Usually, after a worship service of the intense spiritual magnitude that we experienced this past weekend - I receive letters or emails asking questions as to "what was in order" or "what was out of order."
For whatever reason, this week, I have not received one question.
That's not to say that questions are not "out there". I would assume there are.
I would also assume (knowing followers of Christ as I do) that some were perhaps "offended" or minimally, "troubled" by some of the manifestations of God's Spirit last weekend.
I can remember that in our last place of ministry, God was moving in a powerful way. The altar area of our church looked like a spiritual battlefield. People lying around, praising God, slain in the spirit.
A dear saint of God (actually, he was a retired minister) waited in the back, as I was praying for people in the altar area, waiting to make eye contact with me - and once there was that connection - he purposefully walked out the door and never came back.
Many times, Christians will take offense at the way God moves.
Why is that?
Well, many times God offends our mind in order to reveal our heart.
We determine the ways that God moves as "out of the ordinary" or "beyond human comprehension," or "out of order."
Sounds like God to me. Out of the ordinary. Beyond human comprehension. Out of order.
Can I tell you something about the Holy Spirit?
He is not concerned about your reputation.
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit didn't do much to enhance the respectability of the people in the Upper Room.
Peter says in Acts 2, "These men are not drunk, as you think them to be."
With my sanctified imagination, I can perceive Peter preaching his Acts 2 sermon while still under the anointing and power (and perhaps laughter) of heaven.
Peter preached to the Pharisees, who were deeply offended.
They mocked the followers of Jesus by saying, "they are full of new wine." In other words, "what they are doing seems to be out of order."
Secondly, the Holy Spirit will intentionally offend people.
Paul writes that man would be offended (1 Corinthians 1:21-23) by the foolishness of the gospel message.
Why does God do this?
Because he knows our hearts. He knows those who follow him with mixed motives. So in order to reveal their hearts - he will intentionally offend their minds.
By offending people's minds with His ways, God reveals the pride that lies hidden in our hearts.
What am I saying?
Let me put it as perhaps Jesus would:
Blessed are those who are not offended by the moving of the Holy Spirit - for they shall connect with God.
Just a thought for a Wednesday.
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1 comment:
Very true, Revival in our own hearts, and churches and community can get very messy, unorthodox and unfamiliar, causing offense. But God is in the business of revival and He knows how to "clean us up". Great blog. Thanks
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