In 1 Tim 4:1-2 God gives us a glimpse of what these last days would look like... “Now the Spirit expressly says that in last days some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons...” We are in those last days. We are bombarded with religious options and opinions – such that those who are not grounded in God’s Word don’t know what to believe.
Matthew 24:24 speaks of the Great Tribulation in which Satan will deceive so many ...and if possible, even the elect. Which is impossible...but it shows the power of the enemy and the power of deception.....So, what is the Holy Spirit saying to us today? If these are the last days...what are His last words?
In Genesis 6:3 we find a very familiar and oft quoted verse in which God says, “My spirit will not always strive with man...” What does that mean for us? Nothing really. It was most likely a reference to the coming flood, Noah and the Ark. In that same verse God says that the days of man will be a 120 years. Again, most likely a reference to the time until the flood. Even though this passage has no direct meaning for us today, we do see something of God that we need to understand. He is patient, but there was a point when He withdrew His Spirit and he no longer spoke to men.
We've sung the old hymn, "send the old time power, the Pentecostal power; thy flood-gates of blessing on us throw open wide...send the old time power that sinners be converted and thy name glorified." ...I’m pretty sure we really don’t want that... In most churches, including ours, we’ve quenched and grieved the Holy Spirit to the point that if the Holy Spirit moved, it would be more like a resurrection from the dead than a revival. We may want to see sinners converted and His name glorified...but if He is poured out we will also see the saved broken over sin and the church confessing our compromise.
Vance Havner said, "Like Samson, we know not that He has departed"...yet we go on preaching and singing and acting like nothing is wrong. I wonder if God’s patience with us is wearing thin like in the days of Noah?
We need the Holy Spirit to speak to us! We can sing hymns, choruses, and anthems...but without the Holy Spirit, they’re all meaningless. We can preach great sermons...but without the Holy Spirit they are powerless. We can have revival meetings...but without the Holy Spirit...it’s just a lot of racket. We can teach the Bible...but without the Holy Spirit we’ll never believe it. ...In these days of big churches, big choirs, big screens, big budgets, and big egos...The Holy Spirit is saying very little. What a shame that we do what we do week in and week out and never hear from the Holy Spirit. We’ve become insensitive and unanointed.... Let’s pray that God would send His Holy Spirit and that we would hear Him loud and clear.
Sometime back, in Glasgow, Kentucky the Associated Press printed a story about Leslie Puckett. After struggling to start his car early one morning, Puckett lifted the hood and discovered that someone had stolen the motor." ...That car may have had all the bells and whistles...may have been shiny and fast...but its power supply was taken away.
That’s like too many believers – saved and knowledgeable and proud to be Baptist...but they have no power. They’ve become independent...they don’t need God. They’ve become indifferent...they no longer care about the things of God. They’re bound by their own iniquity. Sin has taken away their joy.
They’ve lost their power.
They’ve quenched the Holy Spirit and may never hear from Him again.
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