Hashkama: Wake Up!
People refer to revival as an “Awakening.” There was also the “Great Awakening.” The Great Awakening was a religious revival that impacted the English colonies in America during the 1730s and 1740s. The movement came at a time when the idea of secular rationalism was being emphasized, and passion for religion had grown stale. How do you think there is an awakening of this kind without the operation of the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit disturbs people from their slumber, making them aware, and opening their eyes to the presence and holiness of God. It can be disturbing to be brought to the realization of the holiness of God, and how far one has fallen. This is the Holy Spirit revealing what we need to bring us to a true realization of our lost condition before a Holy God. We can be guilty of attributing to Satan what is in fact a work of the Holy Spirit, and I am not simply speaking of healing and deliverance, but how the Spirit disturbs us from our slumber. Some appear to believe that it is only Satan that disturbs us. As we shall see, Jesus was a disturber and a divider, as well as Saviour and Deliverer. But, you say, we are considering the Holy Spirit, not Jesus. By studying Jesus, we come to an understanding of the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit is One like Jesus – “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you” (John 14:26).
Most gardeners will have carried out pruning activities, where branches are cut off from plants, trees and shrubs. In John 15:1-2, Jesus said: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower [gardener]. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit.” The pruning is a continuous process carried out by God’s Spirit. This may well be uncomfortable and disturbing at times! The Holy Spirit is also referred to as the Advocate (Paraclete) in John 14:26; a term that can be both legal (advocate) and relational (comforter). In the Gospel of John, Jesus promises the paraclete to the disciples as the one who will continue to teach and guide them after Jesus returns to the Father. The ‘Farewell Discourses’ associate the paraclete with the Divine Spirit (John 14:17, 26; 15:26; 16:13).
Most readers understood my last article, only a couple didn’t get past the third line of my opening statement, having become disturbed by the words: “the Holy Spirit the Disturber.” Whereas one appeared to be a genuine concern, the other exuded the stench of fake spirituality, like one breathing out bad breath. Such “leaders” live off the backs of God’s people. Perhaps God has allowed this situation to develop, so that people are disturbed enough to seek more of Him in understanding – a difficult thing to do when they claim to “know the Scriptures”, but it is possible for God. Those who don’t want to understand, won’t understand; but the Holy Spirit can reveal to them in His mercy if they are willing to receive. Perhaps we could describe His action as the Holy Spirit the Bubble Burster! Micah 2:13 speaks of the One who breaks open the way; and Ephesians 2:14-16 speaks of Jesus as being the wall-breaker, as He broke down the dividing wall, creating One New Man (Humanity). The Holy Spirit might disturb us from our self-righteous religiosity, and our holy-huddles, and the sometimes petty, central-heating theologies that we construct to make our lives warm, easy, and comfortable. He disturbs and shakes us out from our apathy. Some think only of Holy Spirit power, and develop theology that brings glory to themselves. They claim to heal, and to impart the Holy Spirit to others, making out that they are super-spiritual beings, and a cut above the rest. Sometimes they wear flowing gowns, and claim titles that even the apostles never used about themselves. They manipulate the Scriptures, and they manipulate conversations in the attempt to make themselves look right; but in doing so they reveal their unrighteousness. Their sense of religious self-importance can be satanically induced. It is pride. The religious opposed Jesus when He walked the earth, and the religious oppose those who follow Him today; with some opposers adorning the role of the accuser of the brethren. They are imposters and not true disciples of Messiah. We can expect much more of this as we approach the end of this age. Give me the poor among the Christians, who work hard everyday of every week to eke out a living, wondering where the next meal will come from, rather than the gown-flowing ‘gobyists’ looking for whom they may devour.
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof—Keeping up a show of observing the outward forms of religion, but renouncing its power and its influence over the heart and the life; shewing openly that they neither acknowledged its guidance or wished to do so. These, by claiming the title of Christians, wearing before men the uniform of Christ, but by their lives dishonouring His name, did the gravest injury to the holy Christian cause” (Elliot’s Commentary for English readers, commenting on 2 Timothy 3:5).
We are often guilty of reducing God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God, to subjectivism, i.e., our personal happiness, peace, or importance. We start with ourselves and end with ourselves. It takes the Holy Spirit in His mercy, to wake us up to reality. The Holy Spirit convicts the world regarding sin, and righteousness, and judgement. This work of the Spirit could be described as a disturbing process for those whose lives He touches, as He opens our blind eyes, and leads us into a true knowledge of the Lord.
Jesus said, “Do not think [or, “Do not assume”] that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household” (Matthew 10:34-36). “Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law” (Luke 12:49-53).
Pilate’s wife disturbed
And while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “See that you have nothing to do with that righteous [some versions have “innocent”] Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him” (Matthew 27:19). Who gave her the dream? Who revealed to her that Jesus was a righteous (innocent) Man? She is the only recorded person who spoke up against the decision about to be made to kill Jesus.
Genesis Ch.41
Pharaoh had a disturbing dream, given by God – “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do” (Genesis 41:16, 25). God gave Joseph the interpretation of the dream. The Holy Spirit communicated in both instances.
Daniel’s Disturbing Dream (Daniel 7:1-28)
As we see in the first six chapters of the Book of Daniel, Daniel was a Godly Jew, and a man of unshakable faith. He was steadfast in his daily walk with God. What was to disturb him was a dream, given by the Holy Spirit of God, in Chapter 7. God’s Spirit disclosed future events which Daniel finds most troubling. Reading some of the comments made to me, there are those in leadership that would attribute this work of the Holy Spirit to Satan. In chapter 7 Daniel speaks of his spirit being distressed, and his thoughts greatly alarming him:
“As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me” (verse 15).
“At this point the revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter to myself” (verse 28).
Samuel
1 Samuel 3:4-7. Four times the Lord disturbed Samuel from his sleep.
Joseph
Joseph in Genesis 37:1-11. His brothers were certainly disturbed by what Joseph shared with them.
Genesis 40:1-40. Joseph was given the interpretation of dreams by the Holy Spirit. The interpretation given to the baker was very disturbing for him (40:18-19).
Gideon
Judges 6: 11-23. Gideon was disturbed by the word of God delivered to him by the Angel of the Lord.
Joseph
Matthew 1:28. Joseph – “But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid…”
I am not doing an exhaustive study. These are just a few of many examples of the Spirit of God disturbing us in our sleep etc.
Jesus
Jesus said: “My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). We know His voice through His word revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit leads us – “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come” (John 16:13). There are people that claim to be followers of Jesus, yet they do not listen to His voice, and they do not follow Him. They come up with all kinds of nonsense of their own, and try to convince people that it is biblical. When dealing with social media in particular, you don’t know who you are dealing with. They can be contentious for their own reasons, not because they are seekers of the truth.
Matthew 26.40: Jesus disturbed the disciples from their sleep in Gethsemane.
Matthew 4:38; Luke 8:24; Mark 4:38: The disciples were greatly disturbed even though they were in the presence of Jesus. In this case it was they that woke Him.
I hope this will be of some help, but do read the bible asking God’s Spirit to give you light and understanding.
“The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray. Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.…” (1 Peter 4:7-8).
Blessings and shalom
Malcolm [18.10.2021]
