A personal experience set the stage for this letter. I am thankful for every church who invites me to fill their pulpit. However, one of the pulpits which I filled this past month had special significace. On June 18 and 19, I was with a Northwest, Alabama, congregation. It was their homecoming, but it was a "Fathers Day" jubilee for me. Fifty years ago I was with my Dad when he preached a revival there. For this meeting God gave me a message entitled, "When you see me you have seen my Father also." (Re: John 14:9). Some older people in the congregation remembered my Dad, and because I look so much like him, the text brought laughter. In this letter I will focus on the text and not the laughter.
There is much to learn from the words which Jesus spoke to Philip: ... he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayeth thou then, Shew us the Father? As Jesus continued to teach He said, ... The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. (John 5:19). He continued to explain that the works of the Father were done through the Son because the Father loves the Son and shows Him all things that He, the Father, does. Later Jesus said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me [this includes you], the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. ... If you shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If you love me keep my commandments. (John 14:12 13 N.K.J.). When one does this Jesus sends them another "Helper," the Holy Spirit. (John 14:16).
Think on the commandments of Jesus. They are this, 'And you shall Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. ... You shall love your neighbour [countryman in the kingdom of God] as yourself.' (Mark 12:30-31 N.K.J.). "God is love." Therefore, if we are His sons we are love also. By keeping His commandments we abide in the Father's Love and our joy is full. (Re: John 15:9-11). Love is prevalent in all the works of God. If by love He did works of miracles through His firstborn Son he still works miracles by love through His sons of today.
Those who are led by the Spirit of God are called the sons of God. (John 1:12 & Rom. 8:14-15). In John 14:17, we find that the Father sends the "Helper," the Holy Spirit, to those who love Him. In His love we are one with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (See John 17:20-21). Therefore, by the Holy Spirit, through us, the works of God, the miracles which Jesus talked about, are to continue. When the works of God are manifested people believe on Jesus, and when people believe in Jesus He does even greater works.
Obviously Love is the key which unlocks the works of God. Love is like a river in which the Holy Spirit flows between God and His sons on earth. By this continuous flow we are one with Him. However, this is not a river which flows freely unless we seek the things of God and think on the things of God. Unbelief, pride, fear and/or indifference will prevent us from abiding in God's perfect Love. However, when we, by a decision and with God's help, overcome these negatives we become different from the world. Men with unbelief, pride, fear and/or indifference cannot understand God's love or His works.
We must ask ourselves, Who is the strong man of our temple? Is it the flesh or the spirit? Our flesh dines on the desires of the flesh and the things of this world, beautiful things made with man's hands, movies, sporting events and such. On the other hand, the spirit man dines on the things of God. This includes the word of God, the Holy Scriptures. I am not saying that we cannot have the things of this world. God desires for us to be blessed with them also, but they must not be our focal point. We can check ourselves by listening to our mouth. What do we spend most of our time talking about? Are we concerned with the things of this world or the things of God? Temporal are the things of this world, including one's life, but life in the Spirit is forever. Therefore, we must think on the things of God. These are good things, things that are true; things that are honest; things that are just; things that are pure; things that are lovely; things that are of good report; virtue and praise. (Philippians 4:8).
There are two types of Christians. First there are those who receive the Spirit of Christ. Paul wrote about this in Romans 8:10. They become spiritual Levites, but many of them remain as, in the words of Paul, babes. (1 Cor. 3:1-3). However, some spiritual Levites mature. They study God's word, fill themselves with God's love, and give themselves to do God's will. These are anointed to do the works of God. Paul wrote about this in Romans 8:11. For the rest of the story I am reprinting an excerpt from my August 1992 letter.
THE TWO OILS
God told Moses to use "pure olive oil beaten for the light," a lampstand to burn constantly in the Tabernacle of God (Exodus 27:20). This lamp oil had to be replenished perpetually. Lamp oil relates to Christ's Spirit which is put in people who accept Jesus as their Savior. Paul wrote of this, "And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness." (Romans 8:10). To the Ephesians he wrote, "... be filled with the Spirit;" (Eph. 5:18). The Greek word for filled was written in the present imperative tense. It is a command to do something which involves continuous or repeated action (lamp oil). Paul wrote that you are a temple of the Holy Ghost. Therefore, this oil causes one's lamp to burn as a light unto the world. However, in order for the lamp to burn continually, a refilling must take place repeatedly. (Matt. 25:1-13). This is done through prayer and through reading and hearing God's Word perpetually. (Deut. 1:18-20). Receiving lamp oil gives one a desire to be more like Jesus, but traditions or fears stop many people from asking God for anything more. Therefore, they remain "babes in Christ" like those Paul addressed in 1, Corinthians 3:1-4.
God told Moses to blend olive oil with sweet spices for an anointing oil. As Levites matured they were prepared for the priesthood. The High Priest washed them with water and poured the anointing oil upon their heads, baptizing them into the priesthood. However, the High Priest was forbidden by God from pouring anointing oil upon any stranger, anyone but a Levite. In order to better understand this read Exodus 30:22-33. After Paul wrote about lamp oil he wrote, "But [on the other hand] if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken [bless] your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." (Rom. 8:11). This is anointing oil from above blended with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians, Chapter 12). The oil of Exodus 30, appertains to this oil. Notice that it was never poured upon a stranger to God. It is poured on believers, those men and women who have lamp oil. The standard was set on the day of Pentecost, A.D. 33. (Acts, Chapter 2). All believers should mature and be baptized with the anointing oil; anointing them into the omnipotent priesthood under the High Priest, Jesus; becoming priests in the order of Melchizedek. (Heb. 7:15-21). These receive power and instructions to do the works of God. (Acts 1:8; John 14:12; Mark 16:16-18). As their knowledge and wisdom increases their thinking becomes different from others. The gifts of the Spirit working through them causes them to be like Jesus who is like the Father. (John 5:19-20). When others see God's power in action they make Jesus their Lord. Many Christians do not receive this oil because they do not understand the order, or they do not wish to be peculiar to others. (James 4:1-6). Any believer (spiritual Levite) can ask the Father, in the name of Jesus, for the anointing oil of the Holy Spirit and receive it; it is their right and no man should be cheated out of what God has for them. False doctrines, traditions or vain imaginations must not get in our way.
Understand this message and then use it to help other Christians understand one another. Copy it and pass it along. In love we will bring unity without judgement. God's greatest work will be done, by His Spirit, when His Church finds solidarity.
Thank you for being a blessing to us.
In God's Love,
Dean Hubbard