What is it like to be lifted aloft, so that you’re above instead of under negative circumstances? It’s like being an eagle during a storm. When the winds start to howl and the clouds start to gather, he doesn’t flap around in the midst of it all, trying to fight his way through. He doesn’t hide in his nest and just try to survive. He soars upward. Without even having to work at it, he locks his wings in place and rides the wind currents higher and higher until he finds himself on top of the storm.
Then he sets up a holding pattern and relaxes. He flies around enjoying the scenery, and when the storm subsides he swoops down and goes back home.
As believers, you and I can do essentially the same thing. We can lock our spiritual wings upward by faith in the Name of The LORD and ride in victory over every storm.
This is actually one of the first things Jesus taught His disciples after His resurrection. In what we’ve come to call the Great Commission, He said: “These signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 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” (Mark 16:17-18).
Although those are thrilling words, Jesus wasn’t necessarily smiling when He said them. He wasn’t just having a sweet chat with His disciples. On the contrary, according to the previous verses, He’d just upbraided them for refusing to believe the reports that He’d been raised from the dead. He’d just chewed them out for their unbelief.
He did it lovingly, of course, but I’m sure His eyes were flashing because this was serious. He was giving His troops their marching orders; and central to those orders was this command: “Believe in My Name.”
Did the Disciples Get the Message?
Yes, they did. Acts 3 confirms it.
It tells about a time not long after the Holy Spirit was poured out on Pentecost, that Peter and John encountered a crippled man at the Temple gate. When the man looked at them expecting to receive something, Peter said to him, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (verse 6). Sure enough, a sign followed just like Jesus said it would. As Peter took the man by the hand and lifted him up: “Immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them [Peter and John] into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God” (verses 7-8).
+++article continues on next page+++
BVOV : 5
