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Recently, someone asked me what type of church I enjoyed attending. I replied that some churches limit the Spirit, others tolerate the Spirit, and some release the Spirit. I enjoy churches that release the Spirit.
I think Jesus would say the same thing as He said to the apostles on the evening before His crucifixion. . .
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you (John 14:15-17, ESV).
The Apostle Peter then focused on the Spirit in his first sermon to the church. . .
Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).
The entire context of the New Testament encourages releasing the Spirit, as we have been given gifts of the Spirit (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Peter 4) and the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5).
Paul also writes. . .
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
and …
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God (Romans 8:14, NLT).
Limiting churches: Some churches limit the Spirit through either an atheistic or agnostic philosophy that disbelieves in God, while others have a theology that, while acknowledging the Spirit as part of the Trinity, denies the active involvement of the Spirit through miracles today.
Tolerating churches: Some churches say the right things about believing in the power and gifts of the Spirit, but don’t actively encourage believers to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), release the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, or encourage dynamic experiences with the Spirit by practicing the ways of the Spirit during their assemblies.
Releasing churches: Some churches encourage the person, gifts, and power of the Spirit and actively follow Paul’s exhortation to, “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts!” (1 Corinthians 14:1)
I believe the power and gifts of the Spirit are needed today.
I recently heard a Bible teacher say, “The power of the Spirit seems to be lacking with churches in the U.S.A. It’s like you get on an airplane, leave the United States, and enter the airspace of an African country, then a light comes on that reads, ‘The gifts of the Spirit are now available.’”
Agreed, harsh, but the activity of the Spirit follows steps of faith in the direction of releasing the Spirit, which doesn’t often happen with limiting or tolerating churches.
Craig Keener, in his massive book entitled Miracles*, writes. . .
These experiences seem more common in some places and times than others. One Western researcher, for example, was astonished to discover that 83 percent of the people he interviewed at a church in the Philippines had experienced significant healings.
Does our lack of miracles (and releasing of spiritual gifts) today in the U.S.A. result from limiting and tolerating churches? Do we as believers prefer to limit or just give “lip service” to the Spirit? Are we fearful of the potential messiness and confusion that come with actively releasing Spirit gifts?
I ask these questions when I visit a church and reflect on my own attitudes and beliefs in relation to the Spirit. I want to attend a “releasing” church, and I want my walk in the Spirit to be releasing as well.
Amen, to the Spirit active today!
*I wasn’t able to find Craig Keener’s original book, Miracles, on Amazon, but you can order a smaller summation and updated book by Keener entitled Miracles Today! You can find the original on Christian Book Distributors.