Jan 25 2011

Where are all the charismatics?

Is it just me or are the charismatics disappearing in America? I mean where did people with the anointing go? Before I go on I should define “charismatic.” Most of our images of charismatics have been parodied (by us) and have even taken on a negative connotation. For example, I have heard lots of people say something like this, “we don’t want all that weird stuff going on in church (or wherever else).” That pretty much sums up our view of charismatics in this day and age, “weird stuff.”

I’d like to offer an updated definition of “charismatic,” or more perhaps an original (as in going back to the original) definition. Here it goes: Charismatic, one who seeks the presence of God at all costs and allows the Holy Spirit to work through them in a biblically consistent manner. Inevitably, people will allow the Holy Spirit to “work through them” in different ways. But that’s why I added “in a biblically consistent manner,” to dissuade people from talking to angels named “emma” and making animal sounds. (The latter of which is biblical but in the context of Nebuchadnezzer going crazy.)

My question is where are the people who talk about the Holy Spirit like He’s their best friend? Where are the people who are contending passionately for miracles? Where are the charismatics? I am not suggesting that we go back to the way any previous movement looked or sounded or acted like. So much as I am believing for a fresh wave of the Holy Spirit to be poured out on all flesh. I don’t know how to say this in the right way, so I’ll just say it this way: we are not pursuing the Holy Spirit if we are pursuing anything else. Anything else can be digging wells, church growth, building programs, etc. And I am whole heartedly for any of those wonderful and godly pursuits. But if the Holy Spirit is not guiding or leading those pursuits well…who cares?

When Jesus left He promised us the Holy Spirit. He promised us because He knew we would need help. We can’t build the kingdom, walk holy, make disciples, have faith, etc. on our own. So, He sent the Holy Spirit! We need the Holy Spirit.

So, are there any more charismatics out there?

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Aug 13 2010

As the Lord commanded

In Exodus 40, the phrase “just as the Lord commanded” occurs 7 times. The end of the chapter proceeds to describe how, after Moses had done everything as the Lord commanded that, the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. In truth, the glory was so thick that Moses could no longer enter the Tabernacle. Imagine that! The glory (manifest presence of God) was so thick that Moses (the man who talked to God face-to-face, saw the glory of God as He was passing, received the 10 commandments, spent 40 days on the top of Mt. Sinai in the presence of God) could not even enter the Tabernacle! How’s that for an experience?

In Corinthians, Paul describes the result of God’s glory on Moses in more detail. He writes that Moses had to put a veil over his face because the residue of the glory was so bright the Israelites couldn’t handle. He then elaborates even further by saying that, if Moses had to put a veil over his face during the OLD COVENANT…how much more should we operate and experience the glory?! Paul says it is a better covenant, with a better mediator, with better promises!

We should be in the glory, and much more of it, all the time! One catch, now as just as then, we must do “just as the Lord commanded.” What has the Lord commanded us? In this chapter, He is commanding us to get our Tabernacle’s in order. Arrange the furniture, get everything in it’s proper place. And the glory will fall, just as the Lord commanded.

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