DIVINE REVERENCE

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. (Acts 2:42-43 ESV)

            Years ago I read in a periodical, “Do you wonder where the wonders went? They went with the wonder!” The writer was communicating a central truth: A direct correlation exists between a sense of awe and the manifestation of signs and wonders. Awe expresses reverence toward God, along with amazement at the miraculous accomplishments of the Holy Spirit.

            The sense of awe is always on account of the Lord’s doings, and is not owing to any efforts happening in His name. Awe is a reaction to an amazing God, not an idiom about an exciting event. It is inappropriate to speak of events as awesome, only the acts of Jesus create such wonders. A purely awesome moment is experienced when standing amazed at His presence, and nothing less.

            Awe is a response of people, while wonders are a product of God. Holy and genuine signs and wonders naturally produce feelings of astonishment, a reverence for God that creates an atmosphere conducive for continued supernatural occurrences. The unknowable is what came first in each circumstance, awe or wonders?

Irreverence

            “He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, ‘Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary…?’ And they took offense at him … And he could do no mighty work there…he laid his hands on a few people and healed them.” (Mark 6:1-3,5 ESV) Reverence is critical for seeing an abundance of wonders manifested by the Spirit.

            The quality of any relationship depends greatly on a person’s attitude toward them. When someone is treated flippantly or with disrespect, very little benefit comes out of the relationship, very little profit grows out of the association. Especially if that someone is in authority.

            This is definitely true about the Lord. When He is treated frivolously, heavenly abundance is strangely lacking in the human soul.

Reverence

            Reverence comes from the word revere, meaning “to show deference, to have deep admiration, to cherish tender feelings.” The word translated from the original language is also rendered shamefacedness. Modesty and restraint should characterize fellowship with God. Reverence is a quality of spirit designed to permeate the inward character, the very core of human existence.

            God is not desiring for any follower of Jesus to be afraid of Him. People were originally created for fellowship with Him. Yet no one cannot really love, worship, and serve the Lord and Master without reverence. You cannot enjoy a vibrant connection with Him unless there is a well-developed sense of honor and esteem.

            Paul reminds the church that the Lord is “Abba, Father!” (Galatians 4:6) Contemporary speakers frequently comment about the term communicating intimacy. They occasionally convey the idea using the endearing word “Daddy.” Yet the word in the original language is Father, not Dad, suggesting one of the most loving of all human ties yet warranting admiration and respect.

Reverence is not a spiritual straitjacket

            Some people associate reverence with staid, solemn church gatherings where no one dares make a sound apart from a rigid program. In reality, awe is often experienced amid sounds of joyful praise and great celebration. A heavenward respect, however, must be present and conveyed within both the realm of silence and in the atmosphere of exuberance. One posture is not necessarily more conducive than the other to a sense of astonishment and amazement.

            Spirit-filled worship has been accused of irreverence. Unfortunately, there are valid reasons for such conclusions. Problems will become manifested when a group of believers move out of the realm of the Spirit and into the energy of the flesh. If elements of the fallen nature get in the way of adulation and adoration, undesirable and unbecoming behavior is quickly manifested. A close encounter with God should never digress to corrupt reactions.

            Greater sensitivity is needed to discern when divine liberty has ended and human enactments has taken over. Intimate worship of the Lord must include reverence, accomplished solely by being constantly and continually in tuned to the Spirit.

Familiarity breeds contempt

            Thoughts and feelings toward someone can become so common and comfortable that eventually consideration and courtesy disappears. When this transpires undue liberties are often taken. If this treatment is allowed to continue the relationship deteriorates, especially with the Lord.

            For example, a leading cause for wondering if an assignment was coming to a close and if I should become open to a transition was the following: Has the relationship between the congregation and myself deteriorated to a point where my leadership can no longer be effective? If the signs were clearly evident of disproportionate and debilitating familiarity, I started to question if God was about to work a change and if another quest was on the horizon. Normally the answer came within a year.

            Throughout my years of church leadership, I never actively pursued any of my assignments, ever. On the other hand, I never wanted my continued presence to hold a congregation back from further advancement.

            I knew better then to leave on account of or during conflict and unrest. That is when leadership is needed the most, a time when sheep clearly need a shepherd. All my transitions occurred when everything was peaceful and rather serene; yet the required respect for leadership was gone and showed little or no signs of ever returning. In every profession, when the necessary and essential high regard is fully exhausted, a leadership change becomes imperative. Either the leader or the people transition.

Reverence protects against flippancy

            When it comes to eternal matters, a dangerous attribute is poking fun instead of being still. (2 Peter 3:3; Psalms 46:10) Believers who reflect the most sensitivity to the stirrings of the Spirit invariably demonstrate the highest quality of reverence, respect, and regard.

            From the home, to the classroom and to the workplace, the spirit of the age is rude and crude. The average person increasingly shows disdain for all kinds of authority, even within the ranks of people who claim to love God. No one can cherish the Lord without respect for those in responsible positions. There is no love for God while there is disdain for anyone, even enemies perceived or real.

            Jesus has a beautiful way of removing coarseness from the human spirit, if allowed. He makes people bold without rudeness or harshness. He gives believers confidence that does not degenerate into contemptuous familiarity.

Awe

            The current generation increasingly accepts permissiveness and moral laxity, showing themselves in many aspects of everyday living, even church life. Yet pure and undefiled respect and admiration for the Lord is needed in order to witness the mighty and miraculous works of Christ.

            Help restore a fresh infusion of reverence and sanctifying power in the church. Create sacred environments, instrumental for holy awe moments, where signs and wonders occur in greater frequency.

HOLY SPIRIT: ENABLER

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. 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. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. (John 14:8-18 ESV)

            The ministry of the Holy Spirit is described throughout Scriptures in a variety of defining ways. He is the Helper, giving aid through life. He is the Teacher, providing the lessons of life and disclosing correct answers to the questions of life. He is the One who Convicts, confronting the rebellious nature.

            The Holy Spirit is also the Enabler. He gives the ability, creates the means, and presents the opportunity. He then makes human efforts more effective, making possible things considered virtually impossible.

            The word enabler in modern times has taken on negative connotations, suggesting co-dependency to debilitating and demeaning behavior. The Holy Spirit is just the opposite, delivering and dignifying.

            Jesus accommodates a request from Philip to “show us the Father.” He states the Father is visible in His life in three ways. If Philip looked openly he would see the Father in the inward nature of Jesus (V.9). If Philip listened intently he would hear the Father in the reliable words of Jesus (V.10). If Philip observed carefully he would witness the Father in the supernatural activities of Jesus (V.11).

            Jesus then applied the statement to His followers: “Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” His going is associated with the sending of the Holy Spirit, the Enabler.

            People today still ask the request given by Philip, show us the Father. The church, the Body of Christ, is commissioned to disclose the One True God to every nation.

            Does this cause a sense of alarm? What an overwhelming expectation. Followers of Jesus do not possess a perfect demeanor nor are they all powerful. The obligation is humanly impossible, so much responsibility with so little capability.

            The threefold response of Jesus to Philip is the clue to showing God to the world. The nations are asking and believers are able because of the Enabler.

He enables you to show the inward nature of Jesus

            “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh…. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:16, 22-24 ESV)

            The Enabler implants divine characteristics, the natural qualities of Jesus, the attributes expressing genuineness that can disarm skeptics.

            Those not knowing Christ are bogged down in faithless lifestyles, living as doubters. They view followers of Jesus through tinted classes, assuming everyone has selfish motives and arrogant attitudes. The fruit of the Spirit is designed to impact the cynic’s opinion.

            When serving in church ministry in Montana, I supplemented the family income by being a Glazer, a glass worker. The co-workers were raw and rough. They constantly formulated sentences with every imaginable debased innuendo. While driving home from work, in preparation for conversations with my wife and kids, I put my mind through a divine washing, a spiritual cleansing through singing and praying.

            A new church assignment became available in South Dakota and we made plans to relocate. On my last day at work an extremely raunchy employee came up to me and said, “I have been watching you. Maybe there is something to this church stuff. I am going to have to check it out!” People do notice the Lord you serve, whether Jesus or some other.

            Christ’s love – self-giving, unconditional, vulnerable and enduring. Pure love is often misunderstood, exploited and abused. Followers of Jesus willfully take the risk and become exposed to possible hurt and rejection.

            Christ’s joy – comprehending life from an eternal perspective gives an inward glow, a deep-seated satisfaction.

            Christ’s peace – world situations are increasingly non-peaceful. Unholy ambitions make for strife and division. Yet the church is to reveal, “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility. (Ephesians 2:14 ESV)

            Christ’s patience – having a long fuse. A man known for having a short fuse, a quick temper, owned a car dealership. He committed his life to Christ and employees were amazed at how he gracefully managed problems previously causing outbursts of anger. He gained the fruit of peace and was transformed in Jesus.

            Christ’s kindness – “There was a man who had a heart transplant. But the operation was a total failure. For the man was a mean man and the heart was a kind heart.  His body simply rejected it.” (Helen Brenneman) The fallen nature has a natural propensity to be unkind. A place where most believers fall short is in failing to be considerate. The Holy Spirit gives a new heart, making a person compassionate.

            Christ’s goodness – a sincere, honest and moral heart.

            Christ’s faithfulness – trustworthy and reliable.

            Christ’s gentleness – sometimes referred to as power under perfect control, restraint coupled with strength and courage, being courteous and modest.

            Christ’s self-control – the capacity to manage emotions, desires and impulses for the purpose of serving others.

            To a world wanting to see the purely integrated Jesus, the Enabler gives you the ability to show His everyday attributes.

The Holy Spirit enables you to speak uprightly the words of Jesus

            James writes about a major obstacle toward talking honorably: “…the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness…. But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.” (James 3:3-10 ESV)

            Responding to others like Jesus is a monumental task. The Enabler shapes the heart of believers to be like Christ.

            Jesus said, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34 ESV)

            Jesus also said, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.” (Matthew 12:36 ESV)

            Your words express your devotion to God. A sharp tongue, a crude tongue, a thoughtless tongue, a slanderous tongue, and a bitter tongue is an unholy tongue. The unchurched recognize this deficiency. When an unholy tongue is manifested Jesus is not heard in the conversation. Take on His heart and the Holy Spirit cleans out your mouth.

            “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:29-30 ESV)

            As a young teenager I had a rotten mouth. The only words I used were crude. The only jokes I knew were coarse. After committing my life to Christ vocabulary usage became a major challenge. I desperately needed the heart of Jesus and for the Enabler to cultivate wholesome speech.

            To a world wanting you to show the heartfelt communicative Jesus, the Enabler gives you the ability to speak His words, His way.

The Holy Spirit enables you to reveal the supernatural activities of Jesus

            Jesus gave strict instructions to His followers: “And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49 ESV)

            A week later, not knowing what to expect, the power came and impacted their tongue. “And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:3-4 ESV)

            Peter then tells a gathering crowd, “Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him….” (Acts 2:22 ESV) and concludes with an invitation, “For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

(Acts 2:39 ESV)

            The Holy Spirit gives the ability for the supernatural activities of Jesus. The grace actions recorded in First Corinthians 12 validates the promise “…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)

            The gifts of the Spirit are the reason God’s story is confirmed with signs and wonders. Supernatural manifestations are not the message, Jesus is the good news. Yet signs and wonders give credibility to His story.

            You need to include the supernatural activities of Jesus to fully present Him to others. The grace actions add potency to the message of grace. Eight times the book of Acts directly connects signs and wonders with the telling of His story.

            Paul and Barnabas went to speak to the people of Galatia. Acts records, “So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.” (Acts 14:3 ESV)

            The world is waiting for you to show the doing the impossible Jesus. The Enabler gives you the ability to perform His supernatural activities.

An inclusive testimony

            You cannot give an accurate witness of Jesus by just living His natural life or speaking His gracious words or revealing His supernatural activities. Showing the world Jesus involves all three. Living His natural life validates His word. Speaking His gracious words accredits His signs and wonders. Manifesting His supernatural activities certifies His Lordship.

            I became exposed to the reality of Jesus by meeting a person living for Him, who brought me to church to hear about Him, in a worship service supernaturally revealing Him. My soul was demanding, “show me Jesus.” I was given a genuine witness of His nature, words and activities, made possible by the Enabler.

            Become fully enabled and represent Him inclusively to others.