John 16:13 (Amplified) tells us, "But when He, the Spirit of truth (the truth giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the truth (the whole, full truth) For He will not speak His Own message (on His Own authority) but He will tell whatever He hears (from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him), and He will announce and declare unto you the things that are to come (that will happen in the future)."
Jesus sent the Holy Spirit back to be the guide and the teacher of the Church after ascending to heaven. Without the wisdom taught through the Holy Spirit, the best we can come up with is the carnality of men. Some of the things the Church has learned actually came from the Holy Spirit, but other things were not. We've built many of our own things into the Word of God that aren't the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Because we've failed to recognize the ministry of the Teacher, we've gotten off into man's thinking about the scriptures. We say that casting out demons, speaking in tongues, healing the sick, miracles and raising the dead are all "passed away" and not for these last days. I find nowhere in the scriptures where these supernatural signs are to cease as long as the Church, the Holy Spirit and the unsaved are still here.
Jesus said in Mark 16:15-20 (Amplified), "Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature (of the whole human race). He who believes (who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth) and is baptized will be saved (from the penalty of eternal death) but he who does not believe (who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Who it sets forth) will be condemned." Verses 17-18 say, "And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe; In My Name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; they will pick up serpents; and (even) if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well." Verse 19-20 go on, "So then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and He sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied (it) Amen (so be it)."
Jesus confirmed what they (the believers) preached with attesting signs and miracles as He worked with them. Could it possibly be that we don't see these signs and miracles because we don't preach it for Him to confirm?
The Holy Spirit was the One Who brought forth the miracles in Jesus' Own ministry. Before He was baptized in the Jordan River and the Holy Spirit came upon Him, it is not recorded that He performed any miracles at all. The Holy Spirit is the One Who takes the Word and brings it to pass in Jesus' Name.
We've heard for years such things as, "These things are passed away," "Those things were only for the early Church," "These things are not for today," "These things aren't for everyone," "These things were only needed until the Church was established and only for the Apostles." But, Jesus said that these signs would follow the believer. Aren't we believers? Of course we are. But, we can only believe what we hear preached. Romans 10:17 (Amplified) says, "So faith comes by hearing (what is told) and what is heard comes by the preaching (of the message that came from the lips) of Christ (the Messiah Himself)." Psalm 119:89 (Amplified) says, "Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settles in heaven (stands firm as the heavens)."
The Word is settled and is the foundation and the building of the Church of the Lord Jesus. What He commissioned the Church to do then, is still what the Church is commissioned to do today. The same Holy Spirit Who brought forth miracles then, is the same Holy Spirit Who is here now. Hebrews 13:8 (Amplified) says, "Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is (always) the same, yesterday, today, (yes) and forever (to the ages)."
When Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit in John 16:13, He said that the Spirit of truth would speak forth the whole, full truth. In these last days before Jesus returns, the whole world is looking for truth. Nothing ever seems to be what it's supposed to be. Many people have come into our churches seeking help and have left disappointed at the lack of the supernatural power of God to help them. We give them good advise and counsel from a professional standpoint, but have very little to offer in the way of power to set them free. We tell them to stop drinking and taking drugs, but have very little power to actually set them free.
I believe that the Holy Spirit wants to take His place in our churches once again and to be free to move like He did in past day, free from bulletins and ceremonies and at liberty to work. We tell the sinner not to sin, the alcoholic not to drink and we tell the bound person to straighten up and fly right. In some fellowships we're even asked to not lift our hands because it might offend others. I know we are to speak the truth in love, but we are still to speak the truth. We've become so afraid of offending someone that we have very little left to say. Almost anything we preach is offensive to someone, somewhere. They were offended at Jesus too.
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