Charisma or The Power of God
By Starre Steinmetz
Those who recognize the true sovereignty of Jesus and let Him have the complete rule over their lives know the Presence of the Lord. His Holy Spirit Power is truly in their lives to glorify Jesus and let Jesus have complete control of their lives. Some churches would call people who let the Lord's Power take over their lives as being what I understand as Charismatic. I looked up the word Charismatic in my computer dictionary and it says: charismatic >adjective 1. having charisma. 2. relating to a movement within certain Christian Churches that emphasizes the inspirational power of the Holy Spirit. >noun an adherent of the charismatic movement. DERIVATIVES charismatically >adverb.
I have gone to a lot of church web sites recently in a certain independent group of churches. I have found that most of their statements of doctrines are almost the same when it comes to the Power of God. It is as if it is copied from a particular source. It has become beyond my comprehension for those who say that truth is preached. For they say that they are against the charasimatic movement for the reason of tongues and healing. It is explained in their statements of faith that tongues in the first churches were for the reason of giving the inspired Word of God to those who wrote the Word of God down as it was given to them to preserve it for us down through the ages. They go on further by saying that since the inspired word of God is complete, that there is no need for tongues anymore. So, according to these people, they have taken it upon themselves to disregard a portion of the Word of God, as spoken by our Lord Himself, in the Gospel of Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; as they have taken it upon themselves to say the gift of tongues is not necessary anymore and that it was just a temporary gift. There is no truth to this statement for there is no one who can show me that the Word of God was written by those who received the Word of God by the Spirit speaking to them in what would be called speaking in tongues.
I think that it is safe to say when the first Christians, the 120 in the Upper Room, received the Holy Spirit they received a gift of speaking in a language that was given to them in order that the Jews from all lands and languages were to hear the Gospel first and to hear of Jesus in their own language. It was for this reason and this reason alone. I have even heard of a few instances in my life where a few people could not speak English, and were being preached to in English, and they heard what the Lord was saying to them in their own native language. I believe this is one of the true ways that the Holy Spirit conveyed a true message of God to these people. I cannot say for sure, but I believe it to be that this is the way that these Jews from other lands heard the message from the first church at the beginning.
Tongues were used in the Corinthians Church much as some churches who are categorically called the Charismatic churches or the "full gospel churches" of today, except for the fact today, they have thrown in an interpretation, but it would seem that it is in the same characteristics of the way tongues were used then because these things do not glorify Jesus, nor do they give anything from the Word of God, but only draw attention to self. All I see in this church is the fact that Apostle Paul was admonishing them for the strange and even immoral way some were living and how they were using what they thought the gift of tongues was. I also believe if Apostle Paul was around today he would still be admonishing people in what is called the charismatic churches of today for this particular use of the gift of tongues or of what most derive from Paul's letter to the Church at Corinth to be the gift of tongues. I also believe that if it were possible, Apostle Paul would have the same problems with these kinds of churches that he had with the Corinthians Church and probably almost every kind of church that there is today because of the strange doctrines that have emerged in the past two thousand years without good solid leadership or those who are supposed to be filled with the Holy Spirit to do the Work of the Lord with His Power alone. People have come up with the strangest doctrinal statements when it comes to their particular churches and what is supposed to be happening and is not happening in their particular groups.
It is for this reason that I cannot adhere to or defend what would be called the charismatic movement these days. I am sort of appalled by what would be called or what represents what would be called charismatic by its definition of Holy Spirit Power or the Holy Spirit Inspirational leading of people. In other words there is a truth that everyone that calls themselves Christian should have an ear to hear the Holy Spirit in all matters, but to call it charisma is something else. (charisma >noun 1 compelling attractiveness or charm. 2 (pl. charismata) Christian Theology a divinely conferred talent. -ORIGIN Greek kharisma, from kharis 'favor, grace'.) It has been my experience to know that there are many who are in this world, and I mean this literally, who have acquired a talent of what would be a personal charisma. This talent or charisma draws people to them as politicians. speakers, writers, actors or performers and famous sports figures draw crowds and people pay money to see them for what ever they do. These people have become famous because the world seeks to make them famous by their worldly talents. I have had some experience with what is called Charismatic these days, and the "gift of tongues" in particular. Through personal experience I would say that tongues are used to draw personal attention to that particular person who uses tongues to give a so called message of God to the congregation.
There is utterly a fault here and I will try to explain where the fault lies. The messages that are supposed to be from God by the persons that are supposed to be speaking in an unknown tongue, that I have heard in two churches, are almost identical in sound and phrase from both. These people keep using these same sounds and phrases over and over again. It is not the Word of God at all nor does it give edification of the Word of God. It has been my impression that it draws attention only to self. It is neither the Power of God, nor anything that would be identified with anything the Holy Spirit would inspire in people to do. I also was amazed that in these churches Jesus is hardly ever mentioned or glorified in any way. When I mentioned this fact to one of these preachers, his astounding ignorant answer was, "Oh we are beyond Jesus in our understanding of God."These were his exact words. It has been sixteen and a half years ago and I still cannot get over this ignorance. What an absurd statement of total ignorance from someone who calls himself a Christian and especially as it would come from a "full gospel" minister of God. For the particular church that I am referring to is called a "full gospel church," as most all of these charismatic churches call themselves. What would full gospel mean, but to mean that the complete Gospel of Jesus would be preached by Inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit would glorify Jesus and cause all true Christians to believe in Jesus.
As for healing, I am assuming that just because it is not something that happens in all the churches that it is also one of the gifts of the Spirit that was just a temporary gift as some are claiming today. This is just as absurd as people thinking that the gift of tongues was temporary. Jesus said in Mark 16:14-20 - 14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20 And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
This has to be the undeniable truth since it comes from the very Word of God Himself, our Wonderful and Holy Savior Jesus. So there is no proof that the gift of healing was just a temporary gift for Jesus said that these thing shall follow those who believe. The Word of God also states that they went forth preaching everywhere and the Word was confirmed with signs following. These things must be too hard for some people to believe in for if they cannot believe what Jesus said in His completeness and let the Holy Spirit confirm it with signs and wonders, how are they to preach the truth in the completeness of God's Word like they are supposed to be called to do. Shall Jesus upbraid them for their unbelief? I believe that they are being upbraided for their unblief when the Good things of the Lord are happening in some places and all they can think of that it must be false because it is not happening in their organization. Some of the Good things of Jesus are not included in their lives because of unbelief and therefore they have to take second and third best which comes from man alone and not from the God of Glory that gives every good and perfect thing in every Christian's life.
I hesitate to mention experiencing the Power of God many times throughout the forty some years since the Holy Spirit first drew me to Jesus. I feel that I should be humble about all the things the Holy Spirit has brought into my life, and has let me experience in my life. First I have experienced Jesus in my heart as I asked forgiveness and invited Him into my heart. Jesus is first and is always foremost as the Holy Spirit of Truth continues to lead me further and further into a love of my Savior that does not cease as I seek to know Him more and more. If anyone who truly has Jesus, there must be Power in that life to receive the inspired Word of God in understanding the truth. This is the first thing, and I do not mean that it is inspired insomuch that there is anything that can and should be changed about the Word of God from its original writings. We have the Word of God in its entirety from Genesis, through the Prophets in the Old Testament; through the New Testament of the Gospel of Matthew to the last Book of the Bible, the Revelation of Jesus being the last Word that Jesus gave John or anyone to write. There is deep meaning to the Word of God when it is given by the Power of the Holy Spirit of Truth. It has deep meaning when it touches my heart and I have the understanding of right and wrong and what God approves of in my life and what He disapproves of in my life. God's Love has deep meaning to me as I understand His Love for me and how I should love God and everyone, especially those who are in the Lord and should take this Love into their hearts. It has deep meaning to me to know that God's Word will be in my heart for eternity, because Jesus said that His Word will never pass away.
I feel I have experienced the Power of God in my life and surrounding my life for the past 50 years, starting with having incurable cancer in 1954. I am a slow learner, I have been like this all my life, even to the point of not letting the Lord into my heart from the age of 13 when I had first heard of salvation until 1960 when I was nearly 22. The Holy Spirit finally touched me and brought me to Jesus just five years after He healed me of the incurable cancer that was all though my body when I was 16 years old. I have been too slow to learn the true things of God, but once I grasp the true and good things of Jesus and His Work in my life, I know beyond a doubt that with Jesus in my heart, there is the true Power of God to take over my Christian life. With Jesus in my heart I have literally experienced the Word of God as each truth of Jesus is brought forth by Holy Spirit Power and the Power of His Word thrills my heart. For by the Holy Spirit of Truth, each truth of Jesus thrills my very being with His Goodness and Mercies of His Holy Love for all of us.
In one particular ministry that no longer exists because the Lord has taken His servant out of this world, I spent around twenty years of amazement, with miracles like as in some instances of the Old Testament and like some miracles that Jesus performed when He walked this earth. In this ministry I experienced tremendous things, salvation changes in people, including myself and all manner of healings: the blind saw, the deaf heard and the dumb spoke. All manor of desease and affliction was made whole. I am also including myself when it comes to healing, for in a few instances I also expericed the Power of God to heal.
The first healing since my cancer healing occured when I had a very serious stomach problem for a few years until 1962. I believe I can safely say that I have experienced the Power of God more in this one ministry than almost every other church that there is in this world for these things went on in miracle services on Fridays and on Sundays every week. I have witnessed many hundreds and possibly even thousands of miracles of this sort in the twenty years I spent in this ministry. This statement is huge, but I wonder if those who think they know something can explain to me how they can know the Lord without having any kind of inspiration or any kind of personal experience of feeling Jesus in their complete being if they have not truly felt or experienced the Power of the Holy Spirit in any way. It would seem strange to me that people are not receiving the Holy Spirit and not feeling that deep heartfelt Presence of God after they believed in Jesus and accepted Him into their heart. Are they not having an ear to hear the Holy Spirit lead them into all Truth?
First of all the Holy Spirit draws people to Jesus to accept Him as their Savior. Second, if they truly accept Jesus into their heart, the Holy Spirit comes in and dwells within their heart, leading each true Christian in the truth of the Word of God so that he or she knows Right from wrong. In knowing Right and wrong each true Christian will do their best to bring no reproach upon the name of Jesus. The name of Jesus is higher than all names and should have that great respect. Third, they will have an ear to hear the Holy Spirit and let Him lead them in all ways to do the work of the Lord.
Finally, those who follow the Holy Spirit, or have an ear to hear the Holy Spirit for what He desires for them to do, will seek to do service for the Lord. The Holy Spirit gives the talents and what ever is best suited for each individual He will draw that person to that talent and they will have His Power to develop it and use it the best way. In all things each person must begin with being filled with the Holy Spirit for what ever talent is used for the particular work to truly succeed and be fruitful in the Lord. In all things it must and will be the Good Fruit of the Spirit that will bring honor and Glory to Jesus.
