofmen like JohnWesley,CharlesFinney, JonathanEdwards, theApostlePaul, and others—men who lived and ministered in the Spirit’s power. Thewritten word of God is our most valuable resource and a treasure-filledstorehouseofknowledge,wisdom,andpower.ItisthebookoftheSpirit,anditspages are filledwith life.Aswe pursue the Spirit-empowered life, let’smakesure we simultaneously develop a heart hungry for God’s word. The AuthorlovesHisbookandishonoredandpleasedwhenwedoalso.

In Second Timothy 2:15, Paul exhorted Timothy to make every effort tocorrectlyunderstandandteachtheword.Time,effort,anddiligencearerequiredtoproperlyinterprettheancientscriptures,butitisadisciplinethatisrewardedrichly.Proverbs25:2says,“ItisthegloryofGodtoconcealamatter;tosearchoutamatteristhegloryofkings.”ManyofGod’sgreatesttreasuresinscriptureare“hidden,”inasense,andrequireaseekinganddeterminedhearttouncover.Butwearetoldthatthisnoblesearchisakinglypursuitandthatoureffortswillcertainlyberewarded.

DuringtheJesusMovementinthe1970’s,IwasattendingFullerSeminaryinPasadena,California.OneFridaynight,Idecidedtodrivedowntoachurchservice at Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa, which was the hub of the JesusMovementinSouthernCaliforniaatthetime.IwasamazedatwhatIfound.

IhadheardandreadmanyreportsabouttheyouthrevivalthatwassweepingCalifornia and about thousands beingbaptized in the ocean andbeing set freefrom drugs and selfdestructive lifestyles. What I hadn’t counted on were thecrowds of long-haired young people swarming into the church carrying well-wornbibles.Inmyyearsasapastor’skidandthenasapastor,Iwasnotusedtoseeing so many bibles in such terrible shape! These people were obviouslyseriousabout reading thebible. Ihavediscoveredsince then, thatmanyof thehistoricrevivals,includingthosedocumentedasfarbackastheOldTestament,includedarenewedhungerforGod’swrittenword.

Veryoften,revivalsofindividualpeoplealsobeginwithagrowingdesireforGod’s word, and these personal revivals are continually fueled by the word.WhenGodbegandrawingmebacktoHimselfin1971,afterafour-yearperiodof rebellion, one of the first signs that something was changing was that Isuddenlyfoundmyselfbeingdrawntothebible.Then,aftermygreatencounterwithGodthatsummer, Ibegantakingmypaperback“GoodNewsforModernMan”versionofthebibletowork,andIlookedforwardeverydaytolunchtime,

notonlyforthebreak,butmostlybecauseIwouldbeabletoreadmybible.TheSpiritwasatworkinme,andHewasdrivingmetoHisword.

NickyGumbel, founder of the famousAlpha course, relates howa similarthinghappenedtohimatthebeginningofhisownspiritualpilgrimage.Hewasalaw student and had a very skepticalmind, but had become curious about theChristianfaith.Someonehadsuggestedthathetryreadingthebible,sohewenthome that night and read throughall fourgospels.Thenext dayhepickedupwherehe’dleftoffandkeptreading…Acts,Romans,bothbooksofCorinthians,Galatians, Ephesians…then the following day continued reading until he hadfinished reading the entire New Testament! At the end of his reading, heexclaimed,“It’salltrue!”TheSpirithaddoneHisworkthroughHisword.

Oneof the thingswecanexpect toseeas theHolySpiritstirsanewin theWestern world is a renewed passion for the bible, especially among youngpeople.And this is somethingweought tobeproactivelypraying for,becausenotonlyishungerforthebibleasignoftheSpirit’spresence,butitcanprovideboththesparkandthefuelforahealthyandsustainedspiritualawakening.

Chapter7

SPIRITUALTOOLS

“Nowaboutspiritualgifts,brothers,Idonotwantyoutobeignorant.”ICorinthians12:1

THETHREEPRIMARYCHAPTERSINtheNewTestamentthattalkaboutgiftsGodhasgiventothechurchareRomans12,FirstCorinthians12,andEphesians4.Myunderstandingisthatthesethreepassagesdescribethreecategoriesofgiftsthataredistinctinnaturefromeachother.Iwillattempttogiveasummaryofthesepassages and what I believe God’s intent was in each of them, but mymainfocusinthischapterisonthegiftslistedinFirstCorinthians12:8-10,becauseitis those gifts that are attributed specifically to theHoly Spirit.As I do this, Irealize that there may be disagreement from some who have a differentunderstandingofspiritualgifts,but,again,theintentofthischapterisnottogiveacomprehensivediscussionofallof thegiftsGodhasgiven.Thatwould takevolumes,andtherearemanybookswrittenonthesubjectbyauthorsofdifferenttheologicalpersuasions.

I am choosing to focus on the gifts in First Corinthians 12:8-10 for thefollowingreasons:(1)ItismyconvictionthatthesegiftsareavailabletoeverybelieverinChrist(unlikemanyofthegiftsdiscussedintheotherpassages,suchas apostle, pastor, administrator, etc.), yet it is equally clear to me that thesepowerful gifts, or “tools” are vastly underutilized. (2)Most people have littledifficulty in understanding the designations of “pastor,” “evangelist,”“leadership,”“administration,”“giving,”or“serving,”forexample,butthereisagreatlackofunderstandingofthegiftslistedintheFirstCorinthians12passagewe will be discussing. (3) Understanding these Spirit-given tools can vastly

increaseyoureffectivenessasaservantofChrist.In Romans 12:6-8, Paul discusses gifts such as prophesying, serving,

teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, governing, and showingmercy. Hisemphasis in thispassageisonhumilityandmutualappreciation,whilevaluingthe different functions of eachmember.1 These are identifiable characteristicsthatenablevariousindividualstoexercisedifferentfunctionsinthechurch.Theyarenotspontaneousendowmentsforspecificoccasions,butrathercharacteristicsor“vested”qualitiesthatpeoplecanidentifyas“traits.”

InEphesians4:11-12,Paul says,“ItwasHe [Jesus]whogave some tobeapostles, some tobeprophets, some tobeevangelists,and some tobepastorsandteachers,toprepareGod’speopleforworksofservice,sothatthebodyofChrist may be built up….” Here it is clear that Jesus has appointed theseindividualsforthepurposeofequippingthechurchforservice.Intheversesthatfollow, Paul goes on to show that when this is working the way God hasintended,thechurchwillexperiencelong-termgrowthandhealth.ThispassagedescribesJesus’“gifts” to thechurchaspeoplewhoholdestablished“offices”throughwhichtoministerstrengthandhealthtothebodyofChrist.Again,asinthe passage inRomans 12, these “gifts” are permanent in nature, and becomeidentifiedwiththeindividuals.

WhenheintroducesthepassageinFirstCorinthians12:8-10,however,PaulusestheGreekword,phanerosis,whichisinterpreted,“manifestations”inverse7.Thegiftsthatfolloware“manifestations”or“demonstrations”oftheSpirit’sactivity.Thisisimportanttounderstand,because,assuch,these“gifts”aregivenby the Spirit, whomoves “just asHe determines” (verse 11) for any specificoccasion. This sounds remarkably like what Jesus said about the work of theSpiritinJohn3:8:“Thewindblowswhereveritpleases…soitiswitheveryonebornoftheSpirit.”

These are not vested or permanent gifts like the gifts in the other “gift”passages,butaregivenatthemomenttheyareneededtowhomeverisavailableand chosen by the Spirit for that specific occasion. They can, however, bedeveloped and nurtured for greater effectiveness, as the repetition of theseendowmentsoccurs,andasourexperiencegrows.

Infact,someindividualsbecomesoeffective inspecificgiftsof theSpirit,suchasprophecy, that theydevelopwhatmanycall a “ministryofprophecy.”Eventhen,itismyopinionthattheystilldonotnecessarilyholdthe“office”ofprophet.Forexample,Iknowseveralpastorswhofunctionquiteeffectivelyandconsistentlyinthegiftofprophecy,buttheyarestillpastors,andnotprophets.2

Severalmoreobservationsneedtobemadebeforeweexamineeachof thegiftsor“tools”oftheSpirit:

First, there are thosewhobelieve that theninegifts listedhere arenot thecompletelist,andthatPaulwassimplyrattlingoffsomeexamples.WhileIamopen to thatpossibility, Ihavenotheardofothergiftsof theSpirit that fit thecontextofthispassagetomysatisfaction.However,asIsaid,Iremainopentothatpossibilityandwelcomefurtherdiscussion.

Second, Paul hasmade it clear that these gifts have great value for everybeliever.Notonlydoeshesay,inFirstCorinthians12:1,thathedoesnotwantus to be “ignorant” concerning these gifts; he says in both First Corinthians12:31andFirstCorinthians14:1thatweshould“eagerlydesire”thesegifts.Thismakes evenmore sense if Jesus is, in fact, our model for ministry, since Hedemonstrated these gifts so effectively. Each one of us should ask ourselves,“AmItrulyeagerforthegiftsoftheHolySpirit?”

Third,theimpactofthegiftsoftheSpiritissomuchgreaterwhencloakedinlove. Jesus modeled for us the effectiveness of power combined with love,compassion,andgrace.WediscussthismoreinChapter8,“TheTreasureintheMiddle.”

Fourth, these are “grace gifts.” That means the Spirit does not give thesegifts only to those who are “deserving” or “mature.” A person who has justreceived Jesus is able, potentially, to exercise spiritual gifts, and so is anyonewho still has obvious character flaws.Our parents did not give us presents atChristmas or on our birthdays becausewe had done everything right the pastyear,butbecauseoftheirgoodnessandgenerosity.Howmuchmoretrueisthisof God! Thismeanswe should not be too quickly impressedwith thosewhoministerpowerfullythroughthegiftsoftheSpirit.It’snotnecessarilybecauseoftheirgodliness,butHisgrace.Only timewill tellwhether theyhaveadmirablecharacterundergirdingtheirgifting.

Yearsago,inoneoftheDennistheMenaceepisodes,DennisandhisfriendJoey went to visit Mr. Wilson, their neighbor, who kindly gave them somecookies.When theyhad left thehouse, Joeysaid toDennis,“Gee,Dennis,wemust have done something really special forMr.Wilson to give us cookies.”“Oh no,”Dennis replied, “Mr.Wilson doesn’t give us cookies becausewe’renice; he gives us cookies because he’s nice!” In the same way, God doesn’tnecessarilygiveusgiftsbecausewedeservethem,butbecauseofHisgraceandkindness.

Fifth, many believers have already experienced spiritual gifts without

knowingit.Aswediscussgifts,suchasthe“wordofknowledge”or“discerningofspirits,”forexample,youmayrecognizethatGodhasgivenyouthesegiftsonpastoccasions.Hopefully,armedwithsomelanguageandmoreunderstanding,youwillfindyourselfincreasinginfaithandabletonurturethesegiftstogreatereffectiveness.

Finally, there is disagreement about the labels attached to these gifts. Forexample, some, like theologianGordonFee,whom I greatly respect,maintainthat what many Pentecostals and Charismatics call a “word of knowledge,”actuallywould fallunder theheadingof“prophecy.”However, Ihavechosen,foreaseofcommunication,tousethetermsthataremostcommonlyemployedwhenreferringtothesegifts.

A thoroughandcomprehensivediscussionofeachof theseendowmentsoftheSpiritwouldrequireawholebookinitself,and,helpfulasthatmaybe,thatis notmy purpose for this book. So,what follows in this chapter is a sort ofcompromise between a brief summary and an extensive teaching. There havebeenmanyattempts tocategorize this listofgifts,but I’msimplygoing togothroughthemintheordertheyappearinscripture.Heregoes:

THEWORDOFWISDOM

(GREEK:LOGOSSOPHIAS)

A Word of Wisdom is an utterance inspired by God and spoken by anindividual. It is “seeing” what God “sees” and applying God’s wisdom to aspecificsituation.

Wehavealreadydiscussedsomeexamplesofthisgiftinpreviouschapters.Forexample,inChapter1,IrelatedthestoryofhowGodimpressedmetotakethefamilyforicecream,whichbrokethetensionthathadfilledourhome.Also,inChapter3,underthesection,“LearningtoHear,”IsharedourexperienceinUgandawhenGodgaveMikeFlynnanimpressionthatwewerenottohavethecarserviced,buttopresson,andthateverythingwouldbeokay.

Jesusexercisedthisgiftonmanyoccasions.Forexample,inMark12:13-17,whenthePhariseesandHerodianstriedtotrapJesus,itsays,“TheycametoHimand said, ‘Teacher…is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?’” Thiswas anobviousno-win situation, inwhich, regardlessofhowHeanswered, it seemedHe would be in trouble with someone. If He said they should pay taxes, thepeoplewould turnagainstHim;and ifHesaid theyshouldnot, theauthorities

could haveHim arrested. But Jesus simply said,“Bringme a denarius,” andasked,“Whoseportraitisthis?Andwhoseinscription?”Towhichtheyreplied,“Caesar’s.”ThenJesussaid to them,“Give toCaesarwhat isCaesar’sand toGodwhatisGod’s.”

In Genesis 41, God gave Joseph not only the interpretation of Pharaoh’sdreams,butthewisdomtoknowwhatcourseofactiontotake.WhenJosephhadinterpreted the dream about the coming economic prosperity and subsequentmeltdown, he went on to advise Pharaoh about storing one-fifth of theprosperous harvest to provide for the lean times to follow. This message ofwisdomsoimpressedPharaohandhisofficials,thatJosephwasmadethemostpowerful ruler in all of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. The Spirit still givesmessagesofwisdomtoday.MaybeGodwantstouseyouasHedidJoseph!

A friend ofmine has done very well buying, developing, and selling realestate inCalifornia.A fewyears ago he had a dream inwhich he saw a longcaravan of camels carrying many goods. The line of camels was so long hecouldn’t see the end. After he and his wife prayed about the meaning of thedream, they felt God was telling them there was a long season of economicprosperitybeginning.Heimmediatelybeganbuyingalltherealestateheandhispartners could handle, developing and flipping some properties, holding on toothers.

Severalyearslaterhehadanotherdream.Thistimehesawasimilarcaravanof camels, only this timehe could see the end.He realizedGodwas showinghimtheseasonofprosperityintherealestatemarketwasabouttoend,soheandhis partners began selling everything,makinghandsomeprofits on everydeal.Sure enough, not long after, the bullmarket ended for real estate in SouthernCalifornia, but God had rescued him and prospered him in advance of it!(Incidentally,Ihappentoknowthat thisfriendofmineisfaithful in tithesandofferings, and has a truly generous heart. NowonderGod can trust himwithwealth!)

THEWORDOFKNOWLEDGE

(LOGOSGNOSEOS)

Inthisgift,theSpiritimpartsinformationthatHewantsshared,toapersonorgroup,onaspecificoccasion.

Inmyownexperience,thisgifthashadaprofoundimpactasacatalystfor

spiritual breakthrough, as I shared in Chapter 2, regarding my dramaticencounterbytheSpiritattheageoftwenty-one.

There are several examples of this gift having similarly profound impactsupon people in the New Testament. In the account of Jesus talking with theSamaritanwomaninJohn4,atonepoint intheconversationJesussaidtoher,“Go, call your husband and come back.” “I have no husband,” she replied.Jesussaidtoher,“Youarerightwhenyousayyouhavenohusband.Thefactis,youhavehadfivehusbands,andthemanyounowhaveisnotyourhusband….”Thestorycontinueswithherbeingsopowerfullyimpactedbythisthatshegoesback to her village, effusively telling people,“Come, see amanwho toldmeeverything I ever did!” The villagers thenmeet Jesus for themselves and begHimtostaywith them.Johnrecords thatJesusdidstayfor twodays,with theresultthatmanymorebecamebelievers!

Earlier in the first chapter of John’s gospel, we are told that Philip foundNathanael and brought him to Jesus. John says, “When Jesus saw Nathanaelapproaching,Hesaidofhim,‘HereisatrueIsraelite,inwhomthereisnothingfalse.’ ‘HowdoYou knowme?’Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, ‘I saw youwhileyouwerestillunderthefigtreebeforePhilipcalledyou.’ThenNathanaeldeclared,‘Rabbi,YouaretheSonofGod;YouaretheKingofIsrael!’”Whatadramatic response for a first introduction to Jesus!And all because the SpiritgaveJesusaWordofKnowledgeforNathanael.

Thisgifthas thepotential to impactpeople insuchprofoundways thatwehavemadeitourpracticetogiveopportunityforpeopletosharethisgiftduringmanyofourSundayservices.However,Ibelievethatthisgifthasevengreaterpotentialoutsideofourchurchsettings.JustasJesuswasusedbytheSpirit toexercise this gift for the purpose of evangelizing a Samaritan village, so Hewants to use us to reach our communities for Christ. (Some people who areleading the way in “prophetic evangelism” are Doug Addison and RobbyDawkinsintheU.S.,andMarkStibbeintheU.K.)

THEGIFTOFFAITH(PISTIS)

Thereareseveraldifferentkindsoffaith.Forexample,thereisthefaiththatapeopleexercisewhentheytrustJesusassavior;thereisthekindoffaiththathelpsyoubelieveGodwilldowhatHehaspromised(theoppositeofunbelief);and there is your life as a believer in Jesus, sometimes referred to as “the

Christianfaith.”Butthegiftoffaithisdifferent.Ithasasupernaturalflavorandoftenhasremarkableresults.

JamesDunn’sdefinitionofthisgiftgoeslikethis:“[TheGiftof]Faithisthemysterious surge of confidencewhich sometimes ariseswithin a person facedwith a specific situation or need. It gives that person a trans-rational certaintyandassurancethatGodisabouttoactthroughawordoraction.”3

Years ago,when Jane and Iwere living inOklahomaCity,we received adistressingphonecallthatherfatherwouldhavetoundergoemergencysurgeryforaseriouslyulceratedstomach.Theproblemwasthathehadhadheartsurgerynot too longbefore that, sonaturally thedoctorswereconcerned thathisheartmightnotbeabletoenduretheprocedure.

Having received thisnews, Janeand Ikneltdownat the sofa inour livingroomandbegantopray.Withinafewminutes,asenseofpeacecameoverus,andwe felt assured thateverythingwasgoing toworkout, and thather fatherwould be okay. Later that day hermother called to say that the surgerywentaheadasscheduled,butwhenthedoctorsbegantoexploreherfather’sstomach,theycouldfindnotraceofulcers—onlyacleanandhealthystomach!Godhadgiven us a gift of faith, which produced the assurance that there would be apositiveoutcome.

In First Kings 18, we find the amazing story of Elijah challenging theprophetsofBaaltoashowdown.Aftertheyspentthedaycryingouttotheirgodto no avail, Elijah took over. He built an altar to theGod of Israel, and thencommanded that water be poured over the altar and the sacrifice. He was socertain thatGodwas going to answer by fire, that he orderedmore andmorewatertobepouredoverthealtar,tothepointthatitevenoverflowedthetrencharoundthealtar.Thenheprayedasimpleprayer,andGodsentthefire!GodhadgivenElijahagiftoffaith,andnothingcouldshakeit.

TherearemanyotherexamplesofthisgiftinbothOldandNewTestaments,especiallyintheministryofJesusandinActs.Oftenitoverlappedwithgiftsofhealings or miracles, but occasionally even came into play in judgment. Forexample, in Acts 5:9-10, Peter pronounced death upon Sapphira, and sheimmediately fell down dead; or Acts 13:11, when Paul declared that Elymaswouldbeblindforaseason,andheimmediatelywasstruckwithblindness.Butmost often this gift is used in conjunction with healings, such as when Jesuspronounced someone healed, even long distance, as in Matthew 8:13, whenJesuspronouncedthecenturion’sservanthealed,orMatthew15:28,whenJesustoldthewomanherdaughterhadbeendelivered.PeterandJohnweregiventhis

giftinActs3:1-7,whentheyhealedthecrippledmanatthegateofthetemple.AccordingtoJesus,faithisanextraordinarilyvaluablecommodity.Eachof

us would benefit tremendously, and would be of great help to the world, byprayerfully pursuing this gift. In the process,wewill likely need to repent ofthosepocketsofunbeliefthatafflictsomanyofus.

GIFTSOFHEALING(LITERALLY“GIFTSOFHEALINGS”;

GREEK:CHARISMATAIAMATON)4

Ifwe accept that Jesus’ministrywas the template for ourministries, thenperhapsthisgiftstandsoutabovetheotherslistedinFirstCorinthians12,withthe possible exception of prophecy.More than any other gift, Jesus’ministrywas characterized by the healing of sick people, and this gift frequentlyoverlappedwithfaithandtheworkingofmiracles.

A few Sundays ago, I asked how many had personally experienced a“divine”healingormiracle.IwasamazedthatfullyathirdofthepeopleinourchurchclaimedtohavebeenhealeddirectlybyGod,apartfromtheinterventionof doctors. In this arena of healing, I believe we need to have a holisticunderstandingofthewayGodworks.

Most of us have benefited enormously from the medical profession. (Myown daughter is currently in medical school, so before long we will have adoctor inourown family.)There is absolutelyno reason todiscouragepeoplefrom seeking medical treatment when they need it. But neither is there anyreasontodiscouragepeoplefromaskingGodtohealthemdirectly.SomeonehasjokedthatthedifferencebetweenBaptistsandPentecostalsisthatBaptists,whenthey get sick, see the doctor first, and if that doesn’t help, they pray;Pentecostals,ontheotherhand,whentheygetsick,prayfirst,andifthatdoesn’twork,theygotothedoctor!

Whatever our theological or ecclesiastical background, healing is a subjectthattheChurchatlargeneedstobecomeimmersedin,andtomaster.Therearefew things that result in more glory to God, more help to people, and havegreaterevangelisticpotential thanexperiencingGod’shealingtouch!ByGod’sgrace,weneedtowork throughandlayasideanyhesitancyorambivalence intheareaofhealing.OneneedstolooknofartherthantheministryofJesustoseehowimportantthisgiftis.

ThepracticeofhealingthesickisfoundedupontheconvictionthatGodisaloving,compassionate,andmercifulGod.JesushasdemonstratedGod’swillsoconsistently and powerfully in this area that there should be no doubt in ourminds thatGodwantspeoplewell.Any theologywhichdenies thatGodhealspeople today is simply a false theology. It cannot stand up under an unbiasedexaminationofscripture;itcannotstandupunderthetestimonyofhistory;anditcannot stand up under the testimony of countless thousands today who havepersonallyexperiencedhealing.

InHisconversationwiththeCanaanitewoman(Matt.15:21-28;Mark7:24-30),Jesusmadeitclearthathealingisthechildren’s“bread.”Justasbreadwasthestaplefoodofthattime,healingisnotaspecialgrace,reservedforspecialor“spiritual” or holy people; it is the very staple of our lives—the graciousprovisionofagenerousGod! InExodus15:26,GodrevealedHimselfas“TheGod who heals,” and Matthew 8:17 testifies that, in healing the sick, JesusfulfilledtheprophecyofIsaiah,that“Hetookupourinfirmitiesandcarriedourdiseases.”Then,accordingtoFirstCorinthians12:9,theSpiritgivesthisgifttothebodyofChrist.Noticefromthesepassages:Father,Son,andHolySpirit—theentireTrinity—arecommittedtohealingpeople.MystrongconvictionisthatGod’s healing is meant to extend to our entire being—physical, spiritual,relational,andemotional.

Howdoyouexercisethisgift?First,bysimplyasking.InFirstCorinthians14,PaulexhortsustoeagerlydesirethegiftsthatmostbenefittheChurch.AndJesuspromisedthatifweask,wewillreceive;ifweseek,wewillfind;andifweknock, the door will be opened. (The Greek tenses of these verbs all implycontinuous,persistentaction,asin“keepasking,keepseeking,keepknocking.”)Second,justbeginprayingforeveryoneyoucomeincontactwithwhoneedstobehealed.Wegrowineffectivenessasweexercisethisgift,justlikewitheverygift.Offeringtoprayforpeoplealwaysinvolvesameasureofrisk,but“faithisspelledR-I-S-K!”5Third,learnfromotherswhohavemoreexperiencethanyou.Thefactis,someprayersaremoreeffective(andmorescripturallysound)thanothers.6

WORKINGOFMIRACLES

(ENERGEMATADUNAMEON)

Miraclesareevents inwhichpeopleandthingsarebeneficiallyaffectedbyanextraordinarypowerofGodworkingthroughanindividual.Thisgift,perhaps

morethantheothers,canintimidateeventhemostmaturefollowerofJesus.Wecan imagine ourselves laying hands on someone and seeing God heal theirheadache,orgatheringwithagroupofeldersandanointingasickpersonwithoilandwatchingastheyquicklybecomewell,buttobepartofatruemiracleisa real stretch of our faith.However, I am confident that asweunderstand thebiblicalcontextofmiracles,wewillcometobelievethatthisgiftbelongstotheChurchjustasmuchasanyoftheothergifts.

Webster’s Dictionary defines a miracle as “An extraordinary eventmanifestingdivineinterventioninhumanaffairs,orasanextremelyoutstandingorunusualevent,thing,oraccomplishment.”

The New Testament frequently uses the words “signs” and “wonders” torefer tomiracles.Theywere“signs,” in that theyauthenticated themessageofJesus,and, later, themessageofHis followers.Theywere“wonders,”becausetheyarousedinpeopleasenseofaweandwonderatthepowerofGodandthemessage about Jesus. Somiracles can have a purpose beyond themselves: TopointpeopletoJesusChrist.

Beforewegoon, and just tokeep things inperspective, letme emphasizethat thegreatestmiraclehappenswhensomeone isbornagain through faith inJesus Christ. Just as a new baby is truly a miracle—a perfect human beingappearingfromwhatbeganasamicroscopicmarriagebetweenaspermandanegg—soeverytimeapersonisbornspiritually,amiraclehappens!ThismeansthatwhenyouorIhelpsomeonefindJesus,wegettoparticipateinthegreatestmiracle!

MiraclesarepowerfultestimoniestothetruthaboutJesusandthegoodnessofGod,andtendtoproliferatewhereevangelismishappeningamongunreachedpeoplegroups,inthepoweroftheSpirit.HeidiBaker,whohasworkedforyearsamong the AIDS orphans of Zimbabwe, says that in addition to personallywitnessingdozensinstantlyhealedofblindnessandotherdiseases,sheclaimstohaveseenoverahundredpeopleraisedfromthedead!7Thesemiracles,andherextraordinary love for the people of Africa, help explain how she and herhusband,Roland,havehelpedtoplantover7,000churchesthroughoutAfrica.

Manyinstancesofhealingwouldfall intothecategoryofmiracles,suchaswhenJesushealedtheblind,deaf,orcrippled.However,theywouldalsoincludethingsliketurningwaterintowineandwalkingonwater.Ofcourse,amongthegreatestmiracles in thebiblewouldhave tobe theconceptionof Jesusby theHolySpiritintheVirginMary,theraisingofLazarusfromdeathafterfourdays,andtheresurrectionofJesus.

Our great challenge today is to believe thatwhat Jesus said in John 14:12applies toallbelievers, and thatweshouldaggressivelypursueaministry thatincludesmiracles.Inthatpassage,Jesussaid,“Itellyouthetruth,anyonewhohasfaithinMewilldowhatIhavebeendoing.Hewilldoevengreaterthingsthan these, because I am going to the Father.” As mind-blowing as thatstatementseems,wemustunderstandthatJesuswaschallengingHisfollowers,asHeconsistentlydid,toembracethepursuitofwhatseemsimpossibletoman,because,“whatisimpossiblewithmanispossiblewithGod”(Luke18:27).

There is, today, a growing list of eminent theologians, who emphaticallymaintainthatthepromiseofJesusinJohn14:12appliestoallbelievers,andthatHewasspecificallytalkingaboutperformingmiracles.Forexample,inreferringtothispassage,ProfessorC.H.DoddofCambridge“pointsoutthatthe‘works’inquestionarethemiraculousworksofChrist.”8

GaryGreigandKevinSpringer,intheirbook,TheKingdomandthePower,point out that “the plain grammatical and lexicalmeaning of the passage andrelated passages in the Gospel of John all show that the ‘greater works’ areprimarily themiraculousworks of Jesus,whichHe promises towork throughanyonewhobelievesinHim.”9

In addition to actual miracles, there are also many times when Godintervenesinourlivesinwaysthataretrulymiraculous.Forexample,mywifeJane’sparentsweremissionariestoCubainthelate1950’s,whenCastrocameto power. Theirmail was routinely opened, andmany timesmoney had beenstolen out of the envelopes by the time they got the letters.On one occasion,theyhadrunoutofmoneyandhadnomorefoodinthehouse.Afterherparentshadputthethreelittlegirlstobed,theykneltdownandprayedtogetherthatGodwouldprovidefoodfortheirfamily.Earlythenextmorning,therewasaknockon the door, and a Cuban man stood there, looking a little sheepish. Heexplainedthathehadagrocerystoredownthestreet,thathefelthewastohelpthem,andthattheywerewelcometocomeandgetwhatevertheyneeded.Bythetime the girlswoke up, breakfastwas ready, same as always, and they didn’tknowthatthisbreakfasthadbeenamiracleuntilyearslater.

What’s so remarkable about this story is the fact thatmostCubans, at thattime, assumed allAmericanswere rich, and yet this stranger had beenmoveduponbyGod,inanswertoprayer,tooffergroceriestothisAmericanfamily!

For the church in Galatia, it was apparently quite normal to experiencemiracles in their midst. In Galatians 3:5, Paul makes a seemingly off-handremark about thiswhenhewrote to them,“DoesGodgive you theSpirit and

workmiraclesamongyoubecauseyouobservethelaw,orbecauseyoubelievewhatyouhaveheard?”Hispointwasthattheir(normal)experienceofmiraclesandothersignsoftheSpiritwasnotbecauseoftheiradherencetothelaw,butbecauseoftheirfaithinJesus.Howaboutus?DowebelievethatGodstillwantstoworkmiracles inourchurch?Dowebelieve that“JesusChrist is the same,yesterday,todayandforever”(Heb.13:8)?

PROPHECY(PROPHETEIA)

JamesDunnsays,“ProphecyisdeclaringthemessageofGodtohisChurchforthepurposeofedification.Itisnotaskill,aptitudeortalent.Itistheactualspeakingforthofwordsgivenby theSpirit inaparticularsituationandceaseswhenthewords(givenbytheSpirit)cease.10

The gift of prophecy is the greatest of all of the gifts of the Spirit. That’sbecause God’s spoken word has enormous power to change lives, situations,churches,andevennations.Ofallgifts,prophecyistheonementionedthemostintheNewTestament.AccordingtoPaul,inFirstCorinthians14:3,“…everyonewho prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement andcomfort.”

InSecondChronicleschapter20,KingJehoshaphathadjustbeentoldthatavast armywasmarching on Judah. Alarmed, he called for a fast and had thenationgatherwithhimtoseekGod’shelp.Afterheledthecrowdinprayer,theSpiritoftheLordcameuponJahaziel,whoprophesiedthatJehoshaphatwasnottobeafraid,butwastomarchouttomeettheenemy.Heevengavethekingtheexact timeandplacewhere theywould find theenemy!Thenhe toldhim thatthey would not even have to fight, because the battle was not theirs, but theLord’s.

ThiswordfromtheLordhadsuchapowerful impactonKingJehoshaphatandthepeoplethattheysetoutthenextmorning,withthechoiroutinfrontofthe army, singing praises toGod! The king and all the people of Judahwentfrombeingfilledwithfearandanxietyoneminute,tobeingfilledwithfaith,joy,andconfidencethenext.Thisisthepowerofprophecy.Bythetimetheyarrivedatthelocationthathadbeenprophesied,theentireenemyarmylaydead,andalltheyhadtodowastogatherthespoils!

Manystories, inboth theOldandNewTestaments, testify to thepowerofprophecy,andtheearlychurchexperiencedtheblessingofprophecyasanormal

partoftheircorporatelife.Butweneedtoembracethisgiftforourselvesandforour churches today. I have personally received great encouragement, comfort,anddirectionfromthisgift.

Myassociate,MikeFlynn,sharedwithmerecentlyhowpersonalpropheticmessageshavebenefitedhim.Ononeoftheseoccasions,whilehewasattendingaconferenceinBoulder,Colorado,atwhichDickMillswasspeaking,Mikeandhiswife,Sue,decidedtogotoanOliveGardenrestaurantforlunch.Whiletheywereeating,Dickandhiswifewalked inand immediatelywentover toMike.DickpointedatMikeandsaidtohim,“Thisisanunusualword,butGod’swordforyouis‘mahanaim!’”NowthiswordfirstappearsinGenesis32:2,andmeans“twocamps.”

Mikehadbeenapriest in theEpiscopalChurchforyears,buthadrecentlydiscovered the Vineyard movement and had been drawn to its founder, JohnWimber.

That word from DickMills has provided great comfort to Mike over theyears since then, as he has wrestled over his relationship to the EpiscopalChurch. To this day, Mike successfully conducts healing seminars andconferencesinbothofthese“camps.”

DISTINGUISHINGBETWEENSPIRITSORDISCERNMENTOFSPIRITS(DIAKRISEISPNEUMATON)

Thisgiftenablesthepersontoknowwhetherthesourceoperatingthroughapersonisdemonic,divine,orsimplyhuman.Ithassometimesbeencalled,“Thepolicegift,”becauseitexposesevilandleadstoitsarrest.

Notethatthisisnotcalled,simply,thegiftofdiscernment.Discernment,asthe term is normally used, refers to the ability tomake good judgments aboutspecific situations or people,which comes to us aswemature as disciples ofJesus. But the gift of discerning of spirits refers specifically to the ability todeterminewhether there is demonic activity present, orwhether it is theHolySpirit working, or whether there is simply a human dysfunction or characterissue surfacing. It should also be noted that very often emotional illness canseem a lot like demonization,which iswhy one should be very slow to labelsomeone as demonized, and why this gift of discernment of spirits is soimportant.

WhenIwasinmythirdyearatSouthwesternCollegeinOklahomaCity,anumber of us went downtown on an outreach to the worst part of town, andthere, in an alley behind the bus depot, we met Charlie. He was a large,intimidatingguy, standingabout six foot four.A fewofushadbeen trying towitness to him, but he seemed agitated, and suddenly, looking straight atme,said, “You can’tmakeme leave; this ismy body!”Well, it didn’t really takemuchdiscernment to tellwhat thesourcewas thatwasworking inCharlie.Hewasobviouslydemonized,and,afterfourhoursinadeliverancesessionwithalocalpastor,Charliewasset free, receivedJesus,andwas filledwith theHolySpirit.

InCharlie’scaseitwaseasytotellthathewasdemonized,butwherethegiftofdiscerningofspiritscomesinreallyhandyiswhenthingsaremoresubtlethanthat,which,inourculture,ismostoftenthecase.

OneSundaymorningamanandhiswifewalkedintooursanctuaryandheintroducedhimselftome.Onthesurface,heseemedlikeanormalguy,buttherewasjustsomethingabouthimthatmademeveryuneasy,andasIturnedawayfromhim,Ifoundmyselfpraying,almostwithoutthinking,“Lord,pleaseprotectthis church from him!” He never came back. I believe that the Spirit, thatmorning,hadgivenmethegiftofdiscerningofspirits.

MywifeandIhavehadseveralsimilarexperiencesovertheyears,andI’vecometobelievethattheLordgivesthisgiftquiteoftentopastorsandleadersfortheprotectionofHischurch.

Anothertime,ataconferenceatWestmontCollegeinSantaBarbara,Iwaswithagroupofpastors,helpingtoministertopeoplewhohadcomeforwardforprayer. The young woman that my friend, Steve Robbins, and I had beenministering to, had a visible protrusion from her stomach, which could easilyhavebeenmistakenforabdominalfatexceptforthefactthatshewasotherwisethin.After some time of prayer that really didn’t seem to be going anywhere,Stevesuddenlypointedatherstomachandsaidfirmly,“Comeoutofher!”Shecriedout,“Oh!”andherbodyjerkedonce.Aswecontinuedtalkingwithher,shepointed toher stomachandsaidexcitedly,“Mystomach’s flat!”Shehadbeendelivered froma spirit thathadafflictedherbodybecause theHolySpirithadgivenStevethegiftofdiscerningofspirits,rightontime.

SPEAKINGINTONGUESGLOSSOLALIA

InthebookofActs,thisgift,alongwithprophecy,wasoftenthefirstgiftoftheSpirit thatpeopleexhibited,uponthe infillingof theHolySpirit (Acts2:4;10:44-46;19:1-6).Thatwascertainlytrueinmycase.AsIrelatedearlier,whentheSpirit fellonme in that littlePentecostalchurch inFremont,California, inthesummerof1971,Iburstoutinaspontaneoustorrentoftonguesthatseemedto last for 15minutes (although, looking back, itwas probablymore like fiveminutes).

Ever since that day, speaking in tongues has been a big part of my life.HardlyadaygoesbythatIdonotprayintonguesatsomepoint,whetherinmymorning prayer time, or while walking, driving, or even while I’m in thecheckoutlineatthesupermarket(althoughundermybreathinthoseinstances).This practice has become almost as normal to me as breathing, and I havealways found great benefit from it, asmy faith seems noticeably strengthenedduringthosetimes.

Evidently,thisseemstohavebeenPaul’sexperienceaswell.Heconfidentlysaidto theCorinthians,whichat thetimewasachurchprobablynumberinginthe thousands,“I thankGod I speak in tonguesmore thanall of you” (ICor.14:18).Thenhehastened toadd,“But in thechurch Iwouldratherspeak fiveintelligiblewordstoinstructothersthantenthousandwordsinatongue.”

OntheDayofPentecost,whentheSpiritcameuponthegathereddisciples,they all spoke in“other tongues as theHoly Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:4).Lukegoesontoexplainthattheyspokeinlanguagesthatwererecognizablebymanyofthosewhoheardthem.Some,whoareskepticalofspeakingintonguestoday,usethisscripturetosupporttheirargumentthatanyspeakingintonguesshouldbeinarecognizableforeignlanguage.

Therearetwothingswrongwiththisargument:First,therearethousandsoflanguagesanddialectsspokenaroundtheworldtoday.So,justbecausesomeonedoesn’tunderstandwhatsomeoneissayingwhenhe/shespeaksintongues,thatmeansverylittle.Eventhemostproficientlinguistshaveusuallyonlymasteredahandfuloflanguages.Second,inFirstCorinthians13:1,Paulmakesreferenceto“tonguesofangels.”Itmayverywellbethatinmanycases(perhapseveninmostcases),whensomeonetodayspeaksintonguesundertheinspirationoftheHolySpirit,he/sheisspeakinginanangeliclanguage.

Many have spoken of tongues as “the least of the gifts,” and havediscouragedmillionsofbelieversfromseekingthisgift.Butmakenomistake—speakingintonguesisawonderfulgiftfromtheHolySpirit,andavitalpartofyour spiritual equipment.Theonly timePaul curtailed theuseof thisgiftwas

whenhewasgivingguidelinesforitsuseinchurchgatherings.Buteventhenhesaid,“…donotforbidspeakingintongues”(ICor.14:39).

Therearesomanytimeswhenwedon’tknowhowtopray,butwecaneasilyprayperfectprayersbymeansofthisgift.Ifyoudonotspeakintongues,letmeencourageyoutoasktheLordforthisgift,andtokeepaskinguntilyougetit!Inmyexperience,therehavebeenveryfewpeoplewhoearnestlywantedthisgiftwhodidnotreceiveit.OurGodisagenerousGod!

Gordon Fee haswritten an excellent treatment of this subject in his book,Paul,theSpirit,andthePeopleofGod.Followingishismosthelpfulsummaryofthegiftoftongues:

1.Whateverelse,itisSpirit-inspiredutterance;thatismadeplainbyFirstCorinthians12:10and14:2.Thisinitselfshouldcausesometospeakmorecautiouslywhentryingto“puttonguesintheirplace”(usuallymeaningeliminatethemaltogether)inthecontemporarychurch.Pauldoesnotdamntongueswithfaintpraise,assomehaveargued,nordoeshestandinaweofthegift,astheCorinthianshadapparentlydone—andsomecontemporaryproponentsoftonguesdo.AswithallSpirit-empoweredactivity,Paulhelditinhighregardinitsproperplace.

2.Theregulationsforitscommunityusein14:27-28makeclearthatthespeakerisnotecstaticoroutofcontrol.Quitetheopposite:thespeakersmustspeakinturn,andtheymustremainsilentifthereisnoonetointerpret.Thereforethemindisnotdetached;butitisatrestand“unfruitful.”

3.Itisspeechessentiallyunintelligiblebothtothespeaker(14:14)andtootherhearers(14:16),whichiswhyitmustbeinterpretedintheassembly.

4.ItisspeechdirectedbasicallytowardGod(14:2;14-15;28);onemayassume,therefore,thatwhatisinterpretedisnotspeechdirectedtowardothers,butthe“mysteries”spokentoGod.

5.Asagiftforprivateprayer,Paulhelditinthehighestregard(14:4,5,15,17-18;cf.Rom.8:26-27;Eph.6:18).11

INTERPRETATIONOFTONGUES(ERMENEIAGLOSSON)

TheGreekwordusedforthisgiftcanalsomean“tointerpret”or“toputintowords.” So when one interprets for someone who just spoke in tongues, the

interpretationdoesnothavetomatch,wordforword.Inotherwords,ifsomeonespeaks in tongues for 30 seconds, the interpretation will not necessarily beexactly30seconds, just likewhensomeone interpretsany language toanotherperson or to an audience. The important thing is that they accurately give thetruesenseofwhatwasspoken.

This gift is the only one of the gifts that is dependent on another gift(tongues).However,itisimportanttoberemindedthatthisgift,also,isagiftoftheSpirit,andthereforeonlyfunctionsundertheinspirationoftheSpirit,asdoalltheothergifts,andhasvalue,preciselybecauseitisgivenbytheSpirit.

AsFee has suggested in his summaryof tongues above, since speaking intongues is “speech directed basically toward God,” we should expect theinterpretation also tobedirected towardGod, andnot to the audience.This istrue in both Acts and in First Corinthians, where speaking in tongues isdescribed as prayer or praise. Thiswould rule out any “message in tongues,”whichwouldbetonguesdirectednottoGod,buttopeople.Paulexplicitlysays,inFirstCorinthians14:2,“ForanyonewhospeaksinatonguedoesnotspeaktomenbuttoGod.”

Inmyearlyyears, growingup inPentecostal churches, Iwouldoftenhearsomeonespeakintonguesinachurchservice,followedbyan“interpretation”asamessage to thepeoplefromGod. Idon’tdoubt that the interpreterwasofteninspiredby theHolySpirit.Howeverwhat theyweregivingwasprobablynottheinterpretation,butaprophecy.WhywouldGodneedtwogifts(tonguesandinterpretation)toaccomplishwhatonegift(prophecy)coulddobyitself?Sothepoint is not that a “message in tongues” is invalid, just that it has beenmislabeled.

FromwhatPaulsays,inFirstCorinthians14,interpretationisnotnecessarywhensomeonespeaks in tongues inprivate,butonlywhensomeonespeaks intonguesinachurchsetting,sothateveryonemaybenefitfromwhatissaid.InFirst Corinthians 14:16, Paul says,“If you are praisingGodwith your spirit,howcanonewhofindshimselfamongthosewhodonotunderstandsay‘Amen’toyourthanksgiving,sincehedoesnotknowwhatyouaresaying?Youmaybegiving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.” Again, Paul issayingthattonguesisdirectedtoGod.

Please keep inmind that in order for a church to benefit from a study ofspiritualgifts,atsomepointtherehastobeaplacefortheirexercise,whetherina church service or home group. Dr. Peter Wagner has said, “All the goodtheoriesintheworldaboutspiritualgiftswillnotbeworthmorethanapleasant

head trip if their dynamics are not released for effective operation in localcongregations.”12

ENDNOTES

1.NoticethatinRomans12:3-5,justbeforePaulliststhevariousgifts,hesaysthingslike,“Donotthinkofyourselvesmorehighlythanyouought,”and“…themembersdonothavethesamefunction,”and“…eachmemberbelongstoalltheothers.”Hisemphasisisonhumility,function,andmutualappreciation.ThisissimilartowhathesaysinFirstCorinthians12:27-31,withaslightlydifferentnuance.Therehesays“Godhasappointed”certainpeoplefordifferentfunctions.

2.JackHayford,Hayford’sBibleHandbook(Nashville:ThomasNelson,1995),351,383.JackHayfordmakesagoodcaseforeachofthethreegiftpassagesbeingadistinctiveworkofdifferentmembersoftheTrinity.HeattributesthegiftsofRomans12totheFather(“Godgives”),thegiftsofEphesians4toJesus(“ItwasHe[Jesus]whogavesometobeapostles,sometobeprophets,sometobeevangelists,andsometobepastorsandteachers”),andthegiftsofFirstCorinthians12totheSpirit.

3.JamesD.G.Dunn,JesusandtheSpirit(Philadelphia:TheWestminsterPress,1975),211.

4.TheGreekreads“giftsofhealings.”SomeinterpretthistomeanthattheSpiritgivestomanythevarioushealingstheyneed;otherssaythatwhatismeantisthattheSpiritgrantstodifferentindividualsvariousgiftstohealspecificailments.

5.ThisisaquotebyJohnWimber,thefounderoftheVineyardmovement.Atonepointinhisministry,JohnfeltGodhadledhimtoteachabouthealing;andforabout10months,SundaymorningsandSundayevening,thatiswhathedid.Afterthemessage,hewouldinvitepeoplewhoneededprayertocometothefront,andhisleaderswouldthenprayforthem.Theydidthisforabout10monthswithoutasinglepersonbeinghealed.Then,oneMondaymorning,afteraparticularlyfrustratingSunday,hewascalledontoprayforawomanwhowassickinbed,andshewasimmediatelyhealed!ThisopenedatorrentofhealinginandthroughJohnWimberandhischurch,theAnaheimVineyard.IwaspersonallyhealedattheAnaheimVineyardin1985,aftersufferingwithchronicsinusitisfor

over12years.6.IrecommendattendingahealingconferencebyMikeFlynn,founderofFreshWindMinistries.Mikehasconductedover500conferencesaroundtheworldandhasaverydown-to-earth,scripturallysound,andenjoyablestyle.Hecanbecontactedatmkfln@aol.com.

7.HeidiandRolandBaker,CompelledbyLove,47.8.GaryS.GreigandKevinN.Springer,TheKingdomandthePower(Ventura,CA:RegalBooks,1993),394.

9.Ibid,395.10.Dunn,229.11.Fee,169.12.PeterWagner,YourSpiritualGiftsCanHelpYourChurchGrow

(Ventura,CA:RegalBooks,1979),243.

Chapter8

THETREASUREINTHEMIDDLE

“OurlivesmustbelivingincarnationsoftheloveofChristJesusifwewilleverhaveaneffectiveministry.”—HeidiBaker

AN INTERESTING THING HAS BEEN happening to me the last few years. I haveperhaps never been so intent on pursuing the Person of the Holy Spirit, todiscoverHiminmanywaysthatIhavenotknownHimbefore,andtoseeHimthroughneweyesas Inoticehundredsof scriptures that refer toHim,which Inever really noticed before. I havemarveled atHim as I learned tomarvel atJesus,andasImarveledattheFather,onceIwasintroducedtoHisheartofloveformeasmytrueFather.

Yet,atthesametime,Ihavebeenledtoyearnforanewcapacitytolove.AsIhavediscoveredthedeficitinmyloveformywife,formychurch,andforlostpeople, I have cried out toGod to teachme how to truly love likeHe loves.BecauseIknowthatwhenIfinallystandbeforeHim,Hewillnotbeimpressedbymy anointing,my healing successes (which are so greatly outnumbered bymy failures), or how many times I fell, shook, laughed, or trembled in HisPresence.TheonlythingthatwillcountonthatdayiswhetherIlearnedtolove.IamalsomotivatedtocryoutforHislovebyaworldthatisingreaterpainthanI have ever seen.Because,more than anything, it is the love ofGod that thisworldneedsfromme.Andfromyou.

Imustbecarefulhere.Ihavespentagoodpartofthisbooksofar,sharingwithyoumypassionfor theHolySpirit, thatblessedWindofGod thatbringslife-impartingchangetoeveryoneandeverythingHetouches.Myheart’sdesireis that you and all who read this book would capture a fresh excitement and

yearningforall that theSpiritwants todo inand throughyou. Idonot intendhere,todiminishintheslightestwaythehighregardinwhichIholdtheSpirit’sgifts and activity. Hopefully you have already captured my heart for Him tosomedegree.

WhatIneedtodohereisexactlywhatPauldid,whenhewasinspiredbytheSpirittoplacethethirteenthchapterofhisfirstlettertotheCorinthiansbetweenchapters 12 and 14.Between his Spirit-inspired discussion of spiritual gifts inchapter12,andhiselaborationof thegiftsof tonguesandprophecy inchapter14, hewrote themost eloquent and powerful chapter about love in the entirebible.

Sowhat’sthemessage?ThemessagefromGodisthatthereneedstobenocompetitionbetweentheactivityoftheHolySpiritandanemphasisonlove;wedon’t have to choose between the gifts or the fruit of the Spirit. These threechaptersshowusthatthesubjectoftheSpirit’sgiftsandthesubjectofHislovehavetobemarried.Thesetwotruthsgotogether,likeadelicioussliceofsteakbetweentwofreshpiecesofbread.Justlikethetwoslicesofbreadwiththesteakin the middle create a steak sandwich, so the two chapters about the Spirit’sactivity,withthechapterofGod’sloveinbetweencreatea“lovesandwich.”

Goddoesnotdothesethingshaphazardly.Hewascompletelyintentionalinthisdesign,sowemustask“why?”WhyisitsoimportantthatwhenwediscussthismagnificentsubjectoftheHolySpiritandHisactivityinourlives,thatwesimultaneouslyreflectontheimportanceofbeinglovingpeople?ImustconfessthatIhavenotalwaysgivenlovetheemphasisitdeserveswhenteachingabouttheHolySpirit.Ihaveoftenallowedmyselftobesocaughtupintheexcitementof the actions of this wonderful Person, that I have sometimes presented anunbalancedfocusonthegifts,whileneglectingthebeautifulfruitoflove.

Inlookingforamodelofaministrythatcombinespowerwithlove,weneedtolooknofartherthanJesus.Againandagain,wereadthatJesuswas“movedwithcompassion,” thenwenton toheal. In John11,beforeHe raisedLazarusfromthedead,wearetoldseveraltimesaboutHislove.Inverse3,whenJesusfirstgotthewordaboutLazarus’beingill,weread,“SothesisterssentwordtoJesus, ‘Lord, the one You love is sick.’” Then, in verse 5, we are informed,“JesuslovedMarthaandhersisterandLazarus.”Later,inverse33,onHiswaytoLazarus’tomb,wearetoldthatJesuswasdeeplymoved,andtwoverseslater,thatHewept.His tenderness toward this familywas soobvious to the crowd,thattheysaid,“SeehowHelovedhim!”

When Jesus talked with the woman at the well (John 4), the very act of

engagingherinconversationwasanactoflove,becausenootherJew,letalonea Jewishmale,would be caught speakingwith a Samaritanwoman. ThenHereachedouttoherandofferedherthe“livingwater,”andletherknowthatHewasfullyawareofhertroubledpast(fivehusbandsandnowlivingwithamantowhomshewasnotmarried).Yet therewasno judgment inHisvoice,andshefeltsodrawntoHimthatshebroughtherentirevillagetomeetHim.

In the thirteenthchapterof John,weare told,“Having lovedHisownwhowere in the world, He now showed them the full extent of His love,” as Hewrapped a towel around His waist and washed their feet. Then, in the lastchapterofJohn’sgospel,HelovinglyreinstatesPeter,whohadjustdeniedHimthreetimesinonenight.

John seems to be the one, more than any of the disciples, who was sooverwhelmed by Jesus’ love that he consistently referred to himself as “thedisciplewhomJesus loved.”Then, inFirst John, in the spaceof just the thirdchapter,hesaysthesethingsaboutlove:“HowgreatisthelovetheFatherhaslavishedonus,thatweshouldbecalledchildrenofGod!”(verse1).“Thisisthemessageyouheardfromthebeginning:Weshouldloveoneanother”(verse11).“Weknowthatwehavepassedfromdeathtolife,becauseweloveourbrothers”(verse14).And,“Thisishowweknowwhatloveis:JesusChristlaiddownHislifeforus.Andweoughttolaydownourlivesforourbrothers”(verse16).

ImissMotherTeresa. If ever someone embodied the loveof Jesus for thepoorestofthepoor,itwasshe.ButGodhasgivenusanotherMotherTeresa,andher name is Heidi Baker (although, because of her humility, Heidi wouldprobably be uncomfortable with the comparison). As mentioned in an earlierchapter,she,togetherwithherhusband,Roland,haveministeredforyearsintheAfricannationofMozambique, caring for thousands of homeless orphans andplanting thousands of churches. They have seen more miracles and dramatichealingsthanpossiblyanyotherAmericansonearthtoday.ButtheirtestimonyisthattheforcebehindtheirpassionistheloveofGod.Asthetitleoftheirbookexplains,theyhavebeen“compelledbylove.”1

ListentosomeofHeidi’stestimonies:IdidnotmovetoMozambiquewithanactionplantosavethecountry.My goal was not to start a revival. My vision was not to overseethousandsofchurches.Icametolearntolove,andIamstilljustatthebeginningofthatjourneytoday.Iamjuststartingtolearnhowtolovemore. I believe this is my lifetime goal. I want to love God witheverythingwithinme.Iwanttolovemyneighborasmyself.2

The poor aremy friends andmy family.Village life is quite simplecompared toWesternculture. I love tocamp in themud-hutvillagesandenjoythesimplicityofthepoor.Wesinganddanceintothenight,worshipingourbeautifulJesus.3

I havewatched countless times as the blind gain their sight. I am awitness nearly everyweek ofmy life as the deaf are able to hear. Ihave seen people whose limbs were once crippled walk again incomplete wholeness. I see thousands run to my Jesus. But…thesimplicity of love healing a broken heart iswhat causesme to keepgoing.4

I’m a prisoner of love. I have given my life for love. It is joyunspeakableandfullofglory.It’sineverypartofourjourneyhereonearth.Whenbabiesdie inourarms, there is amourningdeepwithinourspirits,butweknowthatthebabiesgostraightfromourarmsintothearmsofJesus.Ourheartsarecomfortedwiththisinexplicablejoy.Hejustkeepsonlovingtheminheaven,evenmorethanwecouldhereonEarth.Inthatiswherewefindourcomfort.5

YouarecalledtolovethebrokenuntiltheyunderstandGod’slove—alovethatneverdies—throughyou.Yes,Godwantsyoutodosignsandwonders. But the love ofGodmanifested through you iswhatpeoplereallyneed.SoyoumustfirstseeHisface.YoumustbecomesoclosetoHisveryheartbeatthatyoucanfeelwhatothersfeel.6

Godislove.ThatmeansJesusislove.ThatmeanstheHolySpiritislove.InourpursuitoftheHolySpiritandHisawesomeactivityinourmidst,let’sneverforgetthat,morethananything,morethanpower,healings,ormiracles,itistheongoing experience ofHis amazing love thatwe need to receive and to give.Becauseitislove,morethananyotherthing,thatdescribesHim.

ENDNOTES

1.HeidiBaker,CompelledbyLove(LakeMary,FL:CharismaHouse,2008).

2.Ibid,p.17.3.Ibid,p.17.

4.Ibid,p.37.5.Ibid,p.31.6.Ibid,p.32.

Chapter9

THERUDDERINSIDE

“Aboveallelse,guardyourheart,foritisthewellspringoflife.”Proverbs4:23

BECAUSETHEREARETHOUSANDSOFchurchesacrossAmericawherepastorshavelittleornoaccountabilitystructures,therehasneverbeenagreaterneedformenandwomenwith good and trustworthy hearts. Andmake nomistake; pastorsaren’ttheonlyonesatrisk.IhavelosttrackofhowmanypeopleI’vecounseledoverthepastthirty-plusyears,andI’vediscoveredfartoomanytimestheuglysecrets that are hidden frompublic view. It is in the “inner parts”—the secretplacesoftheheart—whereaperson’struecharacterresides.

AfterDavidwasconfrontedbytheprophetNathanabouthissinofadulteryandmurder,hewasfilledwithremorseand,sometimeduringthatdarkseasonofhislife,hewrotethegrippingPsalm51.Inverses5and6hesaid,“SurelyIwassinfulatbirth,sinfulfromthetimemymotherconceivedme.SurelyYoudesiretruthintheinnerparts….”Then,afewverseslater,hewrote,“Createinmeapure heart, OGod, and renew a steadfast spirit withinme.” David knew thesupreme value of a pure heart, of unhindered fellowship with his God, andduring that “dark night of the soul,” he yearned achingly for a return toinnocenceandintimacy.

GOD’SPREPARATIONOFOURHEARTS

AgoodheartisnotonlythekeytoahealthyrelationshipwithGod,butyour

heart condition alsodictatesyour capacity to receive truth andprovides fertilesoilforgoodfruit.Intheparableofthesowerandthesoils,Jesusdescribedthepersonwhose life produces a bountiful harvest:“But the good soil stands forthose with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and byperseveringproduceacrop”(Luke8:15).Likeaveteranfarmer,Godconstantlytills the soil of our hearts, so we can bear fruit for eternity. If we are tosuccessfully navigate the waterways of the Holy Spirit, while maintainingintegrity,wemustcultivatethissamepassionforpurityofheart.

Godhasalwaysgonetogreatlengthstopreparetheheartsofpeoplebeforeentrusting them with great things. In Genesis 37, Joseph had two vivid andpowerfuldreams, throughwhichGodrevealed tohim thathewasdestined forgreatness.ButfirstGodarrangedcircumstancesoverthenexttwenty-plusyearstotestJosephandpreparehisheartbeforethepromisewasfulfilled.

First,Josephwassoldasaslavebyhisbrothers,thenhewasfalselyaccusedof attempted rape and imprisoned in Egypt.Years later, after he had come topowerandhisbrotherswerereunitedwithhim,hisgracious treatmentof themproved that God’s work of refining his heart had done its job. He bore noresentment,butsaidtothem,“…Donotbedistressedanddonotbeangrywithyourselves for sellingme here, because it was to save lives thatGod sentmeaheadofyou…topreserveforyouaremnantonearthandtosaveyourlivesbyagreat deliverance” (Gen. 45:5-7). Through all his trials and temptations,Joseph’sheartwasintact!

In First Samuel 16, the prophet anointed David to be the next king, andimmediatelyDavidspentyearsfleeingforhislifefromSaulandenduringgreathardshipbeforethetimewasrightforhimtobecomeking.AlthoughSaulhadmistreated him time and time again, and even tried several times to kill him,Davidnevergave in tobitternessor revenge. In fact,whenheheard thatSaulwasdead,hefastedandwept.ItwasthroughthesetrialsthatGodwaspreparinghisheartforgreaterthingsthanheeverimagined.

JesusHimselfhadtoendurethesamekindoftestingandpreparationofheartwhentheSpiritledHimintothedeserttobetemptedbysatan,andthenforthenext threeyearsasHisownpeoplerejectedHim.Itwasevident thatHishearthadbeenunstainedandfreeofbitternessasHistorturedbodyhungonthecrossandHebegged theFather,“Forgive them, for theydonotknowwhat theyaredoing”(Luke23:34).

SAULANDDAVID—ACASESTUDY

In all of scripture, there is probably no more stark contrast between twoheartsthanthestoryofSaulandDavid,andprobablynomoreexplicitlessonintheimportanceofguardingyourheartduringtimesoftesting.

ThestorybeginsinFirstSamuel10,withtheprophetSamuelanointingSaultobethefirstkingofIsrael.AspartofhisequipmenttoleadGod’speople,weare told inverse9,“…when[Saul]had turnedhisback to leaveSamuel,Godgave him another heart…” (Amplified Bible). So here is Saul, with a freshanointingandanewheart,readytoleadthenationofIsrael.Buttragically,overthenextfewchapters,Saulfailstwocriticaltests,andGodrejectshimasking.

In the first test, Samuel had commanded Saul to wait at Gilgal, beforeattacking the Philistines, saying,“Iwill surely come down to you to sacrificeburnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but youmust wait seven days until Icometoyouandtellyouwhatyouaretodo”(ISam.10:8).SoSaulwentdownwith three thousand soldiers, andwaited atGilgal for seven days.During thistime his troops became increasingly fearful, and finally, when Samuel didn’tshowupontheseventhday,someofthembegantoleave.Indesperation,Sauloffered the sacrifice himself, in blatant disobedience to the word of the LordthroughSamuel,whoshowedupjustasthesacrificewasending.

SamuelconfrontedSaulandsaidtohim,“Youactedfoolishly.Youhavenotkept the command the Lord your God gave you. If you had He would haveestablishedyourkingdomoverIsraelforalltime.Butnowyourkingdomwillnotendure;theLordhassoughtoutamanafterHisownheartandappointedhimleaderofHispeople…”(ISam.13:13-14,emphasismine).

In chapter 16, God sends Samuel to the house of Jesse, in Bethlehem, toanointoneofhissonsasthenextkingoverIsrael.Whenhearrives,SamuelhasJesseparadehissons infrontofhim,beginningwith theoldest,Eliab.SamuelwasimmediatelyimpressedwithEliab,andthought,“SurelytheLord’sanointedstandsherebeforetheLord.”ButtheLordsaidtoSamuel,“Donotconsiderhisappearanceorhisheight,forIhaverejectedhim.TheLorddoesnotlookatthethingsmanlooksat.Manlooksattheoutwardappearance,buttheLordlooksatthe heart” (emphasis mine). Finally, David is sent for, and the Lord directsSamueltoanointhim.

Intheverynextchapter,IsraelandthePhilistinesgatherforwar,andGoliathmakeshischallengeeverydayforfortydays,whilethearmyofIsraelrunsfromhiminfear.WhenDavidshowsup,bearinggiftsfromhisfatherforhisbrothers

and their officers, he is appalled at the situation, and livid that some“uncircumcised Philistine”would dare to “defy the armies of the livingGod”(verse26).Hiscommentsareoverheard,andheisbroughttoSaul.Davidsaystotheking,“LetnooneloseheartonaccountofthePhilistine;yourservantwillgoandfighthim”(verse32,emphasismine).Youknowtherest.

David’slifeisacasestudyofamanwhoseheartisfullydevotedtoGod,andwhodoesnotallowhis fearofpeople to triphimup,asSauldid.Meanwhile,Saul’s heart condition continues to deteriorate, as hemakes one bad decisionafter another, and we are told, in First Samuel 28:5, “When Saul saw thePhilistinearmy,hewasafraid;terrorfilledhisheart”(emphasismine).BecauseGodnolongeransweredhim,heresortedtoconsultingthewitchofEndor,andeventuallyhislifeendsonthebattlefield,ashecommitssuicide.

The tragedy of Saul stands in dramatic contrast to the long and successfulreignofDavid,andwearetoldagainandagain,thatthedefiningissueforbothofthemwastheconditionoftheirhearts.EventhoughDavidlatercommittedaserious sin in the case involvingBathsheba (II Sam. 11), he quickly repentedwhen confronted by the prophet Nathan, and for generations to come, GodcomparedsubsequentkingstothestandardsetbyDavid.

HEMUSTBECOMEGREATER,IMUST

BECOMELESSTheseofcoursewerethewordsofJohntheBaptist inJohn3:30,whenhis

followers became concerned that the crowdswere going over to Jesus (NIV).TheAmplified version adds some texture herewith the translation,“Hemustgrowmore prominent; I must grow less so.” John understood that Jesus wasexactlytherightpersonforthecrowdstofollow,andthathisrole,allalong,hadbeenthatofonewhomerelypointedthewaytoJesus—only“avoicecallingoutinthedesert”(John1:23).

This issue—being at peace when another leader emerges, who begins todraw the crowds—touches somethingdeep in everyheart, and it tests us in atleastthreecrucialways:First,itforcesustodealwiththetemptationtobecomeresentful,jealous,andbitterwhenourprominenceisthreatened.ThatisthewaySaulchose.Isthatthewaywewillgointhatinnersecretplaceofourheart,orwillwebegraciousandhumble,andtrulyseekGodtoseeifthisnew“hero”ispartofHisplan,andperhapsevenourreplacement?

Canwearriveattheplacewherewetrulyseektheperson’ssuccessandeven

pray for it, as did Jonathan,whenDavid seemeddestined to take his place asSaul’s successor? (Now, of course,we should always pray for discernment inthesecases.Individualswilloftenshowupwhoseemimpressiveinsomeway,andweshouldn’tbe inahurry toabdicateourministry,or toassumeGodhassentthemtoreplaceus.ButweshouldalwaysasktheLordtohelpusguardourhearts.)

Second,italsosurfacesinthepocketsofinsecuritythatresideinmostofus.Havewebecomedependentonpeopletogiveusasenseofourvalue?Havewebecomeoverlydependentontheirsupport,financialorotherwise?Dowetrulyknow, deep down in our hearts, that our strength, resources, and significancecome,notfrompeople,butfromourheavenlyFather?

Ifthistouchessomethinginyouthatisunresolved,letmeencourageyoutodiscoverthetender,passionate,andallencompassingloveoftheFatherforyou.TakesometimetogoonlongwalksandsimplymeditateontheloveofJesusforyou,togettoknowHimasyourbestfriend.DrinkdeeplyfrompassagessuchasFirstJohnandtheGospelofJohn,untilyouunderstandthatGodnotonlylovesyou,Helikesyouandwantstobewithyouallthetime!

Third,wearealsoconfrontedwiththeissueofpersonalambition.Iusedtothink this was primarily an American issue, because of our addiction to“success,”butInowknowthatthisisahugeissueineveryculture,becauseitispart of the fallout from the original meltdown in the Garden of Eden. Whatpastorhasnotbattledthedesireforrecognitionandtheincreaseofhisministry,ratherthantheuntaintedadvanceofsomeoneelse’sKingdom—theKingdomofGod? What worship leader or musician has not struggled with the desire toperformforapplause,ratherthanthesimplebeautyofleadingGod’speopleintoHispresence?

Thesearenotperipheralissues.Theygototheveryrootofourmotivationsandclearlyaffectthepurityofourhearts.Ifwearetoseethegreatestawakeningin history, there will need to be men and women of character in the lead. IbelieveGodhasbeenpreparingagenerationofmenandwomentodojustthat.MayweoftenprayDavid’sprayerfromPsalm139:23-24:“Searchme,OGod,andknowmyheart; testmeandknowmyanxiousthoughts.Seeif thereisanyoffensivewayinme,andleadmeinthewayeverlasting.”

Chapter10

THEHOLYSPIRITANDWISDOM

“Wisdomissupreme;thereforegetwisdom.Thoughitcostyouallyouhave,getunderstanding.”Proverbs4:7

WHENBILLYGRAHAMWASCONDUCTINGhisfamouscrusadesaroundtheworld,hewouldalwayshaveoneofhis teammembersprecedehimintohishotel room,justincaseawomanhadgainedentryinordertoseducehim.Thiswaswisdominaction.Heknewthatifhehadallowedhimselftofallpreytoanyschemelikethis,evenonce,hisfruitfulandpowerfulministrywouldbeover.Weshouldallbe thankful thatBilly had thewisdom and discretion that gave him a 60-yearministry,whichcontinuestobearfruitallovertheworld.

In my lifetime, I have watched with dismay as one Christian leader afteranotherhasfallenvictimtooneofsatan’sdestructiveschemes.Inmostcases,ithasbeenadultery,but inothers it hasbeengreedorprideor simplya lackofwisdominsomeareathathasderailedtheirministries.Sometimesleadersdon’tfall into obvious sin, but become so consumedwith theirministries that theirmarriagesandfamiliessufferdevastatingconsequences.

In his book, The Emotionally Healthy Church, Pete Scazzero relates thefollowingstory:

In 1950 Bob Pierce founded what has become World Vision, theworld’s largest Christian relief and development agency. Today thatorganization serves more than fifty million people a year in 103countries. Passionate for Jesus and for a world without hunger ordisease,BobPiercebeganhumbly,helpingchildrenorphanedby theKoreanWar.Everyoutreachhetouchedgrewinsizeandscope.With

unstoppablevisionandenergyhedreamedtheimpossibleandthendideverythingimaginabletomakeithappen.

Boboftenprayed,“LetmyheartbebrokenbythethingsthatbreaktheheartofGod.”Thatzealdrovehimtotheendsoftheearth,markedbyaseemingly inexhaustiblepassion tomeetspiritualandhumanneedswhereverhesawthem.

Unfortunately, his approach had disastrous consequences for hisfamily. As one family friend stately politely, Bob’s wife, Lorraine,“knewdeprivationofadifferentkindthanthosetowhomherhusbandwasministering.”

Thestarkrealityis thatheallbutabandonedhisownfamily.Hehadconsistently put the opportunities for expansion and greater impactahead of his wife and children. For example, when one of hisdaughters attempted suicide, she phoned him on one of his overseastripsandaskedhimtocomehomesoon.

“IjustneededtofeelDaddy’sarmsaroundme,”shelaterexplained.

NothingrequiredhimtostaythereintheFarEast.

Hecouldhavetakenthenextflighthome.Hiswifepleadedwithhimtoreturn.Instead,sensingtheurgencyanddemandsofsomanypeopleinneedaroundhim,hebookedaflighttoVietnam.

“I knew he wouldn’t come,” his daughter later said. Several yearslater,shedidsuccessfullytakeherlife.

Bob’s relationshipwithhiswifealsodeterioratedover time.Atonepoint,yearspassedwhen theydidnotevenspeak.His relationshipswithhis two remaining childrenwere equally strained.By the finalyear of his life, at the age of sixty-four, Bob Pierce was alienatedfromeveryoneinhisimmediatefamily.1

Inspiteofmanywonderfulaccomplishments,BobPierceleftaverymixedlegacy.Perhapsifhehadpursuedwisdomwiththesamepassionhehadtomeettheneedsofthesuffering,hislifewouldhavelookedverydifferent.Hemaynothaveaccomplishedasmuchintermsofnumbers,buthemighthaveenjoyedtheadorationofastrongfamily,andleftbehindarolemodelmanycouldemulate.

Accordingtothebible,ofallthecommoditiesthatwecandesirefromGod,wisdom is the greatest. Proverbs 4:7 says,“Wisdom is supreme, therefore getwisdom.Thoughitcostyouallyouhave,getunderstanding.”

WhenGodappearedtoSolomoninadreamandsaid,“AskforwhateveryouwantMe togiveyou” (IKings3:5),Solomonasked forwisdom.Hesaid,“…giveYourservantadiscerningheart togovernYourpeopleand todistinguishbetween right andwrong” (verse 9).His request so pleased the Lord thatHegavehim,notonlywisdom,butalsothethingshedidnotaskfor:longlifeandunimaginablewealth.Godisalwayspleasedwhenweseekwisdom.

TheHolySpiritshoweduplikeaviolentwindatPentecost,andforawhilethechurchenjoyedexplosivegrowth.But,asissooftenthecasewhentheHolySpiritcomes, that’swhenthingsbecamecomplicated.Weare told, in thesixthchapterofActs,thattheHellenisticJews(thoseJewswhohadmovedtherefromtheGreek-speakingcountries)becameupsetwith theHebraicJews(thosewhowerenativetoIsrael),becausetheirwidowswerebeingdiscriminatedagainstinthefooddistribution.

Theapostlesrecognizedtheseverityoftheproblem,butalsoknewthatGodhadasolution.Theycalledameetingof theentire fellowshipofbelieversandinstructed them to elect sevenmenwhowere“full of the Spirit andwisdom”(Acts6:3)whowouldhavetheresponsibilityofdealingwiththeadministrationof this issue (interestingly, all seven of the men they elected had Hellenisticnames).Theapostleshadexercisedwisdominthisdecision,andtheyinsistedonwisdom in those elected to serve.When theHoly Spirit is atwork,when theWindbeginstoblow,wisdommustalwaysbepartoftherudder.

Thepresenceandpowerfulworkingof theHolySpiritdoesnotnegate theneed for wise planning, healthy infrastructure, mature leadership, soundteaching,andintentionaldiscipleship.Ifwhatwedesireisnotjustashort-livedburst of spiritual excitement, but a long-lasting, world-changing awakening,substantially free from scandals, distractions, and foolishness, we must havewisdomfromGod.

Severalyearsago,ourfamily traveled toNiagaraFalls.Aswestoodat therail overlooking thepointwhere thewater rushedcontinuouslyover the rockyedge,wewereoverwhelmed.Foralmostanhour,westoodthere,transfixed,asthedeafening roar and themist surroundedus like aheavyblanket.The sheervolumeofwaterand the intimidating senseofbeingconfrontedby rawpowerweretrulyawe-inspiring.

But that great power has to be channeled into the turbines that turn the

generators, which provide electricity to millions of homes in Canada and theUnitedStates.Withoutyearsofcarefulplanning,greatexpense,andhardworktoputthosegeneratorsinplace,allofthatpowerwouldgotowaste.

ItisthesamewiththepoweroftheHolySpirit.Godprovidesthepower,butwemustexercisewisdomandcreatetheproperchannelsforitsflow.AftertheHolySpiritcameontheDayofPentecost,threethousandpeoplewerebaptizedand immediately enfolded into home groups, where they were taught andstrengthened in joyful fellowship. This is still a great model for the dynamicpartnershipthancanexistbetweentheHolySpiritandwisefollowersofJesus.

TheApostlePaulhadmoreexperiencewiththepoweroftheSpiritthanmostpeople alive today. Throughout his lifetime, he had seen profound healings,miracles, anddeliverances.Godusedhim to reach thousandswith theGospel.He had even seen the dead raised. But in addition to all of this, Paul highlyvaluedwisdom,anditshowed,notonlyinhistheologicalinsight,butalsointhewayhe developed the early infrastructure of the church.We read inActs thatPaulappointedeldersineachofthechurchesheestablished,andmostofthosechurchesgrewstrongandcontinuedtobearfruitformanyyears.

During the Wesleyan revival in England, John Wesley exercised similarwisdom in preserving the harvest by forming societies of new converts fordiscipleship and accountability, and by appointing lay ministers to travel andcare for them. His well-thought-out system became famous and his methodbecameknownas“Methodism.”

Wisdomisalsoreflectedinhowwestructureourpriorities.It’ssoeasytoletourselvesgetcaughtupinthedemandsofour“to-do”lists,or theprioritiesofother people, and to neglect our relationshipswith our families, orworse, ourrelationship with the Lord. This will not get easier as the harvest increases.Unless we have firmly established healthy boundaries, which include alwaysgivingourselves first toGodonadailybasis, itwillgetworse.WemustseekGod’swisdomanddisciplinetosay“no”tosomeopportunities,orwewillgetburiedbythedemandsofministryandburnoutprematurely.

Jesusdemonstrated thiskindofwisdomperfectly, right afterHehad spentthe previous evening healingmany in Simon’s village. Luke tells us, in Luke4:42,“AtdaybreakJesuswentouttoasolitaryplace.Thepeoplewerelookingfor Him and when they came to where He was, they tried to keep Him fromleavingthem.ButHesaid,‘ImustpreachthegoodnewsofthekingdomofGodto the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.’” He had spent timealonewiththeFather,andwasrefreshedinthescopeandrhythmofHiscalling,

soitwaseasyforHimnottobesidetrackedbythepressingneedsaroundHim.Jesus also knew how to budgetHis timewell, finding the perfect balance

betweenteachingthemultitudes,spendingtimedevelopingthefutureleadersofHischurch,andretreatingintothoseprecioustimesalonewiththeFather.Whatwas trueof Jesus is also trueof us:“Bywisdomahouse is built and throughunderstandingitisestablished”(Prov.24:3).

MyfavoritestoryaboutJesusdisplayingwisdomis found inLuke,chapter20.Thisreallyisagreat“gotcha”story!Here’swhatLukesays:

KeepingaclosewatchonHim,theysentspies,whopretendedtobehonest.TheyhopedtocatchJesusinsomethingHesaidsothattheymighthandHimovertothepowerandauthorityofthegovernor.Sothe spies questioned Him: “Teacher, we know that You speak andteachwhatisright,andthatYoudonotshowpartialitybutteachthewayofGodinaccordancewiththetruth.IsitrightforustopaytaxestoCaesarornot?”

He saw through their duplicity and said to them, “Show Me adenarius.Whoseportraitandinscriptionareonit?”

“Caesar’s,”theyreplied.

Hesaidtothem,“ThengivetoCaesarwhatisCaesar’s,andtoGodwhatisGod’s.”

Theywereunable to trapHim inwhatHehadsaid there inpublic.AndastonishedbyHisanswer,theybecamesilent(Luke20:20-26).

Don’tyou just love it?Herewere thesearrogant andhypocritical religiousleadersand theirspies trying to trapJesus inHiswords,andHesobeautifullyandsmoothlyevadesthetrap,leavingthemfrustratedandoutsmarted!

The reason I share this story with you is that this is exactly the kind ofwisdomwearegoing toneed in thecoming revival.WhenGodpoursoutHisSpirit and theharvest beginspouring in, don’t think for aminute that satan isgoing to take it lyingdown.Hewillmobilizehis own spies and agents in themedia(perhapseveninChristianmedia)toputusonthespotandtrytocatchusoffguard,withthegoalofunderminingourcredibilityandmakinguslooklikefools.

This danger is so real that it cannot be overemphasized!Many of us havebeencryingoutforGodtopouroutHisSpiritonournation,butwithsuchanoutpouringwill inevitablycomegreaterscrutiny.Whenthattimecomes,rather

than reacting to every critic, or jumping at every invitation for interviews ornewscoverage,weneedtobeinconstantandintimatefellowshipwithJesusandtheSpiritastheonlyreliable“Counselors”inthesematters.Thatistheonlywaywecanhaveconfidencethatwearesayingtherightthingsattherighttime,intherightwaytotherightpeople.

“Wisdom is supreme; therefore getwisdom,” saysProverbs 4:7. Sowhereandhowdowegetit?Ihavefoundatleastfourwaysthatwisdomcomestous:First,wecanbecomewisesimplythroughthelongjourneyoflife’sexperiences.Isay“can,”becausewisdomdoesn’talwayscomewithage.Weonlylearnfromourmistakesaswereflectonthemandlearntoavoidrepeatingthem.

I’mremindedaboutthesuccessfulbusinessmanwhowasapproachedbytwoyoung,ambitiouswannabees.“What’s thesecret toyoursuccess?” theyasked.“Two words,” he replied, “right decisions.” “Well, how do you make rightdecisions?”theypersisted.“Oneword,”hereplied,“experience.”Theypressedhim, “Okay, but how do you get experience?” “Twowords,” he said, “wrongdecisions.”

AmongthosewhomGodwillusemosteffectivelyinthecomingawakeningwill be seasoned men and women who have lengthy resumes, not only ofsuccesses,butalsoplentyofmistakesthattheyhavelearnedfromovertime.

Second,wisdomisavailablesimplybyaskingGodforit.Jamestellsus,inJames 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who givesgenerouslytoallwithoutfindingfault,anditwillbegiventohim.”Thenhegoeson to say,“Butwhenheasks,hemustbelieveandnotdoubt,becausehewhodoubtsislikeawaveofthesea,blownandtossedbythewind.Thatmanshouldnot think hewill receive anything from the Lord….” Trusting in the goodnessandgenerosityofGodisthekeytoaskingwithconfidence.Butwearealsotoldtoaskpersistently,andnottogiveup,to“lookforitasforsilverandsearchforitasforhiddentreasure…”(Prov.2:4).

Third, wisdom is found in the vast gold mine of God’s word, the bible.Listen to thewordsof thePsalmist:“Yourcommandsmakemewiser thanmyenemies,fortheyareeverwithme.Ihavemoreinsightthanallmyteachers,forImeditate on Your statutes. I havemore understanding than the elders, for IobeyYourprecepts” (Ps.119:98-100).Thebibleisourvitalsourceofwisdombecause it is the book of the Spirit. As you search the scriptures, you arelisteningforthevoiceoftheSpiritthroughHisword,forHeiscalledthe“SpiritofWisdom”(seeIsa.11:2andICor.1:17).Letmeencourageyoutocryoutfora hunger and thirst forGod’swrittenword, and that youwould understand it

throughtheinsightoftheHolySpirit.Finally, it bears repeating that wisdom is found by pursuing Jesus. Paul

prays, inColossians2:2-3,“…that theymayknowthemysteryofGod,namelyChrist, inwhomarehiddenall the treasuresofwisdomandknowledge.”ALLthe treasures! Pursuing Jesus is the wisest thing you can do. Making timeregularly to just be with Him, talking to Him, asking Him questions,worshippingHim,isalwaystimerewarded.

ENDNOTE

1.PeterScazzero,TheEmotionallyHealthyChurch(GrandRapids,MI:Zondervan,2003),39-40.

Chapter11

THESPIRITANDTHEMISSION

“YouwillreceivepowerwhentheHolySpiritcomesuponyou,andyouwillbeMywitnesses…”Acts1:8

IT’SBEENABOUT8YEARSsinceImetBobbyattheToyotadealer,butI’llneverforgethisstory.HewastheonlyAssyrianI’devermet.Ididn’tevenrealizetheystillexisted.Ifiguredtheywereanancientcivilizationthathadceasedtoexist,or had been subsumed into some other culture, but here he was—a real, liveAssyrian.HewasthefirstsalesmantogreetmewhenIwaslookingaroundthelot.Bobbywasveryfriendly,courteousandpatient,butwhatgotmyattentionwastheinterestheshowedinthefactthatIwasaminister.

Whenwe finally had the paperwork completed andwere just sitting there,waitingforthefinanceofficetogettheirstuffdone,Bobbybegantellingmehisstory.Sometimeback,hisbrother-in-lawhadtriedtellinghimaboutJesus,andhadbeentryingtogethimtogotohischurch,butBobbyhadbeenreluctant.Hetoldmethatbeforehelefthisbrother-in-law’shousethatnight,hisbrother-in-lawtoldhimthatGodwasgoingtoshowBobbyasignthatwouldconfirmthemessageaboutJesus.Idon’tknowhowheknewBobbywouldseeasign,butIassumetheHolySpiritspoketohimandpromptedhimtotellBobby.

Anyway,Bobbywentontotellmethatthenextday,ashewaspullingintothe parking lot of the dealership heworkedwith at the time, therewas a guystandingattheentranceholdinga(literal)sign,thatsaid,“John3:16.”Hehadnoideawhatitmeant,butheaskedoneoftheothersalesmeniftheyhadseentheguywiththesign,butwhentheylookedoutside,therewasnoonethere.Whenhetoldsomeoftheothersalesmenaboutit,oneofthemsaid,“Ohyeah,‘John

3:16’ is the sign that guy with the rainbow-colored afro holds up at footballgames.”FinallyoneofthemtoldBobbyitwasascripturereference,andBobbylooked it up. Tomake a long story short, he ended up committing his life toJesus,andwhenImethimhewascontemplatinggettingbaptized.

Becausehisbrother-in-lawwasfaithful to themissionJesusassignedtoallofus,Bobbywillspendeternityinheaven.AndthatistherealreasontheSpiritwasgiven—notjusttomakeus“shake,rattle,androll,”buttobewitnesses.OneofthelastthingsJesussaidtoHisdisciplesintheupperroom,rightbeforeHewas betrayed,was that theHoly Spiritwould testify about Jesus, and thatwealso must testify (John 15:26-27). Of course, the scripture most of usCharismatics/PentecostalsaremostfamiliarwithisActs1:8,quotedatthetopofthischapter:“Youwillreceivepower…andyouwillbeMywitnesses.”

ReachinglostpeoplehasalwaysbeenthetoppriorityofJesusandtheSpirit.InLukechapterfour,whenwereadaboutJesusreturningfromthedesert“inthepower of the Spirit,” we read that He was handed the scroll of Isaiah in thesynagogueofNazareth.TheveryfirstthingHereadwas,“TheSpiritoftheLordis onMe, because He has anointedMe to proclaim good news to the poor”(Luke4:18).

InthefourthchapterofJohn,wearetoldinversefour,thatJesus“hadtogothroughSamaria.”Mostcommentatorsagreethatthenecessityofthisroutewasnotbecauseitwastheshortestwaytogo,butbecausetheSpirithadplannedHisencounterwiththeSamaritanwomanat thewell,andtheresultingsalvationofanentiretown.

Then in the three parables Jesus told in Luke 15—the lost sheep, the lostcoin,andthelostson—Hewas,infact,underlining,withthreepowerfulstrokes,theurgencyofreachingthelostandthejoyinheavenwhentheyarefound.

WhentheHolySpiritispouredoutinanysovereignmoveofGod,oneofthethingsweshouldexpect is tosee largenumbersofunconvertedpeoplefindingJesus. Admittedly, that is not always the first phenomenon to occur at thosetimes,becausethereissometimestheneedforbelieverstofirstrekindleafreshpassion and to experience anew the fire of the Spirit.But at some point thereneedstobewidespreadevangelismhappeningastheSpiritenforcesthepassionofJesusforthelost.

DOINGITRIGHT

Iwasn’tquitesurewhyIwasdrivingthe2½hoursdowntoLagunaNiguelyesterday, other than I knew I wanted to enjoy the “fellowship of the HolySpirit”withmyfriend,apastornamedMike.IknewMikehadasimilarpassionfor theHolySpirit, and thatheoftenhostsconferenceswith speakerswhoarewell-knownCharismaticleaders.

Iexpectedtocomeupto thereceptionist’sdeskandhaveMikestepoutofhisoffice andmeetme,but I hadahard timeeven finding the front entrance,because therewere three largebuildingsand lotsofactivitygoingon.I finallyspottedMikeintheparkinglot,wearingworkclothesandcarryingaboxofoldclothesintotheirwarehouse.Hegavemethetour,showingmeawarehousefullof twenty-foot-high stacks of clothes that had been sorted and shrink-wrappedintolargebundlesbytheirbundlingmachine,readyforshipmenttoAfrica.

As hewas showingme around and introducingme to the volunteerswhoweresortingthroughthepilesofdonateditems,therewasalreadyalineformingforthedistributionoffoodfortheneedy.Mikeknewsomeofthembynameandstoppedtotalkwiththem,includingonecouplethathehadjustbaptized.

Mikecontinued the tour, excitedabout thenew,walk-incold storageunitsthat would enable them to receive perishable food, and the large thrift store,whichenables them to raise some funds,but lamented thathe still can’t coverthemortgage.

Wewent on through another buildingwhere therewas aministry class inprogress, through theprayer roomandoffices, and finallywe left togo to therestaurant. Over lunch, Mike shared with me how he had started out as amissionary, and togetherwitha friend,had startedamovementofchurches inCambodiaandThailandthatnowhasover3,000churches.

OnthewayhomeIrealizedwhytheHolySpirithadpromptedmetodriveallthewaydownthroughL.A.traffictothefarendofOrangeCountyandmeetwithMike.Hewantedmetoseeareal,liveexampleofwhatitlookslikewhenaperson fully embraces the whole message of the Kingdom—a kingdom thatincludes both passion for the Holy Spirit and His gifts on the one hand, andevangelismandcareforthepoorontheother.

Over thirty-plusyearsofpastoralministry, Ihavediscovered that therearetwo things thatwill inevitably atrophy, unlesswe intentionally go after them:Evangelism and Spiritual gifts. The reason is not hard to find: Both of thesethingsmakeusmoveoutofourcomfortzones,andbothofthesethingsinvolverisk,andwetendtoavoidbothdiscomfortandrisk!

The first church I pastored was in Rosemead, California, a working-class

areaofLosAngeles.Iwasabout28,freshlygraduatedfromFullerSeminaryinPasadena,and trying to figureouthow to reachpeople for Jesus.Oneday theoffice phone rang and the voice at the other end of the line was a guy evenyounger than I, from an organization called Christians In Action (CIA). Heofferedtocomeandpresentaclassonneighborhoodevangelism,thentakeusbythehandandshowushowtodoit.

Overthenextyear,threeorfourofuswouldgatheratthechurchonTuesdayeveningsandgodoor-to-door talking topeopleaboutJesus.Weusedasimpledoor-openingtechniqueabout takingasurvey, thenlaunchalmost immediatelyintoJohn3:16,etc.Itwasthemostbasicmethodyoucouldimagine,butoverthenext year or soweprayed the “sinner’s prayer”with over 100people in theirdoorways.

Wewerelousyatfollow-up,althoughwedidmanagetostartoneshort-termbiblestudyinahome.However,duringthatperiodoftime,eventhoughnoneofthose people showed up on Sundays, the Lord doubled our church with newfamilies.Establishedbelievers.Tithingbelievers! It taughtme that theLord ispleasedwithevenourfeebleattemptstoreachlostpeople,andwillrichlyblessthoseefforts.

REVIVALANDEVANGELISM

One of the great things that happened during the historic revival atAzusaStreet(1906-1910)wasthatmanyindividualswereprofoundlytouchedbytheHolySpiritandlaunchedoutintoevangelismandmissions.

A youngwoman namedMaryRumseywas baptized in theHoly Spirit atAzusaStreetin1908andfeltcalledtobeamissionarytoKorea.Shespentthenext20yearspreparing,andin1928leftforKorea.WhenJapaninvadedKorea,shehadtogobackhometotheU.S.,butsheleftbehindeightchurchesandtenordained pastors to continue her work in Korea. At the end of the war, theAssembliesofGodorganizedthechurchesintotheKoreanAssembliesofGod,and started a bible school.One of the first studentswas a youngman namedYonggiCho,who startedwhatwouldbecome the largest church in theworld,withacurrentmembershipinexcessofonemillion!1

There were many others who were touched by the Holy Spirit at AzusaStreetandwerepowerfullyusedbyGodinthefollowingyears.Someof thesewereinstrumentalinfoundingtheAssembliesofGod,whichwouldbecomethe

largestPentecostaldenominationintheworld,andtheChurchofGodinChrist,which has become the largest black Pentecostal denomination. Both of thesemovements,alongwithothers that sprangup in theaftermathofAzusaStreet,havebeenusedbyGodtoplanthundredsofthousandsofchurches,andtobringmillionsofpeopleintotheKingdom.

The JesusMovement, a revival that began inCalifornia in the late 1960’sandearly1970’s,gavebirthtothreechurchmovements:CalvaryChapel,HopeChapel, and the Vineyard, which have become highly effective in churchplanting and evangelism. Jews for Jesus also traces its roots to the JesusMovement, and this organization has helped many Jews find their messiah,Jesus.

It seemswithout question thatwhenever the Spiritmoveswith power,wecanexpecttoseeanincreaseinmissions,churchplanting,andevangelism.Thisis what happened after the very first outpouring in Jerusalem on the Day ofPentecost.That first dayover3,000people received Jesus,werebaptized, andwere added to the life of theChurch.Not long afterward, another 2,000wereadded inoneday,andduring thatseason,Luke tellsus inActs2:47, that“theLordaddedtotheirnumberdailythosewhowerebeingsaved.”

IcantotallyrelatetomanywhoarepassionateaboutseekingtheHolySpiritandthereleaseofHisgifts.Likethem,Iameasilystimulatedandfilledwithjoyat the sight of the Spirit falling inmanifestways upon people. I too love thewords, the tingles, the jerks, the falling, the laughter, and even the“drunkenness”thatsometimescomeswhentheSpiritispowerfullypresentinagathering.Butlet’sneverforgetthatallofthesethingsareonlyphysicalsignsofHispresence, andnever thegoal.AboveeverythingelseHedoes, thepurposefortheSpiritistheMission!

ENDNOTE

1.ThisstorywasrelatedbyDr.VinsonSynanofRegentUniversityattheVineyardNationalConferenceonJuly14,1997.Dr.SynanisarecognizedauthorityonthehistoryofPentecostalandCharismaticmovementsaroundtheworld,andiscurrentlyDeanEmeritusatRegentUniversityinVirginiaBeach.

Chapter12

THEPINNACLEANDTHEPROCESS

NowtoHimwhoisabletodoimmeasurablymorethanallweaskorimagine,accordingtoHispowerthatisatworkwithinus,toHimbegloryinthe

churchandinChristJesusforeverandever!Amen.Ephesians3:20-21

THREETHOUSANDNEWPEOPLEPOURINGintothechurchinoneday!Nottohearaspecialspeaker.Notbecauseacelebritywasthere.Notbecausethechurchwasgivingawaygreatfreebies.ButbecausetheyhadbeenpowerfullyconvictedbytheHolySpirit,baptizedintotheChurchofJesusChrist,andnowcouldn’tstayaway!

TheaccountinActscontinueswithavividdescriptionofvibrantcommunitylife,asthesetransformedmenandwomenwereenfoldedintohomegroupsandtaught daily about the Kingdom of God by anointed apostles. As the SpiritsoftenedtheirheartsandasJesuscapturedtheiraffections,theywillinglypartedwithmaterialpossessionsso that thepooramong themcouldbe takencareof.TheirheartsandtheirenergieswerenoworientedtowardanewKingdom,andthethingsofthislifeweresimplylosingtheirattractiveness.AndtheLordaddedmore and more people to their numbers every day as the Church explodedthroughoutJerusalem!

Whatwasgoingonhere?TheshortansweristheHolySpiritcame.Cameinpower; came with a loud roar; came with fire! But the short answer doesn’texplainitall.

Thecoreofabout120believers,includingtheelevenapostles,hadsharedacommon experience for the past three years with Jesus; then after Hisresurrection they had spent ten days praying together daily; finally, the Holy

SpiritcameontheDayofPentecost,fillingthemwithpower.Therehadalreadyexistedapowerful camaraderie, fueledbyanabsolute certainty that Jesuswasalive and coming back, and that they had been commissioned to prepare theworldforthenewKingdom.Intothishighlyflammablemixture,theflameoftheSpiritwas thrownand the resultingexplosioncarriedan incomparablesynergyandanunstoppablemomentumthatwouldchangetheworldforever.

ThisamazingpictureofthenewChurchthathasbeenpreservedforusinthesecondchapterofActsisthemostexcitingaccountofchurchliferecordedintheNew Testament. Here we get to see the Church like a high-performance car,rumbling smoothly, firingonall eight cylinders. I amconvinced that theHolySpiritdidnotjustgiveusthisstorytoinspireus,buttogiveuscluesabouthowgreatoutpouringsoftheSpirithappen.IbelievethatGodwantstorevealsomepriceless yet simple truths to us about the process involved in arriving at thispinnacleoftheearlychurch’shistory,andthischapterisanattempttoexplorethesetruths.

THEPROMISE

Ionce heardBob Jones, an old prophetic voice fromMissouri, say, “Papadon’tappreciatewhathedon’tinitiate!”AnotherwayofsayingthisisthatoneoftheindispensablekeystothesuccessofanyventureisthefactthatGodhasinitiated it. This one item alone is so essential for us to understand, becausechurchhistory is fullofmistakesand fruitless endeavors thatwereundertakensimply because they seemed like good ideas at the time, but were not God’sideas.

The Holy Spirit didn’t come just because a group of Christians had beenprayingfortendays.Hedidn’tshowupbecausesomehowtheyhadfiguredoutthe right combinationofprinciplesor “keys”andallof a sudden the lock justclicked open and out popped the Spirit. He came because hundreds of yearsearlier, through the prophet Joel and others,God had promised that hewouldsend the Spirit. And God always keeps His promises. That’s why Jesus toldthem, in Acts 1:4, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Fatherpromised….” The Holy Spirit came because it was the right time in God’ssovereignplan.Godhadtotakethefirststep.

So,inourpresentsituation,hasGodspokenaboutHisdesiretobringagreatrevival?Ibelievetheansweris“yes.”AndIbelievethis,notsomuchbecause

there have been numerous prophecies to that effect, but for the followingreasons:

•Thetimesaredesperate,andonlyagreatrevivalwillrescueournationandsolveitsproblems.

•Godisgood,merciful,andcompassionate,andcaresaboutourcondition.•Godloveslostpeopleandwantsthemalltobesaved(Luke19:10,IIPet.3:9).

•TheChurchisGod’sinstrumenttorevealHislove,Hisgoodness,andHisglory(John15:27;17:20-21,Matt.28:18-20).

•God’sSpiritwithinusmovesustoprayforthesalvationofthelost.•Morepeoplethaneverseemtobedoingthis,whichindicatesthatGodhasinitiatedthefirststepstowardrevival.(Althoughgreaterprayerisstillneeded.)

•GodalwaysrespondswhenweprayaccordingtoHiswill(IJohn5:14-15,Rom.8:26-27).

As in all transactions involvingGod and us, there is always a partnership.JustbecauseGodhaspromisedsomethingdoesn’tmeanwecanjustsitidlybyand do nothing.God always involves people in theworking out ofHis plans.Someonehassaid,“WithoutHim,wecannot;butwithoutus,Hewillnot.”

THEPRAYINGCORE

In the late JohnWhite’s book,When the Spirit Comes With Power, afterconcluding that “amajor revival could be on theway,” he asks the question,“Whatoughtwetodo?”Thenheanswers,

Aboveall,wemustpray.Indeedwemustgiveourselvestoearnestandpersistent prayer. What we term renewal is not enough. Dramaticevidences of divine power are of no importance in themselves. IfrenewalwithinthechurchistofulfillGod’spurposeforitandifChristis to beglorified, itmust lead to amajor evangelistic thrust. Itmustresultinwhatwasoncecalledanawakeninginsocietygenerally.OnlyanextraordinaryoutpouringofGod’sSpiritwillaccomplishthat.

[Hegoeson to add,]Wemust thereforeplead for anoutpouringoftheHolySpiritonChristiancongregations.1

In a fewdays, Iwill be joining thousandsof other believers fromall overSouthernCaliforniaforafulldayofprayerat theRoseBowlinPasadena.Wewilldo thisbecausewebelieveprayermakesadifference.Weunderstand thatGodissovereign,yettheamazingtruthisthatHecanbemovedbytheprayersofpeople.AsGoddeclaresinthefamousscripture,SecondChronicles7:14:

IfMypeople,whoarecalledbyMynamewillhumblethemselvesandprayandseekMyfaceandturn fromtheirwickedways, thenwill Ihearfromheavenandwillforgivetheirsinandwillhealtheirland.

Personally, Ibelieve there is somevalue in large-scale,one-daygatheringssuchas theoneIplan toparticipate inat theRoseBowl,butmyconviction isthat theprayer thatwillultimatelybringthefull-blownawakeningGoddesireswilllookdifferent.

Ifhistoryisanyclue,thegreatrevivalwillmostlikelycomeasnumbersofdesperatemen andwomen gather together all over the nation in small groupsmeeting in churches, homes, and apartments to pray for a great outpouring ofGod’s Spirit. It was exactly such a small group of women fervently prayingtogetherforrevivalforseveralmonthsinanapartmentinPasadenathatprecededthehistoricAzusaStreetrevivalinLosAngeles.2

Martin Lloyd-Jones was one of the 20th century’s greatest preachers andwriters. In his book,Revival, he tells about the great revival that broke out inNorthern Ireland in the late 1800’s. He reports how it began with one man,JamesMcQuilken,whobegantotalktotwoothermen,andtheybeganmeetingtogetherastheyfeltthecalltoprayerforthesurroundingvillages.Jonesgoesontosay:

Believeme,myfriends,whenthenextrevivalcomes,itwillcomeasasurprisetoeverybody,andespeciallytothosewhohavebeentryingtoorganizeit.Itwillhavehappenedinthisunobtrusivemanner,menandwomen just slipping away quietly, as it were, to pray becausethey are burdened, because they can not help themselves, becausetheycannotgoonlivingwithoutit.Andtheywanttojoinwiththeotherswhoarefeelingthesamething,andarecryingoutuntoGod.3

Then,inanotherofhisbooks,JoyUnspeakable,MartinLloyd-Joneswritesaboutthegreatneedforrevival,andsaysthis:

YouandIarecalleduponnotonlytobelieve[forrevival]buttoprayto God without ceasing for it; to ask him to open the windows ofheavenandtosenddowntheSpirit,topourhimuponus,thathemay

falluponusinmightypower.4

Inalmostevery revival,both in scriptureand inchurchhistory,prayerhasplayed a vital role. When that praying core of 120 people gathered daily inJerusalem before the Spirit came, theywere simply preparing their hearts andgettingonthesamepageasGod.Theydidn’tknowexactlywhattoexpectwhentheHoly Spirit came, but they knew Jesus hadmade it clear that theywouldsoonreceivethispromiseoftheFather.

THEPREPARATION

DuringthosetendaysofprayerpriortoPentecost,Peterstoodupandledthegroupinaveryinterestingactivity.HesharedhowJudashadbeendisqualifiedbecausehebetrayedJesus,andfeltthatthescripturesindicatedJudaswastobereplaced. They prayed, cast lots, and ended up electing Matthias as the newtwelfthapostle.

Thereasonthatwassosignificantisthatuptothatpoint,Jesuswastheonlyone to appoint apostles.Now here, the infant church takes over that function,with the conviction that theLord, in partnershipwith them, had approved themove.Thechurch,underPeter’sleadership,wasalreadysteppinguptotheplateandmovinginitsauthority.

There are those who feel it was all amistake, because you never hear ofMatthiasagain.However,youdon’thearofmostoftheothertwelveguyseither.Beyondthat,inRevelation21JohnseesavisionoftheNewJerusalemcomingdown out of heaven,with twelve foundations supporting thewall, and on thefoundation were written the names of the twelve apostles (obviously Judaswould not have been included, sowemust assumeMatthias’ apostleshipwasaffirmedinRevelation).

Inaddition to this importantstepofrepairing the infrastructuregapcreatedbyJudas,afterPentecostwhenthechurchfacedthechallengeoftheHellenisticwidows being overlooked in the daily food distribution, the apostles took onanother infrastructure challenge (Acts 6). They discussed the situation andrecognizedthat theLordhadcalledthemtotheuniqueandvitalroleofprayerand preaching, and oversaw the forming of the new group of sevenadministrators.As a result,we are told that the church continued to growandprosper.

During the great revival of the eighteenth century, John Wesley also

understoodtheneedforahealthyorganizationalstructure.Hedirectedthousandsof new believers into small discipleship groups, and in that way was able toconservethefruitoftheharvest.

It’snotalwayspossible toanticipate the infrastructureneeds inadvanceofrevival, andwe should not fall into the trap of over-organizing something tooearly.Yetwe can and should pray forwisdom and foresight in this area, andtrust theHoly Spirit to guide us asHe did the believers as they prayed, bothbeforeandafterPentecost.

THEPOWER

The second thing God gave, besides initiating the whole Pentecostaloutpouring in keeping with His Promise, was of course the Holy Spirit. TheSpiritwasthecrucialcatalystforeverythingthatfollowedinthebookofActs.OneofthelastthingsJesussaidtoHisdisciplesbeforeHeascendedintoheavenwasthattheywouldreceivepowerwhentheHolySpiritcameuponthem.

The only thing thatwill turn this nation around and bring about the greatharvest so many have been praying for is a massive outpouring of the HolySpirit. There is no other answer for the daunting problems facing us, and noother answer to the hosts ofwickedness behind them, than the power ofGodmademanifestthroughtheHolySpirit.

Inthatsense,thesituationisnottoodifferentfromwhatitwasinJesusday.AtthattimeHecommandedthemnottoevenleaveJerusalembeforereceivingpowerfromheaven(Acts1:4).Hewouldnodoubtsaysomethingsimilartous.Perhaps something like, “Don’t even try to bring about change in your city,muchlessyourcountry,beforereceivingthepoweroftheHolySpirit.”Andjustlikethen,wewillnothavetoguesswhetherwehavereceivedthepowerornot.The fruit of the Spirit may grow slowly and quietly over time, but theempowerment of theSpirit does not come like that.Theremaynot always betonguesof fire,and thebuildingmaynotalwaysshake,butbothscriptureandhistory testify to the fact that when the Spirit comes with power, dramaticchangeshappenquicklyandprofoundly.

THEPROCLAMATION

SofarWe’veseenthatGoddidtwothingsinconnectionwiththecomingoftheSpirit:Hemadeapromise thatHewouldsend theSpirit,andHekept thatpromisebypouringouttheSpiritontheDayofPentecost.We’vealsoseenthatthe disciples did two things: They gathered daily to pray and they made thesimplepreparationstheyfelttheSpiritleadingthemtomake.

Thethirdthingthedisciplesdidwastoopentheirmouthsandspeak.GodsetitupperfectlyforPeter:Hecreatedthenoise,whichdrewthecrowd(Acts2:1-4). Then, when the onlookers were arguing and making fun of the disciples,Peter took thestage,alongwith theEleven.Luke tellsus, inActs2:14,“ThenPeterstoodupwiththeEleven,raisedhisvoiceandaddressedthecrowd.”

WiththeHolySpiritpowerfullyuponhim,PeterpassionatelypersuadedthecrowdthatwhattheywereseeingwasGodtheFather,Jesus,andtheHolySpiritin action. As a result, they were deeply convicted, they repented and werebaptizedintothechurch.

While we are praying for God to pour out His Spirit, let’s also pray forboldnesstospeaktopeopleaboutJesus.Youmaynotknowwheretobegin,butstartbyprayingforGodtocreateopeningsinconversations,ortosetupdivineappointmentswithpeoplewhoneedJesus.Thenkeepyoureyesopen.

Atthispoint,youmaybeamongthosewhosay,“ButIdon’thavethegiftofevangelism.”AndIwouldsay,thereisnosuchgiftmentionedinthebible!TheonlygiftthatcomescloseistheofficeofevangelistinEphesians4:11,andsomereferences to a fewwhowere evangelists. But we are all called to reach lostpeoplefortheKingdom.

EverypastorIknowandvirtuallyeverycommentatorI’vereadbelievethatthe Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 applies to every believer. Icompletelyunderstandtheintimidationthatisfeltwhenchallengedlikethis,butIbelievethattimiditywilllargelydisappearwhentheSpiritcomeswithpower.Everything will change when the Spirit shows up, and those gifts that aredormant inyouwillbeactivated fullblast!Butyoudon’thave towait for thegreatrevival;askGodtoreviveyounow!

Imustemphasizethatwearenottojustprayandwaitforrevivalbeforewemakeanyefforttoreachlostpeople.AsIsharedinChapter1,intheabsenceoftheWindoftheSpirit,wearestilltorowfaithfully,doingthebestwecanwithour available resources. Although rowing requires more effort, God is stillpleasedwhenwearefaithfulandobedienttoHiscommands(suchastheGreatCommission).Let’skeeprowingwhileweprayfortheSpirittocomeinpower!

THEPEOPLE

ThethirdthingGoddidwastosendthepeople—threethousandthefirstday,andthenmanymoreinthedaysthatfollowed,includinganothertwothousandwhen Peter and John healed the crippled man (Acts 4). This is powerevangelism! We are talking about the pinnacle, the greatest example of theChurch operating at full capacity.When theChurch is functioning at its peakSpirit-fullness,thisisthekindofevangelismwecanexpecttosee.

Psalm24:1 says,“The earth is theLord’s and everything in it, theworld,andallwholiveinit.”ThenJesussaid, inJohn17:6,“IhaverevealedYoutothosewhomYougaveMeoutoftheworld.TheywereYours;YougavethemtoMeandtheyhaveobeyedYourword.”ThesescripturesmakeitclearthateverypersononthisplanetbelongstoGod,andHecanaddthemtotheChurchifweaskforthem.

Now, obviously, God will send lost people to those who are properlyequippedtotakecareofthemandfaithfullymakedisciplesoutofthem.Whichbrings us back to the second stepmentioned above, the preparation. Ifwe areprayingforagreatharvest,let’sbeginpracticingandhoningourdisciple-makingskillsnow.Otherwise,whentheharvestcomesfloodingin,manyofuswillbecaughtoff-guardandmuchoftheharvestcouldbelost.

ENDNOTES

1.JohnWhite,WhentheSpiritComesWithPower(DownersGrove,IL:InterVarsityPress,1989)225-226.

2.MorrisandMcCowan,28.3.MartynLloyd-Jones,Revival(Wheaton,IL:CrosswayBooks,1987),165-166.

4.MartynLloyd-Jones,JoyUnspeakable(Wheaton,IL:HaroldShawPublishers,1984),279.

Chapter13

FINDINGANEWNORMAL

‘Thetroublewithnormalisitalwaysgetsworse.’—BruceCockburn

ONE OF THE THINGS I’VE discovered about human nature is that we are veryattractedtocomfort.That’swhysomeguyshaveahardtimegettingridofthosecomfortable(butuglyandsmelly)tennisshoes,evenwhenthey’refallingapartand barely functional. It also explains why we get so comfortable with ourfamiliarlevelofspiritualpassion,thatwe’relikelytostaythereforyears,unlesssomethingdrastichappenstogetourattentionandmoveustoanewlevel.

It’ssoeasytogetusedtoacertainwayofliving—somuchsleep,somuchwork,somuchleisuretime,somuchTVtime,somuch(orsolittle)prayertime,somuchchurch,somuchtimehelpingothers,somuchtimeinGod’sword,etc.Each one of us inevitably settles in to a “normal” way of living, and we getcomfortable with that. It’s like becoming attached to that old pair of tennisshoes,orsittinginthesameplaceinchurchweekafterweek.

A few weeks ago, after spending four days of fasting and prayer on anisolated ranch, the Lord began speaking to me about the need to find a newnormal.Ibelievethisisaverytime-sensitiveword,notonlymeantforme,butfor theBodyofChrist.As I have reflected on this conviction, it seems tometherearetwomainreasonsweneedtofindanewnormal.

First,weareabout toseeanewawakening in thisnation,greater thananyrevivalinourhistory.I’massureaboutthatasI’veeverbeenaboutanythinginmyroughly60yearsonthisplanet.Ifindeedthisisthecase,wemustrisetotheoccasion.Wemuststepuptotheplate.Wemustanswerthecall.Wemustraisethebar.Howeveryouphraseit,thethingthatGodhasplannedissohistoricand

soprofoundthattheChurchmustgetseriousnowaboutgettingmobilized.Thatmeans that you and I, as individual members of the Body of Christ, need tobeginseekingGodaboutwhatHis“newnormal”isforus,becauserightnowweareunprepared,andwhathasbeennormalforusisnotgoingtocutit.

Thesecondreasonisthis:Thedesperateconditionofournation,andoftheotherwesternnations,demandsthattheChurchrespond.Thereisalreadya“newnormal”developingallaroundus,aswefaceneweconomicchallengesandnewthreats (you may already have heard the term “new normal” used in thiscontext).Theworldmostofusgrewupinisnotthesameworldwewillfaceinafewyears.TheonlyanswertothemagnitudeoftheproblemsfacingusisJesusand His kingdom. And the Church has been given the privilege andresponsibilityofjoiningwiththeSpiritofGodtorescueourcommunities,states,andnationsinthepowerofGod.

InHosea,GodspokethesewordstothenationofIsrael:

Sowforyourselvesrighteousness,reapthefruitofunfailinglove,andbreakupyourunplowedground;foritistimetoseektheLord,untilHecomesandshowersrighteousnessuponyou(Hos.10:12).

WhileinthiscontexttheimplicationwasthatallofIsraelwasunfruitful,likehard,uncultivatedground,Ibelievethereisamoreencouragingapplicationforus.Eachofushasareasinourlivesthatarelikehard,unfruitfulground,butGodissayingthatifwewillbegintopayattentiontothoseareas,cultivatethem,andseektheLordinadeeperway,wecanseenewandexcitingfruitfulnessinthoseplaces.

Letme illustrate fromour recent gardening experience.Wehave a planterboxthatIcreatedbybuildingatwo-and-ahalf-foothighblockwallwhenwefirstmovedintothishouseeighteenyearsago.Wehaveoccasionallyplantedflowersinmostofthisplanterboxthatringsourbackyard,buttherehasbeenthelarger,wider part of the box on the side of our yard that has served as the dumpinggroundforavarietyofjunk.

Aboutsixmonthsago,mywife,Jane,askedmetoclearthatareaandgetthegroundreadyforavegetablegarden.Ittooktwodaystohaulofftheold,rustedlawnmowers, a broken down wheelbarrow, some old fencing, miscellaneouspiecesofwood,andunwantedweeds.ThenIbeganthehardworkofdiggingupthegroundwithapick-axetoadepthofaboutafoot.Ihadtobreakupthehard,clay-likeclods into littlepieces, tossingout rocksandpiecesofdebris.Then Iadded bags of sand to improve the texture of the soil. After that we addedchicken manure, bone meal, blood meal, ash, and a bag of highly nutritious

amendments,constantlymixingitup.Intheprocess,Irediscoveredafour-letterword:W-O-R-K!

When we were done preparing the soil, it looked amazingly transformed.(ActuallyIshouldsay,“WhenIwasdone,”sinceIwastheoneinsidethebox,whileJanetoldmewhattodo!)Afterthat,sheplantedavarietyofvegetables,includingsquash,peas,beans,tomatoes,peppers,andlettuce,whichhavegrownrapidlyandendeduponourtable.

AsIreadthepassageinHoseaabove,theLordremindedmeofhowwewereabletotransformthatunused,clutteredareaofouryardintosomethingbeautifulandproductive.Inthesameway,IbelieveHeischallengingustoexamineourlives and let Him show us those places where we have allowed “junk” toaccumulateandweedstogrow.Inadditiontothatfour-letterwordImentionedabove, thiswill require another four-letterword: T-I-M-E. Time to readmorewisely, timewithpeoplewhocan reallyhelpusmove forwardspiritually,andaboveall,moretimeinprayer.Intheprocess,wemayhavetoredistributeourtimemorewisely(perhapslessTV,etc.).

When Iwas driving back from that prayer retreat Imentioned earlier, theLordbegangivingmeone-wordimpressionsrelatedtofindinganewnormal.I’dliketosharethosetwelvewordswithyouinthisnextsection,andencourageyoutomeditateoneachof thesepowerfulwords. (Allof this justhappeneda fewweeksago,sothisisperhapsthefreshestbreadinthewholebook!)

I have arranged these twelvewords in three sections: our challenges;whatwecandoaboutthesituation;andthepayoff.

ThefollowingareelementsofaNewNormal,startingwithourchallenges.

OURCHALLENGES

HomeostasisHomeostasisisthetendencyofsomethingtoreverttoitspreviouscondition.

Likewhenyoustretcharubberband—itexpandsforawhile,butwhenyouletgo,itreturnstoitsprevioussizeandshape.ThisistheresistancetochangethateachofuscomesupagainstwhenbeginningtopursueGodinanewanddeeperway.It’sliketheforceofgravity,andwe’relikearockettryingtoescapeitspullandsoarintothe“wildblueyonder.”

Wheneveryoumakeadecisiontochange,therearealwaysenemieslurking

in the shadows. These enemies include your old habits, attitudes, beliefs, anddeeply ingrained routines. They conspire to sabotage your determination tobreak free from theiroppressive limitations, andmanyofushaveencounteredthem when trying to establish our noble New Years’ resolutions. But theseforcesarenotomnipotent,asweshallsee.

DistractionWe live in a very distracting age! Behind much of that distraction are

spiritualforceswithaveryclearmissiontokeepusboxedintoaself-absorbedlifestyle. They conspirewith our “flesh” to keep us off-focus and ineffective,withregardtoKingdompriorities.BreakingthroughthelimitsimposedonusbyallofthedistractionstakesafreshdeterminationandSpirit-inspiredwisdom.

WhataresomethingsthatmaybedistractingyoufromfullypursuingJesusandHisKingdom?Coulditbearelationship?Howaboutasecretsin?MaybeitseemsasharmlessastoomuchTV,ormaybeyouhavejustletyourselfbecomesobusywithnon-essential things, that ithas leftyouwith littleorno time foreternalthings.

DissipationThis word means the wasting of something, such as “the dissipation of a

fortune.”Inourcontext,we’retalkingaboutsquanderingourtime,energy,andresources on things that have little or no real value, especially in terms ofeternity. Closely related to distraction, dissipation is the unfortunate result ofgiving into these distractions.We need to take seriously Paul’s exhortation inEphesians5:15-17:

Look carefully thenhowyouwalk!Live purposefully andworthilyandaccurately,notas theunwiseandwitless,butaswise(sensible,intelligentpeople),makingtheverymostofthetime[buyingupeachopportunity], because the days are evil. Therefore do not be vagueand thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly graspingwhatthewilloftheLordis(AMP).

Jesuswarnedus,whentalkingaboutthetimejustbeforetheendoftheage,“Becareful,oryourheartswillbeweigheddownwithdissipation,drunkennessandtheanxietiesoflife…”(Luke21:34).

Most of us can easily recognize the obvious sins that are threats to the

vibrancyofourwalk,butweneedtogainafreshawarenessofthe“littlefoxes”thathavethecombinedeffectofsappingourtimeandenergy,likeholesinthepursesofourlives.

IndulgenceThisisafriendofdissipationanddistraction.Indulgenceistheactofgiving

intodistractionsandtemptations,inordertosatisfyourfleshlyappetites.Weallface different challenges and temptations, but for you this could mean illicitsexualactivity,habituallyovereatingcertainkindsoffoodsorsweets,drinkingbeyondmoderation,orsimplyspendingwaytoomuchtime,energy,andmoneyonTV,recreation,orsports.

Yearsagotherewasawomaninmychurchwhowasinthehabitofspendingan inordinate amount of time reading romance novels. What began as adistraction eventually became an indulgence, which led to an obsession. Shedevelopedsuch fantasies that sheeventually leftherhusband foranotherman.ThetragedyisthatsheclaimedtobeaChristian,andwehadbeentryingtowinherhusbandtoJesus.

Pleasedon’tmisunderstand:Godmadeallthingsforustoenjoy,butHehasplacedhealthylimitsforourprotection.I’mnotsuggestingyoushouldgiveupeverythingthatgivesyoujoyorpleasure.I’monlyinvitingyoutoasktheLordto help you establish a healthy balance for the purpose of seeking first HisKingdom.

Thisisprobablyagoodplacetoalsotalkabouttheimportanceoftakingtimeoutforyourself.Godthoughtitwassoimportantforustofindahealthyrhythmbetweenworkandrest,thatHemadetheSabbathacommandment.Eventhoughmostofusdon’tholdreligiouslytoSaturdayasadayofrest,it’sstillimportanttotakeonedayaweekawayfromyourwork.Ifyoudon’tdothisasalifestyle,thestressesoflifewilleventuallycatchupwithyou,andyourattitudewillbegintostink!

TWOTHINGSWECANDOABOUTIT

Nowthatwehaveseenthechallengeswefaceinfindinganewnormal,hereare two words that best encapsulate an effective response: Pursuit andAcceleration.

PursuitThebestway to findanewnormal isbypursuingJesus likeneverbefore.

Paul tells us, inColossians2:3, that inChrist“arehiddenall the treasuresofwisdomandknowledge.”JesusisthekeytotheKingdom,butsimplyknowingthis,evendeeply,doesn’tnecessarilygiveusthepowertochange.Wehavetobecome pursuers of Christ, not settling for anything less than an uninhibitedchasingafterHim.

Successfulpursuitisfueledbydesperation.IrecommendaskingGodforthegiftofdesperation,andforgracetoseekHisfacewithgreaterperseverance.Wearepromised,inJeremiah29:13,“YouwillseekMeandfindMewhenyouseekMewithallyourheart.”

AccelerationJustlikearocketburnsupalmostallofitsfuelonlift-off, tryingtoescape

thepullofgravity,soweneedanextraamountofthrustwhentryingtoescapethepull of our oldnormal and soar into the freedomof a newnormal. I havefound no betterway to do this than three ormore days of fasting and prayer.Fasting is one of the spiritual disciplines that has greatly benefited Christiansthroughoutthecenturies.It trulyisapowerfulweaponinyourarsenalandisagreatwaytojump-startyournewnormal.

Ifyou’renewtofasting,tryapartialfast,suchasskippingoneortwomealsa day, and using that time to pray.Or fast allmeats and sweets, etc.Or evenbegin with only juices for just one day. Once you’ve got the hang of it andrealizethatyousurvived,moveuptothreeorfourdaysormore.Iguaranteethiswillacceleratetheprocessofchange.

Iwould also highly recommend finding a few friends or a small group inyourchurchtojoinyouinthisadventure.Itwillhelp, likenothingelsecan,tokeep you accountable and motivated past the “honeymoon” period, when theinitial excitementhaswornoff. Ifyou find,after the first threeor fourweeks,thatyou’rehavingtroublemaintainingyournewnormal,thinkaboutanotherdayormore of fasting and prayer. Above all, keep praying. Try praying at timesotherthan,andinadditionto,yournormalprayertime.

THEPAYOFF

RevelationWeallfacethosedesperatetimesinlifewhenweneedtoknowwhattodo.

Whatdowedoaboutthatsituationatworkoraboutourcareerchoice?Whatdowesay toa lovedonegoing throughacrisis?Howdowe find theanswers totheseandmanyotheroflife’stoughquestions?

Oneof the amazing things that happenaspart of anewnormal is thatwebegin to see with new eyes, and we begin to understand with new wisdom,because the fog and confusionwe have become so used to has cleared aswehave drawn closer to God. How valuable is this? Let me share a story fromHenryFord’sday.

HenryFordisnotonlycreditedwithinventingthefirstautomobile,healsoinvented the assembly-line process,which contributed greatly to the industrialrevolution.But things did not always go smoothly at his factory.As the storygoes,onedaytherewasaseriousbreakdownofamajorpieceofmachinerythatpowered his assembly line. He called in the man who invented and built themachine,andafteronlyanhourortwo,theproblemwasfixed.Afewdayslater,HenryFordreceivedabillfor$10,000.

Aghastandhorrified,hedemandedfromtheman,“Ittookyoulessthantwohourstofixthatmachine,andthereplacementpartcostyoulessthanadollar!Howcouldyouchargeme$10,000?”Themansentanotherbill,breakingdownthechargesasfollows:

Costforthepart:$1.00.Costforknowingwheretolook:$9,999.00.Fordpaidthebill.Revelationabout the issueswe face in life ispartof theblessingofanew

normal,butmoreimportantlyisfindingnewclarityandunderstandingaboutthewaysofGod.Paulwrites,inEphesians1:17-19:

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the gloriousFather,maygiveyoutheSpiritofwisdomandrevelation,sothatyoumayknowHimbetter.Iprayalsothattheeyesofyourheartmaybeenlightened, inorder that youmayknow thehope towhichHehascalled you, the richesofHisglorious inheritance in the saints, andHisincomparablygreatpowerforuswhobelieve.

To hear Godmore clearly, to better see what the Father’s doing, to havegreater insight into the meaning of scripture, to discern His will in givensituationsmoreaccurately. Isn’t thiswhatweallwant?Theseare thekindsof

benefitsthatcanaccruetothosewhostepuptoanewlevelofrelationshipwithGod—anewnormal.

AttractionWereadoverandoverinthegospelsthatcrowdsconstantlygatheredaround

Jesus.OneofthereasonspeopleweredrawntoJesuswasbecauseHewasfullofthe Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is the most effective PR person in theuniverse!

Peter discovered that on the Day of Pentecost, as a crowd of thousandsgathered.Hefoundithappeningagain,aswereadinActs5:15-16,whichtellsus:

…peoplebroughtthesickintothestreetsandlaidthemonbedsandmatssothatatleastPeter’sshadowmightfallonsomeofthemashepassedby.CrowdsgatheredalsofromthetownsaroundJerusalem,bringingtheirsickandthosetormentedbyevilspirits,andallofthemwerehealed.

Whenyouembracethechallengeofanewnormal,yourSpirit-fullnesswillmakeyouapeoplemagnet.Itmaynotsolveallofyourproblems,butbecauseyouarelivingclosertotheflameoftheSpirit,God’sfavoronyouwillincrease,andpeoplewillfindyoumoreenjoyabletobewith.

PassionTheterm“fanatic”isamatterofperspective.Someofthesamepeoplewho

deride passionate believers as fanatics seem to have no problem acting likefanatics at ball games. Have you seen the crazy pieces of paraphernalia thatsomeof themwear? I’m talkingabouthugepiecesofartificialcheeseon theirheads,orgruesomepiratemaskson their faces,or facepaintandbodyarmor!Andthewaysomeofuscarryonatthosegames,youwouldswearourveryliveswereatstake!

But, in reality, radical is normal in the Kingdom of God. Jesus was theepitomeofaradicalandrevolutionary.Hechallengedtherulingpowers,madeawhip and overturned the tables of themoney changers in the temple grounds,walkedonwater, spaton theblindman’seyes,and talkedaboutpeopleeatingHisfleshanddrinkingHisblood!

Also,when askedwhat thegreatest commandment is,He answered, in the

wordsofDeuteronomy6:5:

Love theLord yourGodwithall yourheart andwithall your soulandwithallyourmindandwithallyourstrength”(Mark12:30).

JesusconsidereditsoimportanttobepassionatethatHismostsevererebukeinthebookofRevelationwasforachurchthatshowedalackofpassion.ReadwhatHesaidtothechurchatLaodiceainRevelation3:15-16:

Iknowyourdeeds,thatyouareneithercoldnorhot.Iwishyouwereeitheroneof theother!So,becauseyouare lukewarm—neitherhotnorcold—IamabouttospityououtofMymouth.

OneofthereasonspeopleareattractedtothosewhoarefulloftheSpiritisbecausepeoplewhoarefulloftheSpiritarepassionate.Theymaynotalwaysbeontherightsideabouteveryissue,buttheyareseldomboring.Idecided,alongtimeago,thatourmissionissoimportant,andthislifesobrief,thattoliveanyotherwaybutfullthrottleisasin!YouwilldiscoverthatoneoftherewardsofthenewnormalI’mtalkingaboutisanincreaseinpassion.

RobustnessSometimes, when people try to get closer to God, they become hyper-

sensitiveaboutbeingaroundsinandsinners,asiftheymightcatchtheirsin,likethebirdfluorsomeothervirus,andmessuptheirspirituality.Yes,wedefinitelyneed to be smart about the movies we watch, or the books we read, and thethingswesayanddo.Butweshouldneverbeafraidtohangoutwitheventheworst sinners (unless, of course, you’re a new believer and haven’t quite gotyour“kingdomlegs”yet.Wesuredon’twanttogetyouintroublebeforeyourfaithgetsgrounded!).

Jesus’ relationshipwithHisFatherwasstrongandHis identitywassecure.Asaresult,youcouldalwaysfindHimhangingoutwithsinners.Infact,Hewascalled their friend.Anewnormalwill include a faith that is robust enough towithstandanysinfulenvironment.

Thisissuealsotendstosurfacewhenwe’repursuingspiritualdisciplineslikeprayer,fasting,readingscripture,etc.Ifyourwifeinterruptsyourquiettimeandasksyoutowashthedishesorvacuumthefloorbecauseyourguestswillarrivesoon,probablythemostspiritual,God-pleasingthingyoucoulddo,wouldbetoputyourbibledown,get up, andhelpher.Remember,we’renotgoing for anobsessive,hyper-spiritualfaith,butarobustfaith.

ExtravaganceSeveral times in this book I havementionedHebrews 11:6,which tells us

thatGodisarewarderofthosewhoearnestlyseekHim.Overthepastfewyears,as I have sought to practice the things I’m championing in this book, I havefoundthattobeanunderstatement(whichisactuallyverycharacteristicofGod—He tends to undersell Himself). I have discovered that God is far moregenerous,farmoreextravagantinHisblessingsthanIcouldeverimagine.

But God not only wants to display His generosity to us, He wants us toemulate His generosity toward others. Read about the new normal the firstChristiansdiscovered,Acts2:44-45:

All the believers were together and had everything in common.Selling theirpossessionsandgoods, theygave toanyoneashehadneed.

Then,inActs4:32-34:

All the believerswere one in heart andmind.No one claimed thatanyofhispossessionswashisown,but theysharedeverythingtheyhad…There were no needy persons among them. For from time totimethosewhoownedlandsorhousessoldthem,broughtthemoneyfromthesalesandputitattheapostles’feet,anditwasdistributedtoanyoneashehadneed.

Youdon’t necessarily have to embrace that level of radical lifestyle at thebeginningofyournewnormal,butthinkaboutbeginningwiththesmallthings,like tippinggenerously.Imakeitapractice to tipat least20%,nomatterhowbadtheservicewas.Youdisagree?ThinkaboutwhatJesuswoulddo.

As you find a new normal, you will also begin to find extravagant joy,extravagantpeace,andextravagantlove.Goddoesn’tdomediocre;Heonlydoesextravagant!

ActualizationThegistofthiswordisthatwhenJesusiswithyou,everythingworks!There

aresomeprofoundlyextravagantscriptures in theNewTestament!Icall them,“scripturesofpotentiality,”because in themJesus isdescribing things thatcanbeours.InthislastsectionIwanttobrieflytakealookatthreeofthem,whicharefilledwithuntappedpotentialandthroughwhichyoucanbegintoexperienceanewnormal.

Matthew15:26In this passage, Jesus has been approached (actually hounded!) by a

Canaanitewomanwhowon’ttake“no”forananswer.Inthecourseofbanteringwith her aboutwhy her daughter should or shouldn’t be healed of an uncleanspirit, Hemakes a clear inference, in verse 26, that healing is “the children’sbread.”Notanoptionalappetizer,notdessertor the icingon thecake,but thebread!Remember that in that culturebreadwas the stapleof life.HealinghasalwaysbeenpartandparcelofthenewcovenantthatJesusbrought!

Ibelievethatanewnormalwillincludeincreasedlevelsofhealing(spiritual,emotional,andphysical).Therearemanypeople,churches,andministriestodaythat are already experiencing this, such as theHealing Roomsmovement andothers.Jesusrepeatedlymodeledthisforusandmadeastoundingpromises,liketheoneinthenextexample.

John14:12We’vealreadydiscussedthisscriptureinChapter3,buttosummarize,Jesus

promised,“Anyonewho has faith inMewill dowhat I have been doing, andgreater things.” Then, in the next breath (verse 13), He said,“And I will dowhateveryouaskinMyname,sothattheSonmaybringglorytotheFather.”Andjustincasewedidn’tgetit,Hecontinued(verse14),“YoumayaskMeforanythinginMyname,andIwilldoit.”

Granted,thecontextofthispassageistheworksofJesus,soHe’snotsayingwecanputinourorderforanewLexusSC4301andexpectitASAPButHeispromising that inHis“normal,”wecanfollowHimindoingtheveryhealingsandmiracles He did, and even greater things. And we have seen in previouschapters,therearethosewhoarealreadylivinginthatnewnormal.

John17:13In this scripture, which was part of Jesus’ prayer in the upper room just

beforeHewasbetrayed, Jesusexpresses thedesire thatwemayhave“the fullmeasure” ofHis joy!He didn’t say these kinds of things flippantly—thiswasHisprayertotheFather!HereallydoeswantyoutohavethefullmeasureofHisjoy, and, assumingyou arenot already living in that experience, it too canbepartofyournewnormal.

TherearemanyotherpromisesandinvitationsJesustalkedaboutthatmost

of us have not yet accessed. I don’t believe there has been any reluctance onGod’spart,but therehasbeenagreatdealofdoubtandhesitancyonourpart.Isn’tittimewesimplystartedbelievingthatourawesomeGodisasgenerous,asextravagant,asHisworddeclares?

Iinviteyoutojoinmeandmanyothersintheselastofthelastdaysbeforethe return of Jesus, to find a new normal. Let’s give the historians somethingnewtowriteabout—maybe“TheGreatRevivalof2015,”orsomethingsimilar.Whathaveyougottolose?Isn’titworthittojustgoalloutfortheKingdom?

FINALCHALLENGE

YouandIarelivinginanincrediblyexcitingmomentinhistory!MoreandmorepeopleandchurchesarebeginningtodiscovertheawesomejoyandpoweroftheHolySpirit.Therearehistoricchangesandrevivalssweepingacrossmanynations,anditismyconviction,aswellastheconvictionofthousandsofotherChristianleaders,thatthenationsofthewestarenextinline.

Godisrecruitingleaders.Thisshouldbenosurprise,becausethereseemstobeacrisisofleadershipinthesecularworld,leavingavacuumthatneedstobefilled with men and women of integrity and Spirit-fullness. This is a time ofopportunityfortheChurchofJesusChrist!

Theshipisabouttoleavethedockforthegreatadventure.Thesuppliesarestored, thecrew isat their stations, the sailsandhardwarehavebeenchecked,andtherudderissetforthecourse.ComeaboardandsailwiththeWind!

ENDNOTE

1.Forthoseofyouwhomayknow,Idorealizetheydon’tmakethelittletwo-seatLexusSC430anymore,butit’sstilloneofmyfavoritecars,anddestinedtobecomeaclassic!(I’llprobablyhavetosettleforonethat’s12yearsoldwith120,000miles,butthatwouldbeokay,assumingGodwillwantthattobepartofmynewnormal!)

DISCUSSIONQUESTIONS

CHAPTER1

1.AtthebeginningofChapter1,Danmentionstwoparadigmsforministryandlife: One characterized by hardwork, long hours of planning, etc., and theother characterized by a sense of partnershipwith theHolySpirit,which islessdemandingandmorefruitful.Whichofthesewouldyousayyouliveinmostofthetime?

2.CanyouthinkofatimewhenyoufelttheHolySpiritenteryoursituationandbringgreatereffectivenessorblessing?

3.HaveyoueverbeeninasituationwhereyoufeltGodhadgivenyouapromiseor sense of direction concerning something, but you had to wait for God’stiming?

•Whatwastheoutcome?•Areyouinoneofthosesituationsrightnow?•Ifso,howdoyoufeelyouarehandlingthewait?•DoyouhaveanysenseofwhatGodmaybedoinginyouduringthisseasonofwaiting?

4.This chapter discussed the concept of “lettinggo”of our agendaswhenwesensetheLordmaywanttodosomethingunplanned.Canyouthinkofatimethishappenedtoyou?Howdidyouhandleit?

•Ifyoucan’tthinkofatimeyoupersonallyexperiencedthis,canyourecallatimeinJesus’ministryorelsewhereinscripturewhenHeorsomeoneelseletgoofthe“plan”inordertofollowtheSpirit’sleading?

5. Toward the end of the chapter,Dan talked about “finding the flow” of theHoly Spirit,where you experience inspiration and creativity.Have you hadanyoccasionswhenthishappenedtoyou?Ifso,howdidyoufindthatflow?

CHAPTER2

1.ThischapterstatesthattheHolySpiritisadistinctPerson,justliketheFatherand theSon.Doyou ever praydirectly to theHolySpirit orworshipHim?Whyorwhynot?

•HowwouldyoudescribeyourrelationshipwiththeHolySpirit?

2.Luke10:21 tellsus that Jesus, at thatmoment,was“fullof joy through theHolySpirit.”Whatdoyouthinkthatlookedlike?

•HaveyoueverexperiencedthejoyoftheHolySpiritorbeeninasituationwhereothersdid?Howdiditaffectyou?

3.Doyouknowsomeoneinyourchurchorcommunitywhoseems“fulloftheHolySpirit?”Ifyoudo,howwouldyoudescribetheireffectonyou?

4.Thischapterdiscussed thepowerof theHolySpirit.WhatexperienceshaveyouhadwhereyouknewthepoweroftheSpiritwaspresent?

5.Thelife-givingpoweroftheSpiritwasanothersubjectofthischapter.Whatdo you think you and others in your church can do to see that life-givingqualitydemonstratedmorepowerfully?

CHAPTER3

1.WhatisyourinterpretationofJohn14:12?

2. This chapter began with howwe experienced our childhood fantasies, andhowthatcompareswithourpresentexperienceoftheKingdomofGod.WhathaveyounotyetseenGoddothatyouwouldliketoseeinyourlifetime?

3. The author gave several examples of people who “heard” God in variousways.HowdoesGodnormallyspeaktoyou?

4.Discuss some of theways people in the bible heardGod (visions, dreams,audiblevoice,prophecy,etc.).Which,ifanyofthese,haveyouexperienced?

•InwhatwayorwayswouldyoustillliketoexperienceGodspeaking?HaveyouconsideredaskingHimtospeaktoyouinthatway?

5.TheauthormaintainsthatthemorewediscoverJesus,themorewediscoverourselves. As you pursue Jesus more and more deeply, what is it aboutyourselfyoucouldfind?

•HowdoyouthinkHereallyfeelsaboutyou?•WhatdoyouthinkJesuswouldsaytoyouaboutyourdestiny?•Howdoesthatmakeyoufeel?•IfyouwereinHisplacerightnow,whatwouldyousaytosomeoneelseinyourgroupinanswertothesequestions?

CHAPTER4

1.TheriverinEzekiel47isapictureoftheHolySpiritbringingtransformation.InwhatwayshaveyouseentheSpiritbringtransformation?

2.HavesomeoneinyourgroupreadaloudEzekiel47:1-12.Whatdoyouthinkis significant about the fact that the rivergets larger andmorepowerful thefartheritmovesawayfromthetemple?

3. Discuss what happens to the water of the Sea [Dead Sea] and to the treesbecauseofthewater.HowdoesthisreflecttheworkoftheHolySpirit?

4.KeepinginmindEphesians3:20,takesometimetotalkaboutwhatitwouldlook like if theHolySpirit transformedyourcity,and jotdownsomenotes.(Havefunwith thisandtake the limitsoffyour imaginations!)Thendiscussthequestion:Whatwouldittakeforthattohappen?

5.Doyouknowapersonorasituationthatis indesperateneedoftheSpirit’stransforming work? If appropriate, consider having the group take on thispersonorsituationasaprayerproject.

CHAPTER5

1.This chapter discussed a variety of spiritual phenomena.Which of these, ifany,haveyouseenorexperienced?

2.Discusswith the groupwhat the feelings of themembers are toward thesevariousphenomena.

3. Have anymembers of the group seen or experienced phenomena they felt

were from the Holy Spirit which were not mentioned in this chapter? Listthemandtalkaboutthem.

•Whataresomeconcernsaboutthesespiritualphenomena?

4.IftheHolySpiritweretobringrevivaltoyourchurchorcity,accompaniedbyunusualphenomena, suchas theonesmentioned in thischapter,howwouldyoufeel?

• Howmuch “messiness”would you feel comfortablewith, providing youtrulybelievedtheHolySpiritwasatwork?

5. What are some ways these phenomena should be evaluated, to determinewhetherornottheyarevalidworksofGod?

CHAPTER6

1.Thischapter talksabout the importanceofevaluatingpropheticmessagesorpersonal“words”supposedly fromGod.Haveyoueverhearda“word” thatyouknewwasnotfromGod?Ifyoufeelfreeto,discussitwithyourgroup.Ifnot,justgoontoquestion2.

2.Haveyouever receiveda trueprophecyormessagefromGod?Whateffectdidithaveonyou?

3. The rudder of the Church was also discussed in this chapter. Are youconnectedwithamatureChristianorgroupofmaturebelieverswhocanhelpyoudeterminewhetheryouarehearingfromGod?Ifso,howhaveyouseenthevalueoftheserelationships?

•HowhaveyouexperiencedthevalueofknowingChristiansoutsideofyourchurchordifferentfromyourbackground?Canyougivesomeexamples?

4.Onascalefrom1-10,with1being“pathetic” to10being“anexpert,”howwouldyourateyourknowledgeofthebible?

•Whatareyoudoingtoimproveyourscore?•Istheresomeonewhocouldhelpyouinthisprocess?Howcouldtheyhelp?

5.HasGod ever spoken to you in a personalway from the bible?Or has theHoly Spirit especially illuminated a passage to you in a fresh way? Ifappropriate,considersharingitwiththegroup.

CHAPTER7

1. In this chapter the author discusses the three main passages of scripturedealing with spiritual gifts. Take some time and discuss the distinctions ofthesethreepassagesinyourgroup,jottingdownyournotes.

2.CanyouthinkofanyothergiftsoftheSpiritwhichmayfitthecontextofFirst

Corinthians12:8-10?(Ifyoudo,pleaseletmeknow!)

3.Haveyoupersonallyexperiencedanyofthegiftsdiscussedinthischapter?

•Ifso,whatareyourmostmemorableexperiencesoftheSpirit’sgifts?

4.Arethereanyofthesegiftsthatyouseemtohaveaparticulardesirefor?

5.Haveyoueverexperiencedaphysicaloremotionalhealingby thepoweroftheHolySpirit?Doyoufeelcomfortablediscussingitwiththegroup?

6. Have you ever seen or experienced one of these gifts outside of a churchsetting?Whathappened?

7.Whatdoyou thinkyouoryourgroupcoulddo toexperiencemoreof thesegifts?

CHAPTER8

1.Istheresomeoneyouknowpersonally(notrelatedtothisgroup)whoyoucanpointtoasatrueexampleoftheloveofJesus?Ifthisisawkwardordifficult,thinkaboutsomeoneinthebiblewhobestemulatedtheloveofJesus.

•Whatisitaboutthewaytheylive(orlived)andact(oracted)thatreflectstheloveofChrist?

2.Canyou thinkofa favoritepassageof scripturewheresomeone (other thanJesus)demonstratedGod’slove?

3.TakesometimealoneandreadFirstCorinthians13:4-7,insertingyournamein the place of each word that describes love, writing those phrases in thespacebelow(forexample,“Daniskind,Danispatient…”).Thencomebacktogetherasagroupandtalkabouthowthatmadeyoufeel.

4.Whatdoyou thinkshouldbe therelationshipbetween thegiftsof theSpiritandlove?

•Canyougiveanexample?

5.HowwouldyourlifechangeifyoulearnedtolovemorelikeJesus?

CHAPTER9

1. InLuke8, Jesus taught about four types of soils,which correspond to fourdifferent typesofheart condition.Of these,only the last type represents thegoodheart.Whichoftheotherthreetypesdoyouseemostofthetimeamongtheunchurchedpeopleyouknow?

2.GodtookovertwentyyearstoprepareJoseph’sheartbeforeHecouldfulfillHis plans for him.He also tookmany years to prepareDavid, after hewasanointed by Samuel, before hewould become king.Why do you think thisprocesstakessolong?

•WhatkindsofthingsisGodchanginginustoprepareusforgreaterthings?

3.InFirstSamuel16:7,wearetoldthatmanlooksat theoutwardappearance,butGod looksat theheart.Whatkindsof thingsdoesourculture lookat inevaluatingpeople?

•DoyouthinkmostChristianshavevaluesthatareverydifferentfromthoseofourculture?Canyousupportyouranswer?

4.Canyouthinkofatimewhensomeonewaspromotedinsteadofyou,orgotsome form of recognition or attention you felt you deserved? Howsuccessfully have you dealt with that issue in your own heart? (Hint: Howmuchpeacedoyouhavewhentheperson’snameismentioned?)

5.Davidwasoneofthemostgodlymeninthebible.YetinPsalm139:23-24,heprayedthatGodwouldsearchhishearttoseeiftherewasanywickedwayin

him.Whyisthisagoodpractice,evenforthemostgodlyamongus?

CHAPTER10

1.Thischapterdiscussestheimportanceofwisdomaspartoftherudder.

a. Can you think of a situation in the past few weeks or months wherewisdomwasneeded?(Ifnot,gotopartB.)DidtheneededwisdomseemtocomethroughfromGod?Ifso,how?

b.Howabouttoday?Isthereasituationyouoralovedoneisfacingwhichcallsforwisdom?

2.Whydoyouthinkitisthatwisdomdoesn’talwayscomewithage?

3. When the Holy Spirit comes in power, many remarkable things happen,including the wide-spread manifestation of spiritual gifts. So why do yousuppose that, even in those Spirit-saturated environments, leaders don’tautomaticallyhavewisdomforeverysituation?

4. This chapter showed how Paul, John Wesley, and others built effectivestructures,suchasdiscipleshipgroupsandnewchurchplants,tohelppreservetheharvest.Thefollowingisatwo-partquestion:

a.Doyouandyourchurchbelievethatanother“GreatAwakening”isonthehorizon?

b.Ifso,whatareyoudoingtoprepare?

5.Danmentions fourways to obtainwisdom: Through experience, by asking(persistently) for it, through readingGod’sword, thebible, andbypursuingJesus with passion. Which of these four paths to wisdom seems the mostfamiliarorappealingtoyou?

•Now,whichoftheotherpathstowisdomseemstointrigueyou?

CHAPTER11

1.The author says, “Reaching lost people has always been the top priority ofJesusand theSpirit.”Ona“priority scale,”with1being thebottomand10being the toppriority,wheredoyou think reaching lost people fits onyourscale?Whatdoesthissuggesttoyou?

2. Was there a particular person who was instrumental in you becoming abelieverinJesus?Doyourememberthedetailsofhowitallhappened?Writethe short version below, and if time permits, share your testimonywith thegroup.

3.InLuke15,Jesustoldthreeparablessymbolizingindividualswhoare“lost.”Readtheparableofthelostson(sometimescalledthe“prodigal”)anddiscusswhatthisstoryrevealsabouttheheartoftheFathertowardHislostchildren.

• Do you know someone like the prodigal?Consider sharing briefly about

themwiththegroup(beingcarefultoguardtheiranonymity).•WhatdoyouthinkwouldhappenifyouweretopraydailythattheywouldfindJesus?

4. In this chapter, the statement wasmade that there are two things that willatrophyunlessweareintentionalaboutgoingafterthem:evangelismandthegiftsoftheSpirit.Andthereasonisthattheybothmoveusoutofourcomfortzoneandtheybothinvolverisk.

•Talkaboutthefeelingsthattheideaof“evangelism”evokesinyou.

CHAPTER12

1.ThischapterreferstothedaysafterPentecostinActs2andfollowingas“ThePinnacle” of church life as described in the New Testament. List the threethingsthatGoddidtomakethisphenomenonhappen.

•Nowlistthethreethingsthatthepeopledid.

2.TheauthorbelievesthatGoddesirestobringagreatrevival,andmakessevenstatements that support his case. Discuss those statements and see if yourgroupcomestothesameconclusion.CanyouthinkofsomeotherreasonsthatleadyoutobelieveanotherGreatAwakeningisunfolding?

•Canyouthinkofsomereasonsthatagreatrevivalmaynotbecoming?

3.OneofthethingsthepeopledidpriortoPentecostispray.Findoutifanyonein your group has started doing this with a small group yet. Is there anyinterest?

4.AnotherthingthepeopledidbothbeforeandafterPentecostwastoprepare.Whatkindsofpreparationwouldyouandyour churchneed toundertake togetreadyforagreatrevivalinyourarea?

5.ThethirdthingthepeopledidwastoproclaimthegoodnewsaboutJesusandtheKingdomofGod.

•Doyouknowanyonewhoregularlydoesthis?•Doyouhaveadesiretodomoreofthis?•Isthereacommittedgroupofpeopleinyourchurchwhoprayregularlyforthosewhoaredoingthisonaregularbasis?

CHAPTER13

1.Doyoufeelit’stimefortheChurchinthiscountrytofinda“newnormal”?

•Why?

2.Howdoyoufeelabouttheideaoffindinga“newnormal”foryourself?Areyoureadyforamoreradicaldiscipleship?Whyorwhynot?

3.ReadHosea10:12.TheauthorsharedhowGodspoketohimfromhisgardenaboutanunusedareainhislife.AsktheHolySpirittorevealtoyouanareainyour life that needs to be renovated and cultivated in order for you to bearfruitinanewpartofyourlife.Canyoudiscussthiswithyourgroup?

4. The author discussed four challenges to breaking out of our old normal:Homeostasis, Distraction, Dissipation, and Indulgence. Which of thesepresentsthegreatestchallengetoyou,andwhy?

5.Thischapteralsotalksabouttwoactionsyoucouldtaketobreaktheholdofyouroldnormal andmove into the adventureof a newnormal:Pursuit andAcceleration.Readanddiscussthesebriefparagraphs.

• Doeitherof thesestiryou?Talkaboutsomewaysyoucouldengage inadeeperpursuitoraccelerationinordertomoveforwardinyourrelationshipwiththeLord.

6.Therearesixrewardsdiscussedunder“ThePayoff.”Talkabouttheseandseewhichoftheseexcitesyouthemost.

7.Areyoureadyforanewadventureinyourspirituallife?AreyoureadyforanewandradicalformofChristiandiscipleship?Considerjoiningtogetherandembarkingonthisadventuretogether.Writedownyourthoughtsbelow.

ABOUTDANSMITH

DanSmithhasbeenapastorfor36years.HecurrentlyservesastheSeniorPastor ofVineyardCommunityChurch inCamarillo,California, and overseesfourteenchurchesinthegreaterLosAngelesarea.

He is available for speaking engagements, and can be reached through hisemail address, dansmith2@verizon.net, or through his website,www.windandrudder.com. He can also be contacted by phone at (805) 795-7587.