MATTHEW 22:20: “Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.” NKJV

OBSERVATION: Is my spiritual life in balance? Am I growing in the Word of God? Am I moving in the power of God? Do I find myself leaning more to one than the other? Jesus’ answer to the Sadducees about the resurrection gives us more than just a glimpse into heaven. It provides a call to walk in balance!

It is hard to live a life of balance. The natural tendency in life is to lean to one side of an issue or another. In our spiritual lives, we may find ourselves favoring the study of God’s Word over the manifestation of the Spirit. Or, the other extreme is to run after the supernatural and neglect the written and objective Word of God. Balance is needed.

I love the Word of God and I love the power of God. Yet, I tend to lean toward the objective study of the Word rather than the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. It is easy for me to find myself missing what the Spirit of God desires to do as I try to parse a verse of Scripture.

On the other hand, I have been in circles where the gifts of the Spirit were the major focus. Little attention was given to the teaching of God’s Word. This produces what Aimee Semple McPherson referred to as “wildfire.” It is the manifestation of the spirit without the foundation of sound Biblical teaching. Both are needed.

We see this so clearly in the Great Commission. It is stated in two different ways. The first is in Matthew and the latter in Acts.

• “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” Matthew‬ ‭28:19-20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

• “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If we are going to fulfill the Great Commission we need to be moving in the power of the Holy Spirit and boldly proclaiming and teaching the whole counsel of God’s Word. We need the Word and the Spirit! The Word alone produces a dry and legalistic approach to our life of faith. Seeking the power of God alone leads us to imbalance and excess. Yet, the Word and the Spirit lead us to a life of balance and power!

I believe in the Word of God! I believe in the power of God! All of the gifts of the Spirit are for the church today. We will not be able to fulfill our calling as the church unless we are moving in the power of God. The Pharisees and Sadducees rejected the miracles that Jesus performed. They were locked into their dead forms of doctrine and ritual. They could not see past the phylacteries that hung before their eyes.

We need an outpouring of God’s Spirit and a revival of God’s Word. We need to pour over the pages of Scripture and earnestly desire spiritual gifts. We need to teach the Word of God and extend the power of God as we pray for the sick and move in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We need to be the church that is walking in truth, love and power! We need to minister in the newness of the Spirit and not the oldness of the letter (Romans 7:8)!

Lord, this morning I do not want anything in my life that will keep me from walking in the truth of Your Word and the power of Your Spirit! Open my mind and my heart to receive all that You want to do in and through my life. Grant me the grace and wisdom to walk in the fullness of Your Word and Your power. Help me to be grounded as I am empowered.

In Jesus Name!