This is kinda old -- from 2006. but i've never posted it. still good though. I love Love -- don't you? :)
This latest wave of the Holy Spirit has brought us to know a kinder and gentler God. Where in times past we knew Him as a God of fierce wrath and judgment via hellfire and brimstone evangelists, He is showing Himself now as the bringer of astounding love. The God of Love Who sacrificed His Son, all for love.
We're now experiencing the goodness and kindness of God that leads men to repentance. In days gone by, we were brought to repentance through fear of the fierceness of a holy God's anger on their sin, now people are brought to tears through knowing that a God of great love understands our deep needs, and loves us unconditionally.
We're understanding and learning new ways through inner healing and counseling ministries, of the gentle kindness of a God who understands and holds healing in His hands. A God who heals the broken hearted.
In these days we are truly beginning to see the Jesus Who proclaimed:
THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound, . . .
And the prophet Isaiah:
. . .to comfort all who mourn, To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion--to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit--that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
-- the Jesus Who understands our temptations, our weaknesses, and wants to bring healing instead of judgment.
I like the new ways. I don't know if the old ways were maybe not totally of God, because they did bring many to God, but their fruit also produced hypocrisy and outward holiness, in addition to whole-scale judgment of one another, which produced much pain.
It also produced a whole mass of Christians who major in outward holiness but lack compassion. It's produced a whole mass of intellectual Christians who can argue and blame, see clearly the black and white of sin, but have very little spiritual experience. They can study the Bible and know all the contradictions but have very little access to the Holy Spirit Who could explain the solely spiritually understood paradoxes.
It's produced people who know all about God with their heads, or what they currently understand, but have missed a great God of love of the heart. They neither see Him nor know Him in this capacity.
I think they've missed out on the greatest message of all, and the most wonderful gift that Jesus gave to us with His great sacrifice --- Love.
(I know, because i was one of those people)
