GOD has called us to walk in equal measure of power and character!
Both are equally important. How can we expect to pray for the sick if we are living a compromised lifestyle? What is important, to not quench The Holy Spirit or to not grieve The Holy Spirit?
We grieve The Holy Spirit with sin, wrong ambition, wrong selfish motives and attitudes. We grieve Him through wrong activity. We quench Him by our failure to cooperate with Divine activity. When we stop the flow of Divine activity, we quench The Holy Spirit.
We are to bring about change in the current culture. Jesus told us, “Heal the sick.” He didn’t say, “When you get your act together, heal the sick.”
Matthew recorded by The Holy Spirit in Matthew chapter 10:
1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power (and authority) over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
And Jesus instructed the disciples:
7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.’
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
In the Great Commission, Jesus gave the disciples the responsibility to do everything He taught them. They were given the responsibility to teach their disciples what Jesus taught them: preach The Kingdom (character) and heal the sick (power). This was to be one simple standard throughout the church age until the return of Christ.
For 2,000 years, we make slight adjustments from the previous generation’s spiritual standards. We now see the dilution of the revelation given to us from The Word. We are not to pick and choose what command of GOD we will submit to. Does a servant decide what task he will carry out given to him by his master?
Paul wrote of this power and authority by The Holy Spirit in 2nd Corinthians chapter 10:
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds (power),
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (authority),
6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
Jesus said, “Teach what I taught you to your disciples. Let them teach the exact same thing to their disciples.” It is to be one standard from day one to the final day! These writings are intended to return us to the exact standard Jesus gave His disciples to teach. I am positioning myself to walk in that same greater measure that His disciples walked in, both in power and authority. I trust that these writings are leading to that same positioning. I am preparing my heart for action!
Peter wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1 Peter chapter 1:
13 So then, prepare your hearts and minds for action! Stay alert and fix your hope firmly on the marvelous grace that is coming to you. For when Jesus Christ is unveiled, a greater measure of grace (enablement) will be released to you.
We are not to compromise either power or character in our walk. Let us not quench OR grieve The Holy Spirit.