Liberty in Preaching Vs Power in Preaching - Billy Graham

Quote Location: 10m 6secs

You know, in preaching I like to have liberty in preaching- we call it. But, that has nothing to do with power. Many times when I have not had liberty in preaching, there has been the power of the Holy Spirit in service. So, God doesn't go according to my feelings as to what I have liberty enough; He goes according to the power of the Spirit of God in answer to prayers of many people who have prayed. But, it is a wonderful feeling for a preacher to have liberty. But, sometimes when the wind is blowing and things are going wrong, and it's raining, and... you are tired and you haven't prepared well... you don't have liberty. But, God can take even that and use it for His glory. There is a difference between liberty and power.

He Will Baptize You With The Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8)

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"I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." ~ John the Baptist (Mark 1:8)

We, in the New Testament era, have the privilege of a blessing that those in the Old didn't have - the baptism of the Holy Spirit. What a Loss if we lose sight of this blessing, to have it and to walk in its fullness everyday!

I believe that it is the enemy's no.1 plan to keep Christians from living in the fullness of the Spirit daily. He is not bothered so much with their looking back again and again to the Old Testament and being satisfied only with the waters of the baptism of repentance. But, he would not want Christians to desire the same experience that the early church had in the Book of Acts. The result: a very shallow life of carnality, bondage and lack of freedom.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2Co 3:17 NIV)

The Holy Spirit is the greatest blessing of the New Covenant. In fact, He is called the Promise of the Father! The people in the Old Testament looked forward to it, but they didn't have the blessing. The Spirit came and left in those days; and, He only came upon some specific people. But, the blessing is given to us in the New Testament through Jesus Christ, the One Who Baptizes us with the Holy Spirit.

He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." (Act 1:4-5)

Didn't the Father promise?

And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. (Joel 2:28-29 NKJ)

And, the Promise was not just for the 120 disciples in the Upper Room; it was for all, for all nations:

Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." (Act 2:38-39)

Certainly, this doesn't just mean "for 1st century Christians"; for, if the promise was also for "all who are afar off", there are still people "afar off" who have still not been reached with the message of the Gospel. Mark tells us that this was what John the Baptist went about preaching (as we saw in Mark 1:8); and note, John wasn't preaching to the Twelve Apostles, he was preaching to all.

The Apostle Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit is the Blessing of Abraham.

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree1 "), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Gal 3:13-14)

The same signs that the Apostles and the brethren in the Upper Room had in Acts 2 is what accompanies the baptism of the Spirit even today.

they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Act 2:4)

The following story recounts how Smith Wigglesworth, an ordinary plumber, became filled with the Spirit. Later, God used him mightily to win many souls to Christ, to heal the lame, the blind, and the deaf and to raise many people from the dead.

At about 11 a.m., Tuesday morning, at All Saints’ Vicarage, I asked a sister to help me to the witness of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. She laid hands on me in the presence of a brother.

The fire fell and burned in me till the Holy Spirit clearly revealed absolute purity before God. At this point she was called out of the room, and during her absence a marvellous revelation took place, my body became fill1 of light and Holy Presence, and in the revelation I saw an empty Cross and at the same time the Jesus I loved and adored crowned in the Glory in a Reigning Position. The glorious remembrance of these moments is beyond my expression to give-when I could not find words to express, then an irresistible Power filled me and moved my being till I found to my glorious astonishment I was speaking in other tongues clearly. After this a burning love for everybody filled my soul. I am overjoyed in giving my testimony, praying for those that fight this truth, but I am clearly given to understand that I must come out of every unbelieving element. I am already witness of signs following. Praise Him. (Smith Wigglesworth)

Here is another account from a great servant of God in India, Kurien Thomas, whom God used to raise scores of missionaries and leaders in India:

I sat quietly with my hands folded in prayer, in a reverent and orderly fashion. Then the old pastor's wife started to speak to me in the Spirit. She revealed many things about my life which no one but myself could have known. The doubts I had about the Pentecostal experience began to fade. Instead, I began to thirst for the anointing of God's Holy Spirit. With this deep, heart-felt desire I began to pray.

One evening, after the prayer meeting had ended, I went to the home of some believers. Many of God's children were present including some pastors, and we began to pray. The midnight hour passed; then at about 2 a.m., as I was on my knees in prayer, God spoke to me, "Son, I am going to give you the power of the Holy Spirit. What are you going to do with this power?" I bowed in full surrender to my Lord. Then I said, "Lord, give me this power and by this power I will serve you. I will live, not for the kingdoms of this world, which must soon pass away, but for your eternal Kingdom and I will serve you in this land of India."

Having prayed this prayer of dedication I stood up and told the whole company what had happened. As I sat down again, I was suddenly overwhelmed by an unseen power and thrown to the floor. I began to thank and praise the Lord for the gift of His Holy Spirit. People watching me saw that I was covered with a heavenly light, aglow with the Glory of God! I began to praise God in other tongues and from 2 a.m. through until 10 a.m. I could not stop speaking in this new language. (Kurien Thomas, God's Trailblazer)

Jesus said that when we are baptized with the Holy Spirit, we receive power to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8).

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Act 1:8)

But, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a single-event. We must also live in the fullness of the Spirit, and be filled with Him and His power like the the early church did, again and again, continuously.

And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (Act 4:31)

...be filled with the Spirit, (Eph 5:18)

The Bible teaches us (and do we listen?) that anyone who prays in tongue edifies himself, because it is the spirit that prays though one cannot understand the words with the mind. The spirit speaks the mysteries of God.

He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself (1Co 14:4)
...if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. (1Co 14:14)
For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. (1Co 14:2)

Isn't that wonderful? It means that the human spirit that is born-again and regenerated by the Holy Spirit knows the mysteries of God, but our natural mind (psuchikos, psychological) can become a hindrance, because it is still not renewed.

But the natural (psuchikos) man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1Co 2:14)

Therefore, Paul encourages us to pray with the spirit (i.e. in tongues) in our private prayer (but, only with interpretation for understanding in corporate gatherings):

I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. (1Co 14:18-19)

Much can be said on this topic, but I believe the most important thing that God wants us to understand today is that He wants us to be filled with the blessing of the Holy Spirit, the Promise of the New Covenant, the Promise of the Father, and He wants us to live and walk in the fullness and edification of the Holy Spirit.

Is Slaying in the Spirit Biblical?

"Slaying in the Spirit" is becoming a very common phenomena with preachers becoming more tempted to post pictures or video clippings of people falling down while they minister. Wikipedia article on it, Slain in the Spirit, gives a descriptive and historical overview of it. While it is important to note here that no human can put limits to the ways that the Holy Spirit will choose to manifest His power in services, it is equally also important to not attribute to the Spirit something that is not from Him. Certainly, what is not of Him is against Him. This is not to state that the phenomenon may not be from the Spirit. However, it is certainly a point of concern when this manifestation alone is highlighted as the charismatic one. Of course, in modern times other phenomena like laughter and vomiting have also been highlighted in some circles.

The Assemblies of God position on Slaying in the Spirit is as follows:

Slain in the Spirit. The phrases “slain in the Spirit,” “falling under the power,” or “resting in the Spirit” are not found in the Bible. They are used, however, to describe the experience of falling to the floor under the power of the Holy Spirit. Although being slain in the Spirit seems to be a distinguishing characteristic of some recent revivals and evangelistic ministries, there are recorded accounts of people falling under the power of God or being slain in the Spirit in 18th and 19th century revivals. Some of the earlier recorded prostration experiences were related to sinners falling under conviction for their sins. More frequently in the modern Pentecostal/Charismatic revival, believers who are slain in the Spirit experience an extended, intense time of inner work of the Spirit tailored to the specific nature or needs of the individual.

Some expositors have noted that in all biblical instances of the powerful presence of God causing one to fall prostrate, the position was always face down, while in contemporary instances, the worshipper falls backward. When the number of worshippers who fall reaches a larger number with regularity, some evangelists have relied on “catchers” to protect from injury during a fall. Some have questioned if humans have to protect from injury if the work is genuinely an act of the Holy Spirit. But based on biblical evidence, falling down is not an evidence of spirituality. Nor is it a normative experience that should be sought on the basis of any biblical command or repeated example.

Overwhelming experiences, such as falling to the floor, are, therefore, in themselves not to be encouraged as a pattern sought by all believers. However, such experiences, when they occur, may be valid, and should not be summarily discredited.

On the other hand, some believers attending a meeting where a few are slain in the Spirit may feel incorrectly that if they do not fall, others will think them unspiritual or resisting the move of the Spirit. A “courtesy fall” is never the work of the Spirit, nor is a quick rise so others may have the experience. If one is truly slain in the Spirit, there is most likely a work the Spirit wishes to do in that life.

Ron Philips, on Charisma Magazine, has given the following Scriptural proofs for the phenomenon:

Notice some biblical evidence for this phenomenon. In Genesis 2:21, God caused a “deep sleep” to fall on Adam so He could remove a rib in order to fashion woman. He then closed Adam’s side....What God did then, He can do now. During a “falling out” time God can perform surgery and healing for people in a spiritual, emotional, mental, or physical way. 

In Genesis 15:12, God put Abram into a deep sleep. God then prophesied or spoke the future over Abram’s resting spirit. 

Ezekiel 2:2 reveals that the prophet saw a vision and heard a voice when he fell on his face. 

During a trance experience, Daniel heard the voice of an angel speaking about the end of time. Daniel 8:27 states that when the trance was over, Daniel fainted and was sick for several days. 

Matthew 17:1–6... an account of the Transfiguration. On the mountain, God showed three disciples what the significance of the Law and Prophets was and that Jesus was greater and the fulfillment of both. When the disciples heard that, they fell to the ground with faces down. 

The account in Matthew 28:4 tells us that the soldiers who were guarding Jesus’s tomb were literally paralyzed with fear when the angel appeared sitting on the stone that was rolled away. 

Another encounter experienced by Paul is recorded in Acts 22:17–18: “Now it happened, when I [Paul] returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance and saw Him [Jesus] saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’” 

Revelation 1:17 gives us a compelling piece of information: “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last’” (emphasis added).

But, are such verses compelling evidence for the modern phenomena termed as "Slaying in the Spirit? One wonders. However, we can safely conclude on, at least ,the following:

1. It is not from the Spirit to highlight "Slaying in the Spirit" as the brand manifestation of the Spirit and His power. It is not biblically acceptable to capitalize on such phenomenon and make it appear as THE capital evidence of power.
2. However, one must be careful also not to oppose the phenomenon. Remember the Gamaliel principle: "If this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it-- lest you even be found to fight against God."(Act 5:38-39 NKJ)
3. It is fully important for all responsible Christians to evaluate the nature and fruits of any supernatural phenomenon (Deut.13:1,2,3; Matt.7:20,21,22,23; 1Thess.5:20,21), no matter how common it seems. This applies to also healing, miracles, and prophecy.
   -- What is the doctrine being taught by the minister under whose ministry such signs appear?
   -- How is the personal life and testimony of the minister?
   -- What is the result of this supernatural experience in the life of the experiencer?
   -- Does the nature of the experience comply with the nature of the Spirit? For instance, if it overpowers one's volitional faculties, then it may not be from the Spirit; because the Spirit's nature is to respect our freewill - He always says, "Let him who has ears listen to what the Spirit says" and the Lord doesn't break into someone's house; He stands at the door and knock.
4. Don't uphold signs and wonders; uphold the Word of God (Luke 10:17,18,19,20). No wonder is greater than the wonder of the Word; no working is greater than the penetrating work of the Word (Luke 16:31; Heb.4:12).

This Treasure in Earthen Vessels (2Cor.4:7)

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. (2Cor. 4:7)

Commentators have often been reminded by this verse of the story of Gideon, his pitchers, and torches. In that particular story, Gideon had his 300 men hide torches within pitchers. They surrounded the enemy camp and when the trumpets blew, the men broke the earthen pitchers to let off the light shine.

The Bible tells us that the excellence of God's power is the treasure hidden within us in earthen vessels. He chose these weak, vulnerable, and fragile bodies to carry around His great power by which He holds the entire universe with its dazzling stars, planets, and all life together. He didn't choose objects of gold and silver to hold this treasure. He chose us, men and women who are made of clay. But, unless these clay pots are broken that power cannot shine forth. In our humility and meekness, His excellency shines forth.

When I think of the vulnerability and fragility that we are composed of, I wonder at the grace of God that chose us to be His vessels of infinite power, despite our weaknesses. But, now He is our strength and not we ourselves. So much grace upon grace!!

But, this treasure is not here just for ourselves. It belongs to Him and is here for His purposes alone. The purpose of our life is only fulfilled when the purpose of Heaven is fulfilled. Our destinies are tied in to the Lamb and His Throne.

Prayer: Lord, it is important that You increase and I decrease. Help me live a life that brings You glory and let my life be an exhibition of Your Kingdom and Your Power. Amen!

Earnestly Desiring the Best Gifts of the Spirit

God wants each of us to be filled with His Holy Spirit and be loaded with the gifts of the Spirit for His ministry.

He wants to use each one of us:
"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all" (1Co 12:7 NKJ)

We are members of His body. No man would ever want any part of his body to be left unused. Nobody would say, "I will shut my nose off and not use it". God wants to use each one of us.

However, the question is do we want to be used of God? Really?

There are two things spoken to us in 1Corinthians 12-14 that are essential in the pursuit of the gifts of the Spirit.

1. Zeal and Intense Passion for the Gifts
"Earnestly desire the best gifts. (1Co 12:31 NKJ)
"Desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. (1Co 14:1 NKJ)

The word for "desire" is zeloo and means "intense zeal". It is the same word from which the word "zealot" comes. The zealots were a terrorist group, a do or die people. To be zealous for the best gifts is to be so fully consumed of desire for the gifts that it is like a do or die situation. Jesus said that if we genuinely and persistently ask for the Spirit, the Father will give. He won't give His precious gifts to those who only half-heartedly seek them. Because, then, they never understand the value of the same. A really zealous person is like a thirsty man who cannot give up looking for water till he found water to drink. So, a person who is zealously seeking the gifts of the Spirit cannot find rest until God has filled him. Such person will not sleep and slumber in prayer. He will not get bored of prayer times. He will pray in the Spirit; he will enquire, seek, follow.

2. The More Excellent Way Called Love
"And yet I show you a more excellent way." (ICor 12:31)
"Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts." (ICor 14:1)

God will never entrust His power to somebody who doesn't have God's love.
-Power without Love is destructive. It will destroy both the one who possesses the power and those around that person.
-Power without Love is immoral. Love is the fulfillment of Law; therefore, power without love is immoral and lawless.
-Power without Love is godless. God is love; therefore, power without love is godless.
-Power without Love cannot work the righteousness of God.

Smith Wigglesworth said: Faith+Compassion=Miracle

Jesus was moved with compassion and healed people. Love is the more excellent way. It is the way that remains. Love is the greatest of all.

Be rooted in the love of Christ and your life will bear fruit for Christ.

We all can have the gifts of the Spirit if we are zealous for them and if we cherish the love of Christ in our hearts for all.

Evangelism by the Holy Spirit: Electrifying Testimonies from theMinistry of Charles Finney

CHARLES Finney’s Power from on High documents miraculous incidents of supernatural results in ministry in his life. Finney emphasizes on the need of the power of the Holy Spirit for any spiritual results in modern day ministry. The story of his experience has an electrifying effect:

I was powerfully converted on the morning of the 10th of October. In the evening of the same day, and on the morning of the following day, I received overwhelming baptisms of the Holy Ghost, that went through me, as it seemed to me, body and soul. I immediately found myself endued with such power from on high that a few words dropped here and there to individuals were the means of their immediate conversion. My words seemed to fasten like barbed arrows in the souls of men. They cut like a sword. They broke the heart like a hammer. Multitudes can attest to this. Oftentimes a word dropped, without my remembering it, would fasten conviction, and often result in almost immediate conversion. Sometimes I would find myself, in a great measure, empty of this power. I would go out and visit, and find that I made no saving impression. I would exhort and pray, with the same result. I would then set apart a day for private fasting and prayer, fearing that this power had departed from me, and would inquire anxiously after the reason of this apparent emptiness. After humbling myself, and crying out for help, the power would return upon me with all its freshness. This has been the experience of my life.

He records one remarkable incident, in which the overflowing power of the Holy Spirit accomplishes what words of human wisdom might have never accomplished. It reminds us of Paul’s confession: “my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1Co 2:4-5, emphatics mine).

Finney reports:

I have said that sometimes a look has in it the power of God. I have often witnessed this. Let the following fact illustrate it. I once preached, for the first time, in a manufacturing village. The next morning I went into a manufacturing establishment to view its operations. As I passed into the weaving department I beheld a great company of young women, some of whom, I observed, were looking at me, and then at each other, in a manner that indicated a trifling spirit, and that they knew me. I, however, knew none of them. As I approached nearer to those who had recognized me they seemed to increase in their manifestations of lightness of mind. Their levity made a peculiar impression upon me; I felt it to my very heart. I stopped short and looked at them, I know not how, as my whole mind was absorbed with the sense of their guilt and danger. As I settled my countenance upon them I observed that one of them became very much agitated. A thread broke. She attempted to mend it; but her hands trembled in such a manner that she could not do it. I immediately observed that the sensation was spreading, and had become universal among that class of triflers. I looked steadily at them until one after another gave up and paid no more attention to their looms. They fell on their knees, and the influence spread throughout the whole room. I had not spoken a word; and the noise of the looms would have prevented my being heard if I had. In a few minutes all work was abandoned, and tears and lamentations filled the room. At this moment the owner of the factory, who was himself an unconverted man, came in, accompanied, I believe, by the superintendent, who was a professed Christian. When the owner saw the state of things he said to the superintendent, "Stop the mill." What he saw seemed to pierce him to the heart. "It is more important," he hurriedly remarked, "that these souls should be saved than that this mill should run." As soon as the noise of the machinery had ceased, the owner inquired: "What shall we do? We must have a place to meet, where we can receive instruction." The superintendent replied: "The muleroom will do." The mules were run up out of the way, and all of the hands were notified and assembled in that room. We had a marvelous meeting. I prayed with them, and gave them such instructions as at the time they could bear. The word was with power. Many expressed hope that day; and within a few days, as I was informed, nearly every hand in that great establishment, together with the owner, had hope in Christ. This power is a great marvel. I have many times seen people unable to endure the word. The most simple and ordinary statements would cut men off from their seats like a sword, would take away their bodily strength, and render them almost as helpless as dead men. Several times it has been true in my experience that I could not raise my voice, or say anything in prayer or exhortation except in the mildest manner, without wholly overcoming those that were present. This was not because I was preaching terror to the people; but the sweetest sounds of the gospel would overcome them. This power seems sometimes to pervade the atmosphere of one who is highly charged with it. Many times great numbers of persons in a community will be clothed with this power, when the very atmosphere of the whole place seems to be charged with the life of God. Strangers coming into it, and passing through the place, will be instantly smitten with conviction of sin, and in many instances converted to Christ. When Christians humble themselves, and consecrate their all afresh to Christ, and ask for this power, they will often receive such a baptism that they will be instrumental in converting more souls in one day than in all their lifetime before. While Christians remain humble enough to retain this power the work of conversion will go on, till whole communities and regions of country are converted to Christ. The same is true of ministers.

For a more detailed account of Finney’s experiences with God, I recommend the reading of the book available online here.

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