The Return of the King

 Wonderful things are happening. Prepare to be surprised.

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19 (ESV)

If we belong to Jesus, we believe in a God who delights to do new things.

“You have heard; now see all this; and will you not declare it? From this time forth I announce to you new things, hidden things that you have not known. Isaiah 48:6 (ESV)

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5 (ESV)

God is bound to be true to His wonderful and perfect character but He has never restricted Himself to merely repeat what He has done before.

Some people get upset when Christians report miraculous experiences which are different from the miracles recorded in the Bible.

Two preachers were having a meal in a café in Berlin. A pile of gold dust appeared under the table. A preacher in America was upset about such stories because there is no record of gold dust appearing in the Bible. He preached a sermon against gold dust but the babies in the church creche were covered in gold dust.

Some people are afraid of “lying signs and wonders.” The bible warns of lying signs and wonders but the only reference is in the story of the Anti-Christ in the book of Revelation.

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 2 Thessalonians 2:9 (NKJV)

The only protection against being deceived in spiritual matters is to stay close to Jesus, to be led by the Spirit of God, to live in faith, hope and love, to obey God and to live by His Word.

Does that mean we should only believe in miracles if they are exact copies of miracles recorded in the Bible?

Why?

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12 (ESV)

How many of the people who criticise contemporary miracle stories are working the signs and wonders that Jesus did on earth? None that I know of.

If God is only allowed to repeat what He did in the Bible, how can it be possible for us to do GREATER works than Jesus did?

If God is only allowed to repeat what He has already done, how then can Bible prophecy be fulfilled?

But weren’t the miracles of Jesus all practical acts of mercy, like healing the sick and raising from death the son of a widow?

I wonder what was the practical benefit of Peter walking on water?

If the prophecy of Jesus is to be fulfilled, then people in these last days will see manifestations more amazing than Peter walking on water. If that does not happen, then the prophecy of Jesus will not be fulfilled and that would make the Son of God a false prophet.

But why should God be doing these things?

At the birth of Jesus, the wise men from the pagan east brought Jesus wonderful gifts, GOLD, frankincense and myrrh. If mankind gives God a gift of gold, should we surprised if a gracious God gives gold to mankind?

And what about the jewels?

“O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of agate, your gates of carbuncles, and all your wall of precious stones. Isaiah 54:11-12 (ESV)

But doesn’t this refer to the jewels in Heaven itself? Of course it does. But did not Jesus announce the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven? Did not Jesus teach us to pray: “Your will be done on earth AS IT IS IN HEAVEN?”

If the first visit of the Son of God was heralded by human gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, why should the approach of the return of Jesus not be heralded by supernatural gifts from the Heavenly Bridegroom to His Bride to be, the Church. 

What could be a more appropriate gift to a bride from her husband to be? Does not a man announce his intention to marry a woman with a gift of a diamond ring?

Learning to Know the Holy Spirit

When you give your life to Jesus, God himself comes to you and lives in you, right in you.
‘God in you!’

If this is just a theological term for you and not an overwhelming experience, then something has gone terribly wrong.

For many Christians, the Holy Spirit is just a theological doctrine.

But in the Bible, the Holy Spirit was audible, tangible and sometimes even visible.
In the Acts of the Apostles, the Holy Spirit came upon 120 disciples, both men and women.

Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. Acts 2:2–3 NIV

God is unchanging. He is still God and the Holy Spirit has never changed.

I was in a prayer meeting with my wife. Our little son was also there. We felt the presence of God. Later, our little boy told me that he saw blue flames on our heads.

About ten years ago, I was in a meeting with my wife and about 25 other Christians from Germany, the UK, Australia and Sweden. We all felt the glorious presence of God. Some saw a white cloud in the middle of the room, but I didn't. Later I saw digital photos where the white cloud was visible.

Jesus promised that his disciples would be filled with the Holy Spirit after his resurrection and ascension, and that happened right in Acts chapter 2.

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.

Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. Jn 7:37–39 NIV

How can ‘rivers of living water’ be just a theological term?

Some Christians want to hold on to a dry, sober religious tradition. They hear rumours of charismatic gatherings where some people go a bit crazy. They warn that we should avoid all dramatic phenomena.

But if we avoid all dramatic experiences, we will no longer have a biblically based Christian life. In the New Testament, Christian discipleship was characterised by dramatic manifestations of the Holy Spirit.

Paul was also familiar with dramatic revelations and miracles. Jesus and Paul never said that God's glory was only a special offer for a limited time.

Paul said that we should test everything. Some Christians have not learnt this.

Some are excited by every dramatic experience. Others don't want to immerse themselves in the streams of the Holy Spirit at all.

What did Paul teach?

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, Eph 5:18 NIV

Don’t stifle the Spirit. Don’t despise prophecies,
but test all things. Hold on to what is good. 1 Th 5:19–21 CSB

Paul did not say we must avoid everything that seems dramatic.

He said we must not avoid or reject, but test. You can't do that with Bible knowledge alone.

We must learn to recognise the Holy Spirit with our spirit.

It is sad that many Christians throw the baby out with the bathwater.