I once heard a preacher complain, “the Church is always talking about
Jesus; it’s ‘Jesus’, ‘Jesus’ all the time, but we need to talk about the Holy
Spirit, too”.
Well, isn’t that odd? How can the Church be accused of not talking
enough about the Holy Spirit when the Holy Spirit’ Himself – the One who’s the main
teacher of the Church – doesn’t talk about ‘the Holy Spirit’?
Jn 15:26, (GNB) states, “The Helper will come – the Spirit, who
reveals the truth about God... I will send him to you from the Father, AND HE
WILL SPEAK ABOUT ME”. And Jn 16:14 reads, “HE SHALL GLORIFY ME: for he
shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.”
The commission of the Spirit, therefore, is to talk about – and glorify
– Jesus!
This is a very important test of any ‘spirit’, regardless of the source.
Any spirit that does not draw attention to Christ and His finished work is
suspect.
Every aspect of Man’s Salvation Plan is resided in Christ. Whether it be
forgiveness of sins, healing, power, authority, wisdom... EVERYTHING is
resident in the Son (Col 2:3). Therefore, no true Spirit from God will scold
you for ‘overemphasising’ the Son: in your life, teaching or ministry.
“For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell;” (Col 1:19)
It’s not a question of ministerial emphasis or “calling”; every ministry
in the Church must be centred on Christ.
A much-accomplished music Preacher here in Nigeria once declared that
God told him that his ministry is going to be centred on the “Holy Ghost”. I
found his statement somewhat confusing because I was very familiar with his
songs, and all that this man sings about is ‘Jesus’; (indeed, his most popular
album is titled “Son Talk”).
Then it occurred to me that that IS the ministry of the Holy
Ghost: to draw attention and bring glory to the Son!
“For it is in Christ that the fullness of God’s nature dwells embodied,
and in Him you are made complete,” – Col 2:9 (WNT).
May you receive a
fresh revelation of Christ today by His Spirit in Jesus’ Name.
AMEN.
GREG ELKAN
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