THE HOLY SPIRIT COMPARED WITH A MASTER OF CEREMONIES

JOH 16 :13,14: "But when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will only speak what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you."

A Master of Ceremonies must give honour to the Bridegroom.

A Master of Ceremonies at a wedding will cast the light on the Bridegroom. All his good qualities, knowledge and attributes will be made known to the guests. If he does not do so he would be unworthy of the title 'Master of Ceremonies'.

"He will bring glory to me..." The Spirit was not sent to establish his own or a new kingdom under his name. The Spirit was not sent to draw man's attention to himself or to establish his own supernatural manifestations or miracles. The Spirit was not sent to be the go-between between  us and God or Jesus. He is not the speaker with whom we should speak as so many do when they speak to the Spirit in prayer: "Come Holy Spirit and do...work...give..." The Holy Spirit does not focus man's attention on himself: "Can you feel the Holy Spirit?" The Holy Spirit does not call attention to himself.

Jesus himself said that true revival shall be known from the work of the 'Master of Ceremonies'. "He will bring glory by taking from what is mine" (ek tou emou) (Greek) - from what is mine, "and making it known to you" ( giving it to you or showing you) He will not honour himself! "Jesus replies: If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me..." (Joh 8:54). This is the work of the Master of Ceremonies.

True revival is therefore not where there is excitement over the Spirit, His gifts and miracles (because the Spirit does not honour himself!), but only where people are overcome by an acknowledgement of that which is true to or indicative of Jesus Christ:

- His Person: He is God (Col 1:15), the Creator himself (Heb 1:1-2) who made himself nothing and took on the image of a servant when he became 'man'. His coming in the flesh is still one of the greatest miracles. Never again will such a 'man' be born. Paul said: "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified."  (1Cor 2:2).

-  His Word: The Spirit is like a loud speaker. He passes on that which comes from the microphone (Christ the Word), because "he will speak only what he hears (from Christ)." (John 16:13). The Spirit works through the clear interpretation of the Word of God: "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. (Joh 6:63). All so-called revivals that do not flow from the pure preaching of the Word (= Christ, Joh 1:1) are not worthy of the name revival.

-  His life: Look at His life. Never again will someone as wonderful walk this earth. Never again will someone express such love or speak such wisdom. His words and life has permeated the lives of people and governments throughout the ages. Our calendar even reminds us that he was here. (This year 2009 since His birth)

-  His death: Many heroes have died, martyrs have suffered, but never again has there been any one like Jesus. No other religion on earth has such a remarkable message nl. that God himself became man to carry on my behalf my punishment on the cross, so that I would, never again, be punished for my sins.

-  His resurrection and ascension to heaven: All the gods of all other religions, from Buddha to Mohammed, are still lying in their graves. The grave of Jesus is empty! He has arisen. He has ascended with the following of angels. Thereafter he went to sit at the right hand of God where he is interceding for his children.

-  His return: He is coming again and every knee shall bow before Him; every eye shall see Him and every tongue shall confess that He is the Christ. (Rom 14:11). It is the Spirit that reveals to you the things that are to come.

  Revival occurs when the Holy Spirit does the work of the master of ceremonies.

Please discern:

- Be warned when miracles, manifestations of the spirit and spiritual charismata, knowledge and gifts of the preacher impresses people so much that they can speak of nothing other than the works and presence of the spirit through that particular, anointed preacher.  Popularity has never been an ally of the truth. Then we have a false revival and perhaps a false prophet! Why?  The Master of Ceremonies was not there to fulfill his task which is to lift up or magnify the Bridegroom, even though the name of Jesus was mentioned so often as the confetti which was strewn during the service!

- Be warned when people come out of so-called revival services with awe and admiration for the presence of the Spirit

- Be warned when it is called a revival because of the size of the multitude attending the services.

- Beware when the services are marked by new manifestations of the 'spirit' for which there is no clear New Testament support!

- True revival comes when the old-old storey of the Word is preached. It will always be a brand new message.

DB Dick