Symbols of the Holy Spirit: Wine

While a life of drunkenness is clearly and adamantly condemned in the Scripture, wine can represent prosperity, joy, and the Holy Spirit. In the Book of Ephesians, Paul the apostle instructs the Church to avoid drunkenness and instead to experience the infilling of the Holy Spirit:

Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

The believer does not need wine to experience joy. Wine can only give unfulfilling counterfeits of what the Holy Spirit offers. The Holy Spirit is the wine of Heaven.

In the Book of Acts, when the Holy Spirit came upon the New Testament Church, those who saw the Holy Spirit’s influence on the believers assumed that they were drunk.

But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!” Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that” (Acts 2:13-15).

Of course, the Holy Spirit does not come to make us senseless and silly; He makes us sharp and bold. Many have abused those verses in Acts to defend bizarre and ungodly behavior. I believe in the joy and power of the Holy Spirit, but much of what we see on display today is just the flesh. So what was it that made the onlookers assume that the believers were drunk? It’s because they were acting under a new influence. They were behaving abnormally. They were speaking and moving in a way that was different. No, they weren’t belligerent, but they were bold! They weren’t incapacitated, but they were joyful.

The Holy Spirit is compared with wine, not because He brings foolishness and chaos, but because He brings boldness and joy. Just as people receive wine in celebration, so are we to receive the Holy Spirit with gladness. His presence, like wine, marks the occasion. Wine represents the joy, prosperity, and boldness brought about by the Holy Spirit. It too can be symbolic of the Holy Spirit.

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Symbols of the Holy Spirit: Water

We all, from time to time, enter into the place where we find ourselves spiritually tired and drained. The demands of living, paired with a waning prayer life, can produce a dryness of the soul. Sometimes we wander into dry places because we tend to neglect spiritual matters. You may find yourself in places that are dry, like the desert. In the spiritual desert, you become tired, frustrated, weak, and apathetic. Responsibilities and needs, like the intense heat from the beaming sun, drain you of vitality.

Life can sometimes be like a desert, but the Holy Spirit is always like a river.

On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to Me! Anyone who believes in Me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from His heart.’” (When He said “living water,” He was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in Him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into His glory.) (John 7:37-39)

The presence of the Holy Spirit brings life. His nearness is refreshing and restores the vitality of your soul. Because the waters flow from your spirit within, you never have to worry about emptying your source.

The Holy Spirit is not only represented by refreshing rivers of living water; He is also represented by rain (side note: this is also why the cloud is a symbol of the Holy Spirit; the cloud brings the rain).

The prophet Joel prophesied the coming of rain. He was referring to natural rain, but he went on to prophesy that God would “pour out” His Spirit. The mentioning of the Spirit and rain together creates this clear symbolic parallel—the Holy Spirit is the rain of Heaven.

Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for He hath given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.... And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My spirit (Joel 2:23,28-29 KJV).

Water cleanses, quenches, refreshes, and gives life. The Holy Spirit cleanses your soul, quenches your spiritual thirst, and refreshes your being.

Wherever the rivers and rain of the Holy Spirit touch, there is life.

Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life” (John 4:13-14).

Water represents the Holy Spirit’s ability to refresh us, quench our spiritual thirst, cleanse us, and bring forth life wherever He flows. He is the rain of Heaven, and He is the living river that flows from within. Water can be symbolic for the Holy Spirit.

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Symbols of the Holy Spirit: The Seal

Sadly, many Christians are afraid of losing their salvation. For now, at least in this book, I will avoid the debate about whether or not one can lose his or her salvation. What I’d rather focus on here is the fact that many believers just simply do not understand the work of salvation.

Often, I receive very specific questions from very fearful people who are wondering if they have done something to lose their salvation. The questions vary in specifics but are exactly alike at the core. “Brother David, I listened to a worldly song, and I felt bad—have I lost my salvation?”

“David, I spoke ungodly words in anger toward my spouse, and now I feel a weight of guilt on me. Did I lose my salvation?” “Brother David, I don’t feel God near me anymore. Am I still saved?”

Not a single believer should live under the paranoia, the constant fear, of being cast away from God’s salvation. We place much faith in the power of our misdeeds and not enough in God’s ability to secure that which He has purchased.

What’s even sadder is the fact that most people I try to counsel out of such paranoia are much too busied in the mind to pay any attention to the truth. The truth can liberate them from the religious weight of performance-based faith, but they don’t pause to really receive that truth. They obsess over the details about their own specific errors and ignore the principles of truth that apply to all. They long for a specific assurance that what they have done in particular has not disqualified them from the family of God.

So, dear reader, please read this carefully: salvation is quite simple. Jesus did the work, and He just asks that you believe in His accomplishment. Of course, we must live righteously thereafter, but not in order to gain salvation. We don’t live holy to be saved; we choose to live holy because we are saved.

Still, even knowing this information about the simplicity of salvation, many Christians live their lives in misery. They carry the weight of their sins and live in fear. They live in fear because they think their salvation depends on their performance, when it doesn’t. Again, I must emphasize that I believe in holy living, and I believe that there are consequences to sin.

But that doesn’t mean that the believer isn’t going through a transformation. Perfection is a process.

Thankfully, we have the Holy Spirit to help us defeat the religious paradigms that can so easily infect the mind. He is the One who assures us that we belong to God. I daresay that convincing you of your new identity is one of His most important works.

The Holy Spirit is the “down payment” on your heavenly inheritance. Yes, Jesus paid the price in full for your salvation when He gave His life upon the cross. However, the Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee that we will receive the salvation for which Christ died to give us. The day of redemption is a certain reality for you and me because we have the Holy Spirit.

And He has identified us as His own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything He has promised us (2 Corinthians 1:22)

Because we have the Holy Spirit, we can be assured that we belong to God, and because we belong to God, we can be assured of all He has promised to give us and do for us through Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is your mark and guarantee. He is God’s pledge and seal of promise upon you.

In Jewish wedding culture, the father of the groom would usually be the one who picked the bride for his son. After the father of the groom found whom he believed to be the choice bride, he would approach the bride and her family. There would be a written marriage agreement made. After the written agreement was finished, it was customary for the father of the groom to give a gift to the father of the bride. That gift acted as a deposit for the bride. It was a promissory note, a guarantee of the groom’s intentions to marry. Once that deposit was made, the intent to marry would become official.

The Jewish wedding traditions, like many of the Jewish traditions, mirror the spiritual realm.

Just as the father of the groom selects the bride, so God the Father has chosen to give the Church to His Son. And just as the father of the groom leaves a gift representing a promise, so God fills you with His Holy Spirit, His divine promise.

While here upon the earth, we receive many things from the Lord. And many people, when they get to Heaven, will be saddened to discover what they could have experienced while here on earth. Still, not everything that God has promised us concerning our salvation can be experienced here and now. For example, the new glorified bodies we will receive cannot now be obtained. So, the Holy Spirit is God’s seal of promise in you, guaranteeing that you will eventually receive it all!

For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God Himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee He has given us His Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:3-5).

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:13-14 KJV).

The seal represents the certainty that we receive from the Holy Spirit. Despite what our emotions tell us, despite what the lies of the enemy tell us, despite what our own human reasoning tells us, we know that we belong to God because of the Holy Spirit, the seal of the promise of salvation. The seal, the Holy Spirit, is God’s fear-defeating, peace-giving promise to us, the assurance of our own salvation. The seal can be symbolic of the Holy Spirit.

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Symbols of the Holy Spirit: The Cloud

Then Moses climbed up the mountain, and the cloud covered it. And the glory of the Lord settled down on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from inside the cloud. To the Israelites at the foot of the mountain, the glory of the Lord appeared at the summit like a consuming fire. Then Moses disappeared into the cloud as he climbed higher up the mountain. He remained on the mountain
forty days and forty nights (Exodus 24:15-18).

It was in that cloud that Moses received, among many other instructions, commands on how to build the tabernacle. While in the cloud, Moses shared such a close relationship with God that his face would often shine.

Then all the people of Israel approached him, and Moses gave them all the instructions the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai.

When Moses finished speaking with them, he covered his face with a veil. But whenever he went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the Lord, he would remove the veil until he came out again. Then he would give the people whatever instructions the Lord had given him, and the people of Israel would see the radiant glow of his face. So he would put the veil over his face until he returned to speak with the Lord (Exodus 34:32-35).

Reading and hearing of the manifested glory of God stirs within my heart a desire to know God in a deeper way. So often I cry, “Show me Your glory, Jesus! Reveal Yourself to me. I want to know You more. Let Your cloud surround me too.” Dear reader, I know that you too desire to draw closer to God.

Now, here’s the wonderful news! The same cloud that enveloped Moses dwells in you. For that cloud is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God’s abiding presence. He was the cloud that guided the children of Israel through the wilderness.

The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and He provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night (Exodus 13:21).

In the same way that the Holy Spirit guided the children of Israel through the wilderness, so He guides you today. To stay within the will of God, simply follow the Holy Spirit. There’s a saying I have that I use whenever I sense God changing my direction in life or ministry. I say, “The Cloud is moving.”

This same cloud also filled the temple where the priests were ministering. The power of the glory of God was so overwhelming that the priests were unable to stand in it.

It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying, For He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord; so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God (2 Chronicles 5:13-14 KJV).

The presence of the Holy Spirit also manifested in the form of a cloud at the transfiguration of Jesus.

But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My dearly loved Son, who brings Me great joy. Listen to Him.” The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground (Matthew 17:5-6).

It was in the cloud that Jesus ascended (Acts 1:9), and it is on a cloud that Jesus will return (Mark 13:26). The Holy Spirit, the cloud, reveals the presence of Jesus.

The cloud represents the Holy Spirit’s guidance and glorious presence in your life. He surrounds you and reveals the glory of God. He rests on His new tabernacle, you. The cloud can be symbolic of the Holy Spirit.

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Symbols of the Holy Spirit: Light

I once had a prayer team visit my house to pray. While praying over my desk (where I studied the Word), an anointed woman of God saw a vision. She said, “I was praying over your room when I saw your Bible sitting open on your desk. So I started to anoint your desk and Bible. Then I saw the verses in the Bible begin to illuminate. In the spirit, I saw you studying.
And as you studied, the verses were being illuminated.”

What that woman saw in the spirit was the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit illuminates the Word, and that illumination is not just for me—it’s for you, dear reader.

Before I began to know the Holy Spirit as a friend, when I didn’t even truly consider Him as a Person, I struggled to understand the teachings of God’s Word. I was able to comprehend biblical doctrines, memorize Bible passages, and even appreciate the beauty of the Scriptures. Yet I lacked in how I received the revelation of God’s Word. There was no life to my devotion. Because my mind would so easily wander, I would read long portions of Scripture only to stop and have to start again. I would often forget the context, misunderstand the ideas, and struggle to find any application for the truth I received.

Even knowing the Word, my spiritual mood would often shift as I failed to grasp the nature of God. Reading the Word of God was more of a discipline than anything else. Though discipline in the Word is certainly needed, I didn’t want my devotion to the Word to be just a discipline. Sure, reading the Word benefited me. And yes, it helped me to grow. But some- thing wasn’t quite right. Something was missing, and I knew there had to be more.

One day, while reading the Word, I came across a portion of Scripture in the Book of James. I’ll never forget the moment I first read it. It was life altering. I read this verse:

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking (James 1:5).

Dear reader, I know that to most that verse may not appear all that thrilling, but when I read it, for me, that verse became alive! Something about it just pulled my soul. I felt God speaking to me.
Through that verse, the Lord was offering to me understanding of His precious Word. He was inviting me to ask for His wisdom. The very moment I read that passage, I stopped to pray. “Lord,” I spoke softly, “Your Word says that if I lack wisdom, I can ask You for it. So I’m asking You to give me wisdom. Help me to understand Your Word.” That was the day the Holy Spirit introduced me to Himself as the Teacher.

But when the Father sends the Advocate as My representative— that is, the Holy Spirit—He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you (John 14:26).

On that day, the Holy Spirit offered me His help in knowing the Word, and everything changed.

Ever since then, when I read the Word, I can sense the Holy Spirit standing alongside me, and I can hear Him teaching me. I’m telling you—only He can truly reveal His Word. The Holy Spirit has helped me move beyond comprehension and into revelation. Comprehension and revelation are very different. One is received in the natural mind, the other in the mind of the spirit. My personal time in the Word is no longer dry and tedious; it’s refreshing and exciting.

The Holy Spirit’s guidance in the Word has even changed my ministry. The teaching of the Word, aside from the miracles, is what drew the crowds to Jesus (see Luke 5:15). I model my ministry after His. So this ministry is built on God’s Word and the Spirit’s teaching. So much can be built on the foundation of solid teaching and revelation. With the Holy Spirit as your Teacher, you can become filled with the Word to where it begins to pour out of you, and that will attract people to your ministry. Why? Because people are so hungry to know the deeper things of God. They want substance, and substance is hard to find. True substance of the Word, true knowledge of the Bible, is a rare treasure. So few ever take the time to get into the Word.

The illumination of the Holy Spirit can become the magnet of your ministry. That is one of the reasons why it’s so important that we rely upon the Holy Spirit to teach us.

And that’s what I’ve learned to do—just yield to my Teacher. Since the moment I read that verse in James until now, the revelations haven’t ceased. The Holy Spirit is faithful to reveal His Word. It’s purely supernatural. The ability to know the truth is beyond human reasoning. We need the illumination of the Holy Spirit.

When I think of such illumination, I’m reminded of apostle John. What awe and wonderful terror must have filled the yielded being of John as he stood in the realm of the Spirit to witness the majestic sight of God’s throne room. Like the deep sea or the ever-expanding cosmos, the presence of the Lord can be so beautiful that it’s frightening.

Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carne- lian. And the glow of an emerald circled His throne like a rainbow. Twenty-four thrones surrounded Him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God (Revelation 4:1-5).

The Book of Revelation describes the sevenfold Spirit of God as “seven lamps of fire burning” (Rev. 4:5 KJV). The lamps themselves are said to be the seven-fold Spirit of God, not the fire. Lamps give light, guidance, and clarity. In the same way, the Holy Spirit brings about illumination in the life of the believer. The Holy Spirit gives illumination through:

Revelation of the Word of God (see John 14:26)
Revelation of the ways of God (see 1 Corinthians 2:10-12)
Revelation of the will of God (see Acts 16:6-7)

The Word of God contains the written foundational truths concerning God’s will (desires, plans) and God’s ways (nature, character). However, there are certain aspects of God’s will that only the Holy Spirit can reveal to you—especially when those aspects have to do with specific things in your life and ministry. The same goes for the ways of God. God’s ways—or
nature—can only be truly understood by the Holy Spirit.

The more that the Holy Spirit illuminates the Word of God, the more you can see the ways and will of God. The Holy Spirit illuminates your mind and your spirit. As a guiding lamp, the Holy Spirit enables you to see with your spiritual sight.

But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you His Spirit, and all of you know the truth (1 John 2:20).

The lamp speaks to the illuminating nature of the Holy Spirit. Lamps or light can be symbolic of the Holy Spirit.

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Symbols of the Holy Spirit: The Dove

What does the Holy Spirit look like? We are given descriptions of Jesus and the Father, but rarely do we see a description of the Holy Spirit. Today, His body is your body, but the Holy Spirit appeared in physical form in the Gospels. Yes, the Bible gives a physical description of the Holy Spirit!

The Gospels each record the spectacular events in the life of Christ. Although they will often vary in the way they describe an event, they do not ever contradict one another. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John each describe the event of Jesus’s baptism in the same way. During the baptism of Jesus, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a dove. This agreement upon the way they described the Holy Spirit indicates to me that what they saw was a literal description and not a figurative description. Those who witnessed the heavenly display literally saw the Holy Spirit, in the shape and likeness of a dove, descend upon Jesus.

After His baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on Him (Matthew 3:16).

As Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on Him like a dove (Mark 1:10).

Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon Him” (John 1:32).

Luke’s Gospel confirms the literal way in which the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus. He makes it clear that the Holy Spirit took on the form of a dove bodily:

and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on Him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are My dearly loved Son, and You bring Me great joy” (Luke 3:22).

Other Scriptures in the Bible symbolically speak to the pure, innocent, and undefiled nature of the Holy Spirit:

I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night (Song of Solomon 5:2 KJV).

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16 NIV).

Like the dove, the Holy Spirit is elegant, pure, and gentle. As such, the dove can be symbolic for the Holy Spirit.

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Symbols of the Holy Spirit: Oil

What does it mean to be anointed?

In the Old Testament, when an individual was being anointed, oil was poured upon them (usually upon the head). This ceremonious applying of oil was known as “being anointed.” When someone was anointed, they were understood to be positioned, placed in authority, and ultimately set apart for a specific purpose.

The oil was a mark of power, of God’s call.

Kings were anointed.

Now the Lord said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be My king.” …So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah (1 Samuel 16:1,13).

Prophets were anointed.

Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as My prophet (1 Kings 19:16).

Priests were anointed.

Clothe your brother, Aaron, and his sons with these garments, and then anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they can serve as My priests (Exodus 28:41).

Special holy items and places, such as altars, were anointed.

Each day you must sacrifice a young bull as a sin offering to purify them, making them right with the Lord. Afterward, cleanse the altar by purifying it; make it holy by anointing it with oil (Exodus 29:36).

In the New Testament, God marked and anointed Jesus, not just with oil, but with the Holy Spirit.

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him (Acts 10:38).

The anointing oil was a foreshadowing of the Holy Spirit. Just as oil was poured from above and onto the head of those appointed, so the Holy Spirit is poured out from above onto the head of the Church—Jesus Christ.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for He has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free (Luke 4:18).

You and I today are not anointed with oil but with power and the Holy Spirit. He sets us apart and empowers us for God’s use.

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Symbols of the Holy Spirit: Fire

The Holy Spirit is symbolized by fire all throughout the scripture. One of the most interesting fire references to me can be found in the book of Ezekiel.

It came about in the sixth year, on the fifth day of the sixth month, as I was sitting in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell on me there. Then I looked, and behold, a likeness as the appearance of a man; from His loins and downward there was the appearance of fire, and from His loins and upward the appearance of brightness, like the appearance of glowing metal. He stretched out the form of a hand and caught me by a lock of my head; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the idol of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy, was located. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the appearance which I saw in the plain (Ezekiel 8:1-4 NASB).

I’m very intrigued by the heavenly visions of Ezekiel the prophet, but the vision that he had of the fiery being really has my attention. The fiery being had the likeness of a man, consisted of what appeared to be fire, and glowed like hot metal. Notice also that Ezekiel says the fiery being grabbed him with the “form of a hand” (Ezek. 8:3). It wasn’t an actual hand of flesh. Picture that—a flame of fire taking on the shape of a hand. Ezekiel’s descriptions don’t seem to be describing an angel or even the Lord Jesus.

What does Ezekiel call this fiery being who grabbed him by the lock of his head?

“He stretched out the form of a hand and caught me by a lock of my head; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven...” (Ezek. 8:3).

He called this being the “Spirit.” Ezekiel’s vision may very well have been of the Holy Spirit Himself.

Fire represents the Holy Spirit’s righteous nature. It speaks to His purity, judgment, and His refining presence. Thus, fire can be symbolic of the Holy Spirit.

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Symbols of the Holy Spirit: Wind

In the Old Testament, the word for “spirit” is “ruach”. The Hebrew word “ruach” can mean “spirit,” “wind,” or even “breath.” In the New Testament, the word for “spirit” is “pneuma”, which can also mean “wind” or “breath.” Of course, as far as the words and languages, there is much more to it than that, but for the sake of simplicity, just note that “ruach” and “pneuma” can mean “spirit,” “wind,” or “breath.”

Wind is a Biblical symbol of the Holy Spirit.

On the day of Pentecost, all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. - Acts 2:1–2

Like the wind, the Holy Spirit comes in suddenly and from seemingly nowhere - He whirls about the atmosphere and changes everything.

The Spirit, like the wind, moves wherever He wants and is, at times, unpredictable.

Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit. - John 3:8

Breath is also a Biblical symbol of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the breath of God; He is the breath of life that sustains all living beings.
 
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. - Genesis 2:7, KJV

The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. - Job 33:4, KJV

The Holy Spirit proceeds from the depths of God. This is why, when imparting the Holy Spirit to His followers, Jesus breathed upon them.

Then He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” - John 20:22

The Holy Spirit is unpredictable, invisible but powerful. He brings refreshing. He stirs the atmosphere, and He brings life. He is the Wind of Heaven, the Breath of God.

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Do Something for God

Jesus told a parable about a man who went on a long journey, leaving his 3 servants in charge of his resources. He gave resources to his servants in proportion to their abilities. While the man was away on his journey, two of his servants multiplied their resources, but one servant, crippled by fear, failed to do anything with the resources.

“Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’ “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. - Matthew 25:24-29, NLT

How often do we allow ourselves to develop the same mindset as the servant in the parable?

Many are so worried about details that they miss destiny. Afraid to do something wrong, many fail to do anything at all. Some imagine that the will of God is so precise, so easy to miss, that one wrong turn can derail the call of God. That’s simply not the truth.

As we make use of every resource, talent, and gift that God has bestowed upon us, we can trust that the Holy Spirit will direct us if ever we venture too far from the path that the Lord has laid before us. Just step out and do something for God. He will be faithful to guide you as you go. Don’t be inactive because you lack specifics; rather, do something that you know will please God - you know it because you know His nature (If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank?).

Don’t be afraid. Do something for God.

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Eternity Matters

Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
Colossians 3:2, NLT

Nothing matters, except for that which impacts eternity. When all things have finally come to an end, when even history itself is forgotten, only the eternal remains.

That is why the Church must remain focused on the eternal. The gospel must remain our central message, because it doesn’t just change lives - it impacts eternity. There are many wonderful messages, projects, and causes that are worthy of attention; however, our primary message must be the gospel.

Feed the hungry? Yes. Meet earthly needs? Absolutely. Involve ourselves in social reformations? Sure. But we must not be swept so far into social cause that we forget about eternity. Charity and good works must aid our spreading of the gospel, not replace it. The Church’s first priority should be the preaching of the gospel message - backed by good works, yes; but definitely and clearly spoken with words.

What good does it do to feed a man today who enters eternity without Christ tomorrow?

Let us continue to preach about the blood of Jesus, repentance from sin, Heaven, Hell, and eternity. If we don’t preach the gospel, who will? If we don’t address the issue of the soul, who will? Keep an eternal focus. Keep preaching the gospel.

Souls hang in the balance.

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8 Effects of Living in God's Word

There are many benefits to knowing and living the Word of God. Here are 8 examples.

#1 You’ll walk free from sin

I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11

#2 You’ll prosper in all you do

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. Joshua 1:8

#3 You’ll walk in truth

Truth arms you to walk free of many kinds of deception. You’ll walk free from self-deception.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:22

You’ll walk free from demonic deception.

Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. 1 Timothy 4:1

#4 You’ll walk in faith

So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. Romans 10:17

#5 You’ll walk in Wisdom

The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand. Psalm 119:130

#6 You’ll walk in peace

Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Psalm 119:165

#7 You’ll walk in strength

My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. Psalm 119:28

#8 You’ll walk in vulnerability toward God

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Hebrews 4:12

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Persistent Faith

Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.” But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. “Tell her to go away,” they said. “She is bothering us with all her begging.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.” But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!” Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.” “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.
Matthew 15:22-28, NLT

The woman who approached the Lord did so in desperation. After insisting upon her request, the woman finally received the miracle she sought.

There is something powerful about persistence. In fact, the portion of scripture you just read makes it perfectly clear that persistence and faith are tied together.
Persistence is consistent faith.

Perhaps there is a stubborn issue in your life that will not move. Or maybe you struggle with something from which you desire to be free. Keep going; don’t quit.

Persistent faith overcomes all. You’re not going to climb the mountain; you’re going to move the mountain. Ask, seek, knock. The door will open.

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Something More

I committed my life to Christ in the summer of 2000. I was 11 years old. Though young, having been raised in a Christian home, I understood the implications of such a commitment. As it goes with conversion experiences, my meeting with Christ, the Son of God, was quite dramatic. However, in the coming months I was to experience numerous intense and transformative divine encounters.

You see, after I was saved, I became increasingly fascinated by the Person of Christ. He became my fixation—I read about Him, listened to sermons about Him and prayed to Him. His royal countenance, majestic and alluring, inspired within me a passionate pursuit. Soon enough, my soul longed for one thing, and that one thing was encapsulated in these simple words: “Jesus, I want to know you more.”

Those words began as a whisper but soon grew to be an inner shout. My desire to be drawn closer to Jesus began to demonstrate itself in long hours of prayer and the reading of several Bible chapters a day. My every moment was filled with an immediate awareness of God’s nearness. Throughout my days, I sensed a purposeful pull upon my will; I could sense the guiding hand of God. He used circumstances, conversations and occurrences to speak to me. And I was listening. 

The more I knew of Him, the more I wanted to know. There was a beautiful and energizing grace that compelled my every spiritual act. There was a flow to my prayer and devotion.

But then, seemingly out of nowhere, I felt a growing distance between God and myself. The clear image of Jesus, that the eyes of my heart had so clearly beheld, began to fade.

On this point, I must briefly digress to clarify: I do not believe that God ever abandons the believer. On the contrary, the scripture declares that He is an ever present help in times of need.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1 ESV)

I know now that when God “withdrew” from me, He did so only in regards to my feelings. And He used that sense of distance to cause me to seek Him more, for He loves to be sought. He wasn’t toying with me by any means. Rather, He was testing me and moving me to greater depths. The reward for seeking Him is a revelation of Him. Nonetheless, that reward, at that time, seemed to be a negative. I mistook the privilege of His drawing for the punishment of distance. But He was drawing me deeper.

He wanted to show me something greater!

So what was He trying to show me?

I’d soon discover it. 

During that time, when I felt disconnected from God, I became frustrated. I so badly wanted to close the “gap” and know more of Jesus. Feeling as though something was missing in my spiritual life, I prayed prayers like, “Father, there must be more than this. There just has to be more!”

I agonized and pleaded in prayer. My sense of desperation was so profound that my physical body would tense. Clenching my fists, I would press my face into a tear-drenched carpet and call out to God. Unsettling thoughts intruded my mind—thoughts like, “God, are you angry with me?” and “Lord, did I do something wrong?”

I had applied everything I knew. I had read the books on prayer, attended the church conferences and even had mighty servants of God lay hands on me for impartation. My efforts proved to be of no avail.

Throughout those days, God was rarely far from my mind. Every moment in which I accommodated a pause, I pondered my severe need to connect to God in greater measures.

“Was that all?” I wondered, “Was that all there was to be experienced of the I AM - Eternity Himself?” A quiet but deep knowing assured me, “Son, there’s something more.”

It was because of this seeking despair that I began to watch Christian television. As much as was possible, I wanted to take advantage of my time for the sake of spiritual growth. That time included my TV viewing habits. I was trying to fill my days with the richness of Biblical revelation. 

But what I was longing to experience is not possible to receive from mere learning. What I would come to embrace needed to be caught, not taught. And, through sovereign use of my frustration and desperation, God had already set me on a path to divine destiny.

Because of what I had experienced, my spiritual hunger pains grew. And that desire for sustenance placed me before the TV, expectantly watching God’s anointed servants.

It was truly divine destiny.

So there I was flipping through the various Christian TV networks. Suddenly, on TBN, an image appeared upon my screen that pulled me in. The moment my eyes caught a glimpse of the programming, the atmosphere in my room changed - it became alive and energized! Forgive my use of the word, but what I saw was hypnotic!

I watched as slow-paced camera shots transitioned from one peaceful face to another. I immediately could tell that I was watching a worship service. 

The people seemed to be raptured in a glorious state of euphoric spiritual ecstasy. I watched as tears streamed down faces. The worship music sounded Heavenly, as if angelic beings had joined in the melodies. The words they were singing had a rich, lofty depth to them that I, in an instant, came to appreciate. Starting with a soft and gentle praise, the people in this worship service began to raise the intensity with which they worshipped. The choir, accompanied by piano and violin, led thousands in glorious adoration of Jesus.

Suddenly—

The worship scenes were disrupted by a transition to another portion of the church service. Now, it was at that point when I expected to hear preaching or teaching (As I had seen on all of the other Christian TV programs). I was pleasantly surprised.

This time, it was different.

A man, elated with astonishment, came to the stage, praising God and claiming to be healed of some crippling ailment. Leaving his wheelchair behind, the man leaped for joy, as the crowd erupted in celebratory commotion.

The pastor was just as excited, and went to interview the man claiming to be healed.

At this point, I was already glued to my TV.

Then, as the pastor approached the man (and the group who accompanied him), the people fell backwards as if overcome by some unseen, heavy weight. The moment I saw that, something deep within me ignited. Whatever it was that the preacher carried, I wanted it. The presence of God was so heavy upon him that people couldn’t stand up next to him while he was under that anointing.

Now, I can’t really explain it, but somehow I knew that this was the “something more” I so desperately sought. Not only did I know it was something I needed to glean from, I knew, even as a kid in that divine moment of destiny, that this was the ministry God had for me.

That something more was the in-filling of the Holy Spirit.

That something more was my call to the healing ministry.

That something more was the manifested presence of God.

After witnessing what I witnessed on TBN, I was forever changed. My prayer life was re-energized, and I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what I was called to do for God.

The Holy Spirit intensified the reality of Jesus with such detail and clarity that Christ became more real to me than my own flesh! But I didn’t just see Him more clearly. His Person possessed, filled and took over more of my very being!

Soon, my prayer life began to change. I prayed bold and audacious prayers. “Holy Spirit,” I prayed, “This pastor says that I can know you as a friend. He tells me that you can use my life for your glory. Please, Holy Spirit, use me. Give me a double portion! Guide me. Fill me. Empower me. Let my hands be Your hands; heal through them. Let my eyes be Your eyes; let me see through Your truth. Let my feet be Your feet; tell me where to go. Let my ears be Your ears; speak to me! Let my mouth be Your mouth; speak through me! Let my being be Your Being. Let my heart beat as one with Yours. Let my will be crucified; I’ll live for your will, not mine!”

It was only after this season of my life that I began to see things shift. There was an ease added to my prayer, worship and devotion. I went from sipping from a cup to being carried by a river!

That experience with the Person of the Holy Spirit radically changed everything about me. After that, miracles began to happen all around me. Total strangers would begin to weep and shake around me for reasons unknown to them (we know it’s the Holy Spirit and God’s glory). Demons began to manifest. I began to experience the book of acts!

That something more changed everything for me, and that something more can change everything for all who believe.

It was then that I realized that the Glory of God is not something to be experienced in a fleeting moment. It is the fullness of His ever-present Being, whole and complete, lacking in neither power nor substance, abiding in you. You are God's dwelling place, His holy habitation, a host of His presence, a carrier of His glory.

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We Need the Holy Spirit

“...It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven's Armies.”
- Zechariah 4:6b

We are not clever enough to win this world. We are not strong enough to resist temptation. We are not faithful enough to win God’s favor. But the Holy Spirit is. He is infinitely more capable than you and me.

The Holy Spirt can accomplish more in a single moment than we can accomplish in a thousand years with our best efforts. The key to power and kingdom advancement is not striving but surrender. The more yielded you are, the more powerful you become in the spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the one who will grow His church. The Holy Spirit is the one who helps us to pray with power, worship in truth, preach with boldness, live with holiness, and receive the Word with understanding.

It is an understatement to say, “We need Him.” In fact, we are utterly helpless without Him. Therefore, welcome Him in your life and in your ministry.

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Setting the Atmosphere

And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. - Luke 5:17, KJV

Notice the key wording: “the power of the Lord was present to heal them...”

The atmosphere was set.

While I believe that God’s healing power can be taken anywhere at any time, I also know that setting the atmosphere for the Lord to move is key.

Jesus, though He traveled through villages and towns, traveled to synagogues.

Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. - Matthew 9:35, NLT

Jesus’s ministry is commonly misunderstood in this regard: people imagine Him as some wanderer with no structure, who just hung out in the streets and performed miracles.

In fact, Jesus was organized and intentional. He focused on teaching in the synagogues.

Why?

There, He would set the atmosphere of faith. He would teach the Word and then perform miracles.

There’s nothing wrong with taking our message “outside the four walls of the church”, as long as we recognize that those “four walls” aren’t wrong - they can, at times, be useful.

It is important and spiritual to set aside a place for the purposes of God. It is effective to minister in an atmosphere that is set.

In a set atmosphere, distraction is removed and the people become focused on the Word. And when they are focused on the Word, their faith rises. And when their faith rises, miracles happen.

To set the atmosphere, simply remove distraction and then build faith with the Word. That’s what Jesus did. The healing anointing is intensified in an atmosphere set aside for and dominated by the Holy Spirit.

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9 Marks of a Move of the Holy Spirit

A true move of the Holy Spirit will always be marked in certain ways. While the move of God will vary in the way it looks from one generation to another, there will remain these distinguishing marks:

#1 The Church Emphasizes Evangelism (Acts 1:8)

When the Holy Spirit is allowed influence in the lives of His people, He will stir them to evangelism. The fire of the Holy Spirit burns for the lost, and those who truly catch that flame themselves burn to win souls.

#2 The Church Preaches the Gospel (Acts 2:38)

While we can become so distracted by many themes and concepts (leadership, encouragement, church growth, etc.), a true move of the Holy Spirit will always bring a people back to the preaching of salvation through Jesus Christ. That includes the themes of grace, forgiveness, the cross, love, and mercy. It also includes the themes of Heaven, Hell, eternity, repentance, sin, judgment, and death.

#3 The Church Honors Leadership (Acts 2:42)

Today’s culture portrays the “people in charge” as the villains and the oppressors. But the leadership of the Church is a gift from God - there not to rule us but to protect us. Godly leadership brings about spiritual freedom, not spiritual oppression. A people in revival respect and honor their spiritual leaders.

#4 The Church Lives in a State of Awe (Acts 2:43)

Cynicism and doubt dissolve in a culture of faith and awe. Awe undoes the effects of familiarity. When the Church is experiencing a move of the Holy Spirit, the awe of God returns to it.

#5 The Church Witnesses the Miraculous (Acts 2:43)

Miracle healing will never become outdated. Even with all of the advances in the medical field, there still remains a need for miraculous healing. The Church has the power to command sickness and diseases. In a move of the Holy Spirit, miracles and healing are a part of the culture. Miracles and healing should not be treated as liabilities but rather powerful tools to reach the world. The world is hungry for the supernatural.

#6 The Church Gives Generously (Acts 2:45 & 46)

Generosity is a key mark of a move of the Holy Spirit. People become overwhelmed by generosity with a focus on giving to expand the Kingdom of God.

#7 The Church Gathers Regularly (Acts 2:46)

Unity is cultivated in gathering. A simple yet telling sign of a move of the Holy Spirit is that people gather.

#8 The Church Grows (Acts 2:47)

A crowd alone is not the mark of growth, nor is a crowd necessarily God’s endorsement. However, when the Holy Spirit is moving upon a people, disciples begin to multiply themselves.

#9 The Church Emphasizes the Work the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2)

The Lord spoke to me, “I’m calling you to introduce my Holy Spirit to your generation”, and I long to see the Church as a whole return to an emphasis on the Holy Spirit’s power. That’s why I talk about the precious Holy Spirit so often.

All other movements and trends will eventually phase out, but the move of the Holy Spirit will always come full circle - history and scripture assure us of that wonderful truth. I prophesy a fresh emphasis on the Person of the Holy Spirit.

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Doubt: An Unwelcome Enemy of Healing

The spirit of doubt targets those who stir faith. As someone who ministers healing, you will be confronted by spiritual resistance, because you operate in the power of the Holy Spirit.

When learning to defeat doubt, the best example we can look to is Jesus, the greatest healing evangelist of all time.

38When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw much commotion and weeping and wailing. 39He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” 40The crowd laughed at him. But he made them all leave, and he took the girl’s father and mother and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying. 41Holding her hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!” 42And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed.
Mark 5:38-42 (NLT)

Before raising the little girl from the dead, Jesus removed the doubt from the room. And that, dear reader, is the simple and effective way to deal with doubt. Simply remove it.

It’s good to study and know the Word. It’s good to be prepared to answer difficult questions about healing and miracles. It’s good to avoid ignorance. But we must learn to simply put doubt out. Put it out of the room. Put it out of your heart and mind. Don’t tolerate it. Refuse to give it undeserved time and attention. Boldly deny its access into your life.

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Becoming a Vessel of Healing

Heroes of the faith are reflections of the glory of God, but they are only reflections. While we can receive impartation, wisdom, and inspiration from those who have gone before us, we must aim to imitate them only in this one regard: ourselves becoming reflections of the brightest light.

We must look to reflect Jesus.

Jesus was the greatest healing minister of all time. All others are only flawed imitations, myself included. So, when it comes to ministering God’s healing power, we must look to Jesus as our bright and pure example.

Jesus had a prayer life.

Jesus prayed in seclusion.

After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. - Matthew 14:23, NLT

Jesus prayed in the morning.

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. - Mark 1:35, NLT

Jesus prayed at night.

46After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray. 47When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. - Mark 6:46-47, NLT

Jesus prayed often.

But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer. - Luke 5:16, NLT

There is no substitute for prayer. There is no substitute for God’s healing power. Either you pray or you don’t. Either you carry God’s healing power or you don’t.

If you want to have Christ-like power, you must have a Christ-like prayer life. If you want to heal like Jesus healed, you must pray like Jesus prayed. To move like Christ moved, you must live like Christ lived. A prayer life is key to the healing ministry.

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Your Healing: Just a Matter of Time

If Jesus wanted you to be sick, He would not have paid such a high price for your healing. Healing is God’s will. Your healing is God’s will. Healing is a blessing of the cross, a gift of the covenant. The shed blood of Jesus was the purchase price for your total well-being. As surely as God is in control, your healing is on its way.

I believe that. Every word of it with all of my heart.

But what about those who aren’t healed? What about those who live righteous lives and are still sick? Sin causes sickness, but not all sickness is caused by sin. Demonic power causes sickness, but not all sickness is caused by demonic power. Doubt prevents healing, but not all delayed healing is because of doubt.

(Watch Video: Why Some Aren’t Healed)

Sometimes, the righteous and the faith-filled succumb to sickness. So how does one reconcile the truth that it is God’s will to heal with the reality that some aren’t yet healed?

The answer is logically consistent with scripture but not emotionally persuasive. I mean that it’s difficult for some to accept. Quite simply, the reconciliation for this apparent contradiction is God’s timing. Trust in the sovereign timing of God is the key to perfect faith.

We see an example of God’s timing for healing in Acts chapter three.

As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. - Acts 3:2, NLT

The man is later healed by God’s power through Peter and John.

But let’s examine that scripture for a moment. The scripture tells us that “a man lame from birth was being carried in.” Now think about that. He’s referred to as a “man”, not a boy. So he’s been there for several years. The scripture also tells us that he was brought to the temple “each day”. So for several years, this man was begging at the gate of the temple.

Do you know who else frequented the temple and often passed by that gate where the man begged? Jesus.

Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns. - Luke 22:53, NLT

So here’s my question: if Jesus passed by that man so often, why wasn’t the man healed? Why did the man have to wait until Peter and John arrived in order to be healed? The answer is simply God’s timing.

There will be, for every sick believer, a glorious moment of healing. Even if one has to wait until this vapor of a life has dissipated, healing will come in eternity.

Knowing that God is sovereign and faithful to His Word, I pray for every sick person to be healed “now” but trust the Lord if He decides to heal them ”then” – on either side of eternity.

So have hope. Whether now in this moment, whether later upon this earth, or whether sometime in eternity, you will be made whole. Any moment can be your miracle moment. Trust in God’s timing, but never lose hope that today could be your day!

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