"But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the
hand and guide you into all the truth there is." (John 16:13, MSG)
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with
you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it
neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will
be in you." (John 14:16-17, NIV)
The day I was invited to a church that was quite different from the one I was
attending, I was mesmerized: I had never heard of Messianic synagogues before!
Even though it was a two hour drive, I was intrigued and more than a little
curious, and I accepted the invitation. Once there, I experienced a presence
that I hadn't experienced before: God's Holy Spirit was there!
Sadly, when I returned to my comfortable, self-righteous church, I found that
God's presence was not present. I was shocked. What was wrong with this picture?
Wasn't this the church that proclaimed it had the truth? Why couldn't I feel the
presence of God? Was it my imagination or what?
The following week, I decided to attend a local Messianic synagogue and see for
myself if I would experience God's presence there as well. I sure did!
The next week I went back to my home church, hoping I could feel my Father's
presence. Again, I couldn't feel His presence. I had been attending that church
for numerous years. I left that day disillusioned and wanting, yearning to feel
that presence once again, and my treks to the Messianic synagogue became
numerous.
Eventually I found His presence in other churches as well, and once I accepted
the Holy Spirit's invitation, His presence remained in me. I was reborn.
You can imagine why I left my former church. I was hungry for God and God alone.
His presence was more important to me than anything else, and this is what
attracts people to churches. Not doctrines, not self-righteousness, but God's
presence and the pure love that is stimulated through Him.
After I left my former church, the pastor preached a year-long series on the
Holy Spirit, ridiculing anyone who would proclaim to experience His presence.
It's then that I remembered an active evangelist of theirs broadcasting lies
about speaking in tongues. He was making a mockery with those who experienced
that gift, not realizing that this was but one of many of the Holy Spirit's
manifestations.
Not long after that, another of their pastors confided in me that outstanding
members from a nearby church were starting to speak in tongues. They were told
not to do so in their congregation, to keep that at home, as it was taboo in
church.
I realized then and there that churches that proclaim they have the truth but
don't know actively about the presence of God's Holy Spirit are erring greatly!
Not realizing that Jesus promised: "And I will ask the Father, and he will give
you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world
cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him,
for he lives with you and will be in you." (John 14:16-17, NIV) The world is not
the only one that "cannot accept him." Legalistic denominations fit the bill as
well!
If you have never experienced God's presence, come to God and ask Him to reveal
Himself to you fully. Make for your home church one where God's presence is
honored and appreciated, and enjoy bathing in His presence.
In the meantime, let's pray for those who have never experienced the presence of
God; that they too may encounter Him one day and fall heads over heels in love
with Him. Once we experience God's presence, ridicule, mockery and persecution
doesn't faze us. After all, our hunger is not for religion, but for encountering
God personally.
Ask yourself: "Do I know personally the One Jesus called "The Spirit of Truth"?
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.