“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.
1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (NKJ)
4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
One day, I was reading a Bible commentary written by a theologian who had decided to explain away every passage of scripture that contained any reference to the anointing or the supernatural power of God. He said that it was asinine to think that in this day and age the anointing can actually be transferred by the laying on of hands.
He had chosen to overlook the supernatural aspect of God’s Word. He said that the supernatural occurred by the laying on of hands under the Old Covenant, but under the New Covenant it was merely symbolic. He was confused. The Old Covenant is symbolic (types and shadows), while the New Covenant is the substance. The Old Covenant made promises, but the New Covenant delivers them!
The laying on of hands for impartation is New Testament. It is one of the basic doctrines of Christ (Hebrews 6:1-6).
In many church circles they deny the power of God its rightful place. Why? Because they deny that the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the Apostle Paul moves now like He did in Bible days. Many also believe what is called the “passed away” theology – that everything in the Gospels and the book of Acts passed away with the last Apostles. I DON’T BELIEVE THAT – NEVER HAVE AND NEVER WILL.
I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER (Hebrews 13:8).
It is no wonder that many people, especially our youngsters, are turning to rock, heavy metal music, grunge music, drugs, alcohol, free sex, and alternate lifestyles. The yuppie generation is turning to the cults, the psychics and the New Age movement. This happens because they have a hunger in their hearts for the supernatural. They want something that is real. The Church is not meeting or fulfilling the need of the heart of man for the touch of God.
The church has become a referral system. Alcohol and drug addicts are sent first to other places for rehabilitation, instead of being set free by the power of the Holy Ghost. God is so awesome and so powerful that if the world could see Him as He really is – they would be changed!
One of the things I have a hard time understanding is that people would want to have a church meeting without God and without His presence. Is it because, maybe they are afraid that if God manifested His presence then He might offend someone? Or is it because they might have to change? Why is it that some people pray for revival, but they don’t welcome or accept it when it comes? Is it because it is not packaged the way they want it packaged?
They want something that is dignified and something that is acceptable to man. However the move of God must not become acceptable to man, but man must become acceptable to the move of God. If you are going to have a church meeting involving Almighty God then something is going to happen. It is impossible for God’s presence to be made manifest and then nothing happens.
Don’t tell me that the anointing of the Lord was present in a meeting, but nothing happened! You might have a large church, thousands of people, a beautiful robed choir, beautiful chandeliers, clarinet solos, celebrity speakers, and a large television ministry, but without the anointing and the touch of God – you have nothing at all.