Do You have Anything Better?

The story is told of the pastor who started having visitations from angels, who are, on many occasions in scripture, the messengers of God. Many of his fellow pastors, when he began to share these experiences with his congregation; (which benefited his church members immensely), became indignant and were talking about turning this pastor out of the denomination, because he dared to have these supernatural experiences, and then talk about them.

An elderly member of this pastoral council simply sat and listened, as all these "spiritual" leaders discussed what was to be done about this fellow pastor, who claimed to have visitations from angels. After much discussion, the council deferred to him, he being recognized as one of the most able and well known bible scholars in their whole denomination. He began by talking about the church he pastored, which was one of the largest in the denomination, and recounting how they had a midweek bible class, which they had opened up for individuals to give suggestions on what biblical topic they would like to hear taught. He said that the majority of the large amount of those who attended, wanted to hear teaching on angels. This surprised this bible teacher, but he said, willing to satisfy the church members interest, he decided to bring some teaching on angels; which he thought would probably take up 2 or 3 weeks of classes. To his great amazement, there was an overwhelming supply of material, and instead of running 2 or 3 weeks, he ended up teaching on the subject for months, in this bible study class, and still hadn't exhausted the subject, but simply decided to move on to another topic.

His question to his fellow pastors was twofold: First, he said, it didn't surprise him at all, that one of the pastors had been having visitations from angels; he said the real question was, how come more of them were not seeing angels, just like the numerously recorded manifestations occur, in both the old and new testaments. Secondly, he wanted to know, that if they were going to deny this aspect of the supernatural, did they have anything better to offer the church. Once we start to eradicate evidences of the supernatural from our church and Christian life experience, what are we left with, but a form of tradition or religion, totally lacking in any real power to change and transform lives (2 Tim.3:5)!

People are Always Down, on What They're Not Up On

When we don't have the supernatural manifestations and presence of God, in our lives and church gatherings, we become a dry, dusty relics of past glory, with no present relevance to meet the needs of people now; and the real tragedy, is that we attempt to explain away our failure to operate in the supernatural with cliche expressions void of any real substance or satisfaction:

"That was just for the early church" or "All that passed away with the apostles" or "God works in mysterious ways" or "You never can know what God will do" or "miracles were just for the early church, but now we have a greater revelation with the scriptures" or "Tongues are not for today" and numerous other erroneous faith destroying fallacies.

Galatians 3:5 says, "He that ministers to you the Spirit and works miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?"

Ministers - This is the Greek word (epichoregon), [2023], which is a compound word from (choros), "chorus", "choir", and (hegeomai), "to lead". It literally translates as, "to lead a chorus". The preposition (epi), intensifies the word, to mean, "abundance", or something that is "lavish", or "over the top" and "beyond". The form here is the present participle, which means that the action is continuously on-going.

The origin of this word, is that wealthy patrons used to, at one time, perhaps "lead", but more accurately, fund, stage performances for entertainment, at some of the great public feasts and gatherings of the Greek cities. They would supply all the resources necessary for the whole drama production, providing food; costumes; props; lodging; and all other expenses. In this verse, the compound word, with the preposition (epi), means that not only is there a 'supply", but there is an ongoing, superabundant, lavish supply, of two things:

1) the Spirit [or, by implication, manifestations of the Spirit], and

2) working of miracles

Working Miracles - These two words are (energon), [1754], and (dynamis), [1411]. Both of these words refer exclusively to supernatural power, in the New Testament. The word (dynamis) is where we get the English word "dynamite" and refers to supernatural, explosive power potential. The word (energon) is where we get the English word "energy" from, and it is the supernatural power released, or activated, that fully produces the intended result. It is not violent or uncontrolled, but it is focused, and totally, 100% of the time, results in supernatural "energy", producing the intended supernatural results.

The Greek phrase in this verse, could be translated, "energizes power in you", or "implants in you miraculous powers" (James Donnegan). The idea is that there is an on-going, continuous, super abundant supply, not only of manifestations of the Spirit, but explosive, supernatural power, continuously energized, in their midst, that was an ongoing occurrence.

It is obvious that this didn't occur through observance and listening to the law, but rather by the "hearing of faith". It is important to note that it was a declared standard; a very present reality, an accepted normality, and that "...Paul assumed the possession of these extraordinary powers by his converts as an acknowledged fact" (J.B. Lightfoot, Epistle to the Galatians). In other words, manifestations of the Spirit and supernatural, directed release; the energizing of this dynamic power of God, was a regular abundantly supplied occurrence, but the real question is, how did this take place?

Hearing of Faith - The word "hearing" is the Greek word (akoes), [189], and refers to either "the act of hearing" or "the message that is heard" (Wuest). The word "of" is supplied in the text, and actually makes the construction more awkward. Literally, the text can be either translated: "the act of hearing faith", or, "the message of faith that is heard". In either sense, it is the announcement of the gospel, the victorious good news proclaimed, that produces FAITH resulting in:

1) manifestations of the Spirit, and

2) the release of energized, effective, dynamic, supernatural power.

The scripture says that FAITH comes from HEARING the word of God (Rm.10:17), and how shall they HEAR, without someone announcing the good news (Rm.10:14). The word of God referred to is the announcement of good news of good things! (Rm.10:15).

Paul and Barnabas went to Lystra, and there "...they were announcing the good news" (Acts 14:7). "...and a certain man in Lystra, disabled in the feet sat, one being lame from out of the belly of his mother, who at no time walked. This one HEARD Paul SPEAKING, who [Paul] having gazed upon him, and seeing that the man had FAITH to be healed, said with a loud voice, 'Rise upon your feet straight!', and he leaped and walked" (Acts 14:8-10, Apostolic Bible). How did the man get faith to be healed? He heard Paul speak/announce the gospel. The manifestation came from the declaration and someone hearing that announcement!

Jesus said to go into all the world and announce the good news to everybody and the ones BELIEVING shall be saved/delivered/healed (Mk. 16:15-16) and they went everywhere announcing the good news and the Lord worked with them, confirming WHAT THEY SAID was true by the signs that followed the announcement of the good news (Mk.16:20).

This great salvation was first SPOKEN by the Lord Jesus Christ and was confirmed in Believers that HEARD, "God bearing witness with both signs and miracles, and various (works of) power, and distributions of the Holy Spirit" (Heb.2:4).

Paul said when he announced the good news, "...my word, and my announcing was not in persuasive human words of wisdom, but in a demonstration of spirit and power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" (1 Cor.2:4-5).

Producing Faith

If what we are announcing is not PRODUCING FAITH in supernatural manifestations of healing; miracles; signs; and wonders, then it is NOT the Gospel, but rather a perversion of the Gospel; a watered down narrative, stagnant with tradition, and all the intellectual reasonings, that we are to cast down, with the wicked imaginations, (2 Cor.10:4-5), that seek to explain away the supernatural, rather than embracing it.

"The one producing an abundant, continuously ongoing, generous supply of manifestations of the Spirit and the explosive power of God energized in miraculous healings and deliverances, working in your midst, does this happen by observing traditions and works of the law, or is it a result of you hearing a message filled with faith; a message of faith, in these supernatural manifestations and the miraculous energized dynamic power of God?" (Gal.3:5, paraphrase)

You Are God's Best and God's Best is Yours