In my last post I talked about how Jesus rebuked the Pharisees (and us) for using the Scripture superstitiously. In effect, Jesus told them, “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess healing. Yet you refuse to come to Me, the Healer.”
The Lord could say the same thing to us, these days. “You think that by Scripture you will possess prosperity, yet you refuse to come to Me, the Provider.”
Please understand what I’m saying. The Holy Spirit can speak a Word of healing to me through the Scripture, but He’s not limited to this avenue. All that I need for life and godliness is found in Christ.
I will never obtain God’s blessing through my works – not even through intensive study and memorizing of the Bible. Healing will come by the Word of God – no matter how God chooses to send it to me.
We need to hear a Word from God. That Word will only come from time spent in His presence. When I study the Bible instead of cultivating intimacy with the Lord, I’m going to lose out. That’s the very problem that the Pharisees had.
…and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior…
Titus 1:3
In this passage, Paul tells Titus that the Word of God is made visible by the command of God. It is God’s Word made manifest in God’s time. That’s why time spent with the Lord is so important. I need to be quiet and listening to hear His voice. Hearing from God is actually the greatest theme of the New Testament. It’s the foundation for everything we need in our walk with God.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16
This is one of the greatest misunderstandings that we have in looking back to the early church. We think that they were just like us. On the contrary, they knew the importance of seeking a Word from God. They spent time in His presence listening for His voice.
What I’m saying is this – the study of Scripture and hearing from God are not replacements for each other. We need both, in order to have an abundant life in the Lord. In our generation, the study of Scripture has been elevated out of proportion to listening for God’s voice. That’s why my message is so strong for the church to spend time listening to God.
Question: Have you ever been guilty of seeking blessings from Scripture rather than Christ?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: Bible, blessing, blessing of God, Christ, church, diligent study, God's word, hear his voice, Holy Spirit, importance of a word from God, Jesus, listening, manifest, Pharisee, Scripture, study, study of Scripture, superstition, voice of God, word, word from God, word of God, word of healing
Even though the church talks a lot about the Word of God, I wonder sometimes just how mature we really are. At one point the writer of the Book of Hebrews rebukes his listeners for their lack of maturity.
In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Hebrews 5:12-14
In order to become mature, we must learn the elementary truths of God’s Word. Then when we’re mature, we are able to discern the good from the evil. This is especially needed when someone supports their evil with a verse of Scripture.
People try to push the dumbest things, all in the name of God’s Word. I believe these days of such foolishness are coming to an end. I believe that God is bringing His people to a new level of maturity in the Holy Spirit.
As we mature, we will be able to discern whether something is of God, or just a clever deception. That’s one of the reasons I’m posting this blog. So that the Lord’s people can live for God unashamed and correctly handling the Word of Truth.
In Jesus’ encounter with the devil in the wilderness, He made the following statement.
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Matthew 4:4
Here is why maturity in the Word is so important – The Word is our Life. Jesus said that food was not enough for man to live on. If someone truly wants the abundant life, then he needs to grasp the Word of God.
Paul understood this truth as he ministered to his people. He wrote to them about how to live as examples to the world.
…as you hold out the word of life – in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
Philippians 2:16
This is such an important aspect that God’s Word is even called the Word of Life. That’s why Jesus – the Word made flesh – could say that He was the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The Word of God brings life. The Word of God is life. This is a very important point for us to understand.
Question: In what ways have you experienced the abundant life?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: becoming mature in the word, Christ, discern, elementary truths, evil, God's word, good, Holy Spirit, Jesus, life, mature, maturity, truth, way, word, word of God, word of life
We live in an age where people are using the Bible to support what they’re doing or teaching. How do I know if I’m truly hearing God’s Word? Just because someone quotes the Scripture – is it really God’s Word they’re proclaiming?
In my last post we saw that Jesus didn’t accept the scriptural declaration of the devil. He knew that the enemy was not speaking God’s Word to Him.
Here is a surprising fact you may not know. Throughout the entire Bible, the Scripture never calls itself the Word of God. That’s something we have done.
At this point you’re probably ready to stone me as a heretic. Please wait. I’m not saying that the Bible is not the Word of God. All I’m saying is that the Bible doesn’t call itself the Word of God.
There is an important reason for that, which Christ Himself will testify to. You need to let His words speak to you to understand the true nature of Scripture and the Word of God.
“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
John 17:17
Jesus is very clear in this passage. God’s Word is not just truthful. It doesn’t only contain truth. It is, by its very nature, TRUTH.
What about Christ the Living Word? Didn’t He say, “I am the Way, THE TRUTH, and the Life.”? There’s no getting around it – God’s Word is truth.
It’s unfortunate, but people can take the words of Scripture and twist them around for their own ends. That’s why we need a daily walk with the Holy Spirit. There’s a reason He’s called the Spirit of Truth. The Spirit of God gives us the discernment we need when reading or hearing the Scripture.
Christ needed to discern the “word” He heard from the devil. He was mature enough to see that even though Satan was quoting Scripture, his intent was evil. In that case, the verse that the devil spoke was not the Word of God to Jesus.
We’re running into the same type of problems in the church today. It grieves me that there are ministers whose only reason for studying the Bible, is to find passages that will convince you to put your money into their wallets. They’ll tell you, based upon a Bible verse, that you will be blessed if you send them an offering of your month’s salary.
They’ll tell you that it’s God’s Word to you that if you’ll send them the money, then you’ll be out of debt and in a new house by the end of the year. Of course, when it doesn’t come to pass you’ll blame God. “I stood on God’s Word and He failed to keep it.”
Unfortunately, it was not God’s Word that failed. What happened was that some preacher’s faulty use of the Scripture failed. Then again, it got him the money he wanted, so it didn’t fail to bring in what he was after – your money.
Question: Have you ever seen the Scripture used to promote a lie?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: Bible, Christ, devil, discern, discernment, enemy, God's word, Holy Spirit, Jesus, mature, Satan, Scripture, Scripture truth word of God, Spirit of God, Spirit of truth, truth, walk in the Spirit, walk with the Spirit, word of God
In my last post I talked about the lies of the devil. We saw that, according to Jesus, the enemy cannot hold the truth neither is there any truth in him at all.
Understanding this gives us insight into how the devil operates. He speaks lies, sometimes by making true statements. We need to understand this as we look at an encounter between Christ and the devil.
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Matthew 4:5-6
This verse is important in understanding the relationship between the Bible and the Word of God. Here we see the devil quoting the Bible correctly. He even used it in context. The verse is from Psalm 91 which we all know is about the protection of God for the Messiah and us.
Now, it’s time for the tough question. In quoting the Bible, was Satan speaking the Word of God to Jesus? Be very careful how you answer this. It’s the basis for understanding how the Word of God works in us.
Jesus clearly taught that Satan could not hold the truth neither was there any truth in him at all, yet it is clear that he has the Bible memorized. We know that the devil only quotes the Scripture when it suits his purpose to try and deceive us. His use of Scripture is actually a lie – according to Christ Himself.
As I said previously, we get so caught up asking the wrong questions. We should be asking, what exactly is the Word of God to me? I need a Word from heaven. How do I know what that Word is? When Jesus heard the Scripture from the mouth of Satan, He totally rejected it as a lie meant to trip Him up in His walk with the Father.
Then what is the Scripture? It is the written record of the Word of God, given to various people, at different times, under different circumstances and for many purposes. I have to ask, is what I’m reading God’s Word to me? The answer to that is both yes and no.
There are some scriptures that have nothing to do with me or what I’m going through. There are others that the Holy Spirit can use to speak to me. That’s the key. What is the Holy Spirit saying to me? Very often He will use Scripture to speak to believers.
But you must also understand that Satan will use Scripture as well. That’s why it’s so very important that we learn to discern the voice of the Spirit. The Bible is a spiritual book and must be read prayerfully.
Question: How has God spoken to you through the pages of Scripture?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: Bible, Christ, devil, devil and the word of God, discerning, Holy Spirit, Jesus, lie, lies, Satan, Scripture, Spirit of truth, temptation, truth, understanding, word, word of God, word of truth
Do you serve God superstitiously? How do you know whether or not you do? You may be surprised at the answers.
We’re told in Scripture that we’re to serve God by our faith. We’re told that it’s impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). As a matter of fact, anything not coming from faith is sin (Romans 14:23).
But, just as important as faith is, it’s just as important to know where this faith comes from. The Bible is clear on this issue, even if we are a little fuzzy sometimes.
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Romans 10:17
This verse literally says that faith springs out of hearing, but hearing through the Word of Christ. There are a few key concepts that are important in this verse. The first is that, of all the different kinds of faith that we can have; only the faith that has its birth in the Word of God is valuable.
The next is one you may not want to hear. But, this faith comes by hearing the Word and not reading the Word. That’s because it’s the Greek word rhema that’s translated word in this verse. The Greek word rhema always refers to the revealed Word of God to us.
This isn’t talking about reading the Bible and drumming up faith in ourselves. It’s about listening to the Holy Spirit speaking to us. It might take place while we’re reading the Scripture, praying, or listening to a sermon.
Jesus got upset at the Pharisees for this same type of superstition.
You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
John 5:39-40
Here’s what takes place sometimes. It may be that there’s a believer in need of healing – for example. As they’re reading the Bible, the Holy Spirit uses it to grab their attention. The Lord takes the Word that they’re reading and makes it rhema to them.
In a moment of divine faith and obedience, they declare that Word with their voice. Immediately they’re healed.
What does he do next? He starts teaching that if you confess this verse, you will be healed. That is superstition.
It’s not reciting the verse that healed this person. Christ our Healer was the one who made them whole.
This is how easy it can be, to turn faith into superstition. Instead of bringing people to a deeper relationship with Christ, it’s easier to recite Scripture over and over.
Please understand – I didn’t say to stop memorizing and confessing the Scripture. What I am saying is to seek to hear from Christ. He’s the One our life flows from and not our “works of righteousness.”
Question: Why is it so much easier for us to recite the Bible than to seek to hear from God?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: Christ, Christ the Healer, faith, foolishness, hearing the word, Holy Spirit, Jesus, life in Christ, listening, prayer, presumption, reading the word, revealed, revealed word of God, rhema, Scripture, serve God, superstition, turn faith into superstition, Word of Christ, word of God, works of righteousness
Do we proclaim the same Gospel as the early church did? Is there something missing from our experience that would make a big difference? I believe that we’re lacking one of the greatest aspects of the Gospel. We need to return to this truth if we’re going to impact our generation for Christ.
In my last post I talked about the need to announce the Good News of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. In today’s post I want to explain exactly what that means. Here’s one of the verses I looked at last time.
For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.
1 Thessalonians 1:4-5
I have heard people explain this verse by saying, “The hearers were convicted by the Holy Spirit. That’s the power Paul’s talking about.” I simply can’t agree with that kind of thinking. Paul said that the Gospel came to them with power AND the Holy Spirit, AND deep conviction.
Even the very word conviction that Paul used was a Greek word that means many assurances. It was something that could be seen and experienced by the unbelievers receiving the Good News.
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
1 Corinthians 2:4-5
As you can see, I’m not using some isolated verse without context. This teaching runs throughout the New Testament. The Good News must be demonstrated. That demonstration can only be energized by the power of God. It is beyond our human ability to walk on that level if we rely upon our own strength, wisdom, and knowledge.
I fear that too many Christians allow their faith to rest on man’s wisdom, because they have never seen a demonstration of the power of God. There are so many believers that have never seen a healing or a miracle. They have never heard an anointed prophecy or someone speaking in the heavenly language. There are Christians that have never witnessed someone delivered from demonic possession or oppression.
As a result the Good News, in most cases, has merely become an intellectual debate. On many occasions, what we call the Gospel today, is void of any power to change the direction of a life impacted by it.
The church needs to do what it takes to once again walk in this life-changing power. In short – we need revival. We must admit that we’ve lost something along the way and allow the Lord to make the necessary adjustments.
Questions: Do you think the modern “American Gospel” has the same impact as the early church? If not, what must we do to change?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: Christ, convicted, conviction, deliverance, demonstration, early church, good news, good news of Jesus Christ, gospel, healing, heavenly language, Holy Spirit, how we water down the gospel, Jesus, miracle, missing, power, power of God, preach, proclaim, prophecy, revival, share, spiritual power, water down
I have been posting about the difference between the Christian culture and the culture of the world. In my last post, we saw that there are two anointings in the world – the anointing of the Holy Spirit and the antichrist anointing.
The apostle John talked about these anointings in his first letter. In that same context he also said the following…
See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us — even eternal life.
I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.
1 John 2:24-26
It is important that we remain in Christ – the Anointed One. If we do, then we will also remain in His anointing. The problem with many of us is that we try to jump back and forth.
Today we want the blessings of Christ. The next day we try and chase after what the world is offering. Sometimes we appear to be a little split in our loyalty.
We need to make a choice. What is it that I want from life? Do I want God’s best, or the world’s best?
After all, there are those who would try to lead us astray. It literally means that they are trying to cause us to roam. When that happens, we lose direction and focus.
It’s sad, but in many cases there are believers who are teaching us how to live with our feet in both worlds. While it’s true that we have to live within the present world system, we don’t have to embrace its philosophy of life. The priorities of the world should not be our priorities.
As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit — just as it has taught you, remain in him.
1 John 2:27
The truth is that the Lord wants to place His priorities in us. If we will listen to the Holy Spirit at work in us, we will walk in this anointing. If not, then we become a counterfeit.
A counterfeit is something that looks real, but it’s not. Usually, only something valuable is counterfeited. The counterfeit anointing is referring to those who appear to love God, yet really want what the world is offering.
Their priorities are in direct conflict with God’s, while appearing to serve, praise, and honor Him. Don’t be a Christian in appearance only. Remember, it’s what’s going on inside that counts.
Drink in the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Let Him change your priorities from the inside out. Don’t fall victim to the counterfeit anointing that is so prevalent in the world today.
Question: Why is the world’s anointing so appealing?
© Nick Zaccardi 2012
Tags: anointed one, anointing, antichrist, Christian, counter-culture, counterfeit, counterfeit anointing, counterfeit Christian, God's best, Holy Spirit, loyalty, remain in Christ, world, world system, world's best
Did you know that the present culture of America has an anointing on it? I have been posting about Christianity as a counter-culture. Today I want to talk about the modern cultural anointing.
Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.
1 John 2:18-19
The word antichrist is very interesting. When some people think antichrist, it brings images of The Beast or a world dictator. Actually, antichrists have been around as long as the church has been in existence.
This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
1 John 4:3
What we need to understand is that there is a spirit of antichrist that is constantly at work in secular society. Let’s stop and think about it. Here is a spirit that is anti – opposite – Christ.
In my last post I made the point that Christ means the Anointed One. That means we’re talking about an anti-anointing that’s operating in the world. Whether you know it or not, there are two different anointings at work in our society. There’s the Spirit of Christ and the spirit of antichrist.
The first verse above tells us that there are people in churches who have bought into the anti-anointing that’s in the world. Eventually these people get offended at the Gospel of Christ – the true anointing – and they leave.
But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist — he denies the Father and the Son.
1 John 2:20-22
It is all about Jesus Christ – that’s the bottom line. We live in such an accepting and tolerant world. It’s okay, no matter what you want to talk about…that is until you mention Jesus Christ. Suddenly the conversation gets shut down.
The reason is clear. There are two competing spirits at work. The spirit of antichrist wants no mention of the true anointing. Christ, the Anointed One and His anointing can break the bondage of sin, sickness, depression, and a whole host of other symptoms of this age.
We need to walk in the boldness of the Holy Spirit. Even if it means that we are ridiculed, shut down or rejected. We must be a light for the true anointing of Christ in our generation.
Question: Have you ever noticed intolerance for the name of Jesus Christ?
© Nick Zaccardi 2012
Tags: America, anointing, antichrist, Christ, counter-anointing, counter-culture, culture, gospel, Gospel of Christ, Holy Spirit, intolerance, Jesus Christ, offended, secular, society, spirit, spirit of antichrist, tolerant
Our culture is our way of life. Why, then, is modern Christianity so much like the culture of America?
It doesn’t matter what you talk about, the statistics are very close. Divorce, drug and alcohol abuse, depression, and a host of other issues seem very much a part of church life. I have known Christian girls who couldn’t wait to turn 18 so that they could lose their virginity legally.
Why are we so much like the world?
We would rather talk about religion than Jesus. We try to be so careful not to offend anyone by what we believe.
I think an important word to use is counter. Think about how we use it in society. We have groups in counter-intelligence or counter-terrorism. To be counter means that you are going opposite that group.
More than any other people, Christianity should be counter-culture. We should have our own cultural lifestyle. If you remember from my last post, that means our own way of doing things. It should be different than how our society operates.
We need to see the Scriptural pattern.
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
This verse tells us that it’s God’s job to make us stand firm in Christ. How does He do that? The Lord accomplishes it by anointing us.
Anointing – now there’s a rich word. The very word Christ means the Anointed One. His anointing came from the Holy Spirit that was upon Him. Now we are standing firm in the Anointed One. That’s where we have the power to fulfill what we’re called to do.
This passage states that the anointing upon us is one of the things that are guaranteeing what is to come. That tells me that I have a future in Christ. This anointing is taking us somewhere.
In the same way, this culture we live in is headed somewhere. It leads to addiction, divorce, depression, guilt, and, worst of all, hell. Personally, I don’t want to go where the American culture is leading us to.
As the church of Jesus Christ, our future – our direction – should be vastly different. Actually, the world should want what our culture leads to. The differences should be that obvious. We need to get back to the basics of what Christ wants to do in us. Then we must follow it through to the end.
Question: What are some differences that should be obvious to the world?
© Nick Zaccardi 2012
Tags: anointed one, anointing, Christ, Christ the foundation of a counter-culture, church life, counter, counter-culture, culture, different, foundation, future, Holy Spirit, Jesus, lifestyle, modern Christianity, religion, the world, way of life
In my last post I started talking about music as a spiritual force. Did you know that music has the power to transform your life? It can lift you up, or bring you to your knees.
The Old Testament book of Deuteronomy was Moses’ last exhortation to Israel before he died. In it he made some very interesting comments as he was led along by the Holy Spirit.
It also includes what happened in the last few days of his life. As he was nearing the end, he had a very interesting encounter with God.
At that point, the Lord summoned Moses and Joshua (his second in command) to the tent of meeting. They were to appear before the presence of God for some instructions. Joshua was to be commissioned to lead Israel after Moses was gone. This is all found in Deuteronomy, chapter 31.
When they came to the tent God spoke to them out of a pillar of cloud. He told Moses of his soon departure. Then the Lord spoke of the future of Israel. He said that very soon after Moses was gone, the Israelites would begin to worship some of the gods of the peoples around them.
Because of their condition, they would lose the blessing of God upon their nation and face many devastating hardships. This must have been frustrating news to Moses, knowing that he was about to leave and could do nothing about it – or could he?
God gave Moses a special instruction that would bring the people back to repentance.
“Now write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them.”
Deuteronomy 31:19
What can a song do to help?
And when many disasters and difficulties come upon them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten by their descendants.
Deuteronomy 31:21a
The Hebrew phrase, testify against them, literally means to announce in their face. God would use this song to bring conviction and repentance upon the nation of Israel. God knew that the only way to turn a backslidden nation around was to transport them back to a time when they were under His blessing.
That’s what the force of music can accomplish. There are times when I’m in the mall and suddenly I’m transformed into a teenager on summer vacation – because that’s when I first heard the song. If that’s what a secular song can do, just think what godly music, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit can do.
Spiritual songs have the power to hit the “reset button” in our lives. That’s why we should surround ourselves with the music of worship and praise.
Question: Has God ever used a song to bring you to repentance?
© Nick Zaccardi 2012
Tags: anointing, backslidden, blessing of God, conviction, godly music, Holy Spirit, Israel, Joshua, Moses, music, presence of God, repentance, song, spiritual force, spiritual songs, transformation, transformed, transforming power of music
In my last post I talked about how Jesus rebuked the Pharisees (and us) for using the Scripture superstitiously. In effect, Jesus told them, “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess healing. Yet you refuse to come to Me, the Healer.”
The Spirit and the Word 