A Christless Pentecost

Is Jesus Becoming A Stranger Among Us?

 
Buddy Sheets

This message was inspired by a prophetic warning from Azusa Street 96 years ago, concerning the dangers of a Pentecostal theology and model that didn't include the Glorious Man, Christ Jesus, at the center!

Frank Bartleman was an eyewitness to the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit in 1907 at Azusa Street, Los Angeles. He has been characterized by Christian historians as the Reporter of the Azusa Street Revival. Nearly 96 years ago, during the outpouring, he wrote a tract warning of, what he termed, a Christless Pentecost

He warned:

"We may not hold a doctrine, or seek an experience, except in Christ. Many are willing to seek power in order to perform miracles, draw attention and adoration of the people to themselves, thus robbing Christ of His glory, and making a fair showing in the flesh. The greatest need would seem to be for true followers of the meek and lowly Jesus. Religious enthusiasm easily goes to seed. The human spirit so predominates the show-off, religious spirit. But we must stick to our text-Christ.

"Any work that exalts the Holy Ghost or 'gifts' above Jesus will finally end up in fanaticism. Whatever cause us to exalt and love Jesus is well and safe. The reverse will ruin all. The Holy Ghost is a great light, but focused on Jesus always for His revealing.

"Where the Holy Ghost is actually in control, Jesus is proclaimed the Head-the Holy Ghost, His executive."

In another place, Brother Bartleman warned:

"The temptation seems to be toward empty manifestations. This does not require any particular cross, or death to the self-life. Hence it is always popular.

"We may not put power, gifts, the Holy Ghost, or in fact anything ahead of Jesus. Any mission that exalts even the Holy Ghost above the Lord Jesus Christ is bound for the rocks of error and fanaticism.

"There seems to be a great danger of losing sight of the fact that Jesus was 'all in all' The work of Calvary, the atonement, must be the center for our consideration. The Holy Ghost will never draw our attention from Christ to Himself, but rather reveal Christ in a fuller way. We are in danger of slighting Jesus - getting Him 'lost in the temple,' by the exaltation of the Holy Ghost and of the gifts of the Spirit. Jesus must be the center of everything."

I do not take Brother Bartleman's warning lightly. The danger of what he termed "a Christless Pentecost" is very real today. After 25 years of serving the Lord, I have seen repeatedly that it is in fact possible to gather Spirit-filled people in one place, praising and lifting up their hands - and still have the Man, Christ Jesus walking among them as an unknown - a stranger!

It's true He said, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."  (Mat 18:20)  But He can be, and often is,  in the midst of us as a complete stranger! Ignored, unrecognized - even by those who meet in His name!

The Jews for hundreds and even thousands of years gathered every Sabbath in their synagogues to speak of His name, and to prophesy of His coming. They praised the name of the Father who promised to send Him. They spoke the Messiah's name with awe and reverence. Then...when He came and walked among them - as a fulfillment of their hopes and prayers - He was not recognized! He was a stranger to them!

Jesus, a stranger in the midst of a Spirit-filled, Spirit-empowered congregation? A stranger in the midst of those who speak His name - who worship the Father who sent Him? A stranger to those who sing His hosannas, who call Him "Lord, Lord"?

Yes! Absolutely yes! It is not only possible - it is happening among God's chosen people throughout the church in America today!

Let me show you three ways in which we are making Jesus a stranger in our midst! Holy Spirit, take away our spiritual blindness so that we can once again see Jesus as He really is - LORD OF ALL!

We Make Jesus A Stranger - By Giving Holy Spirit Pre-Eminence Over Him!

Thus saith the Lord! Jesus, and Jesus alone, must be at the very center of our life and our worship!

"And He is the head of the Body, the Church, Who is the beginning, the Firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.  For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell..."  (Col 1:18-19)

"That in all things He may have the pre-preeminence." That is - in all things that Jesus may be distinguished and spoken of above all others. Having first place in all things. Not even Holy Spirit is to be exalted above that name! The upper room must never overshadow the Cross! We dare not ever think of Jesus as simply the one who sent Holy Spirit. In other words, "Thank You, Jesus, for sending Someone better." Jesus sent Holy Spirit to reveal His (Jesus') own fullness within us.

Whenever Holy Spirit becomes the center of our attention, the church gets out of focus! Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus as He came out of the baptismal waters at the Jordon, and the Father said of Him: (Jesus) "This is My beloved Son - In whom I am well pleased..." Holy Spirit descended bodily like a dove, but the focus wasn't on the dove, it was on the Lamb of God - who takes away the sins of the world. Not the dove, but the Lamb!

Jesus told the disciples of a coming Pentecost, when Holy Spirit's Presence and power would be poured out for a single purpose: He was going to impart a power to lift up the name of Jesus! "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me...to the end of the earth."  (Act 1:8)

Jesus made it clear that when Holy Spirit came He would not draw attention to Himself, but would instead focus on Jesus' words. He would exalt Jesus.

"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come...He will not speak on His own authority...He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.  (Joh 16:13-14)

Jesus said, "He will show you My glory, My power, My Kingdom. He will remind you of all My words." The primary task that Holy Spirit came to perform is not fellowship, although He does bring believers together as one in Christ. It is not ecstasy. It is not simply to teach us an unlearned tongue. The Spirit has come to exalt Jesus! To guide all of mankind to the truth that Jesus is Lord! It is not enough to say the Spirit has brought us close to each other - He must bring us closer to Jesus!

The fullness of the Spirit is the fullness of Christ If one doesn't have an all consuming passion for the Glorious Man, Christ Jesus, then that one cannot claim to have received a "Bible" Holy Ghost baptism! Jesus, the Baptizer, sent Holy Spirit to fire our souls over lost humanity, to get us out of our comfort zones, and out of the four walls of our churches and out into the highways and hedges to reach those that He gave His life for. Holy Spirit came to shake up our lazy lifestyles and get us to doing His Kingdom works. The blessed Holy Spirit will be grieved, and finally withdraw, the very moment men try to exalt Him above the Son of God! Holy Spirit loves, and is fully committed to exalting Jesus! He will not permit His power or ministry to be abused by those who want only the gift and not Jesus, the Gift-Giver!

What is a true Holy Ghost meeting? Is it where people all speak with tongues? Or where many people are healed? Where redeemed saints jump for joy? Where saints are prophesying? More - nay, much more than that! It is where Jesus is being exalted, where His holiness pierces and impacts our soul, where men and women fall before His holy throne, broken, humbled - crying, "Holy, Holy, Holy." The moving of the Holy Spirit is a moving closer to a Person - Jesus Christ, deeper into a relationship with a real person, with a greater submission to His Lordship!

Being a Christian isn't about just accurate doctrine - I am all for accurate and correct doctrine - we need accurate and correct doctrine if we are to walk where He wants us to go, in the way He wants us to go. But accurate and correct doctrine isn't all that we need. We need to be involved in a love affair with a Divine Person.

Jesus Is Made A Stranger When People Praise Him, But Will Not Pray To Him!

We praise a Jesus to whom we will not pray! We have become a "thanking," "praising people," but not a praying people. Jesus, the Redeemer, the Savior, the Great Apostle of the Harvest, The Anointed Evangelist that will win the nations, the Revelatory Prophet who reveals the hearts of men, is first and foremost the Great Eternal Intercessor. "But He...has an unchangeable priesthood...since He always lives to make intercession..." (Heb 7:24-25)

For many of God's people, in our day and time, with our helter skelter schedules and lifestyles, the prayer closet is a relic of the past. The public prayer meeting relegated to those "called" as intercessors (and by that it is usually meant that they are people who don't fit in anywhere else). Just a couple of days ago I had someone tell me that our prayer meetings were off course, because the Holy Spirit was telling them that we didn't need to ask God for revival, or for Him to release the Holy Spirit, or for Him to fulfill His promises. "Why ask God for what He has already promised? Just get hold of the promises and simply command deliverance!"

My heart breaks within me! We no longer want Jesus as much as we want what He can do for us. We want an escape from pain and suffering. We want our troubles to vanish. And we are so caught up in our escape from pain, we lose the true meaning and purpose of the Cross. We refuse crosses and losses - no Gethsemane for us! No nights of agony! No dark night of the soul for us! We don't even know, can't even relate to this suffering, bleeding, resurrected Christ! We want to escape so bad that we have created whole doctrines that comfort us with the "fact" that we will be taken out of the world, in order to keep us from experiencing any discomforts. Christian books and films that preach this "escapist" gospel even makes the best seller lists of the world, time and again. God, have mercy on us!

We want His healing power. We want His promises of prosperity. We want His protection. We want more of this earth's goods and pleasures. We want His happiness, His joy, and His peace. But we really don't want Him alone!

The Church once confessed its sins - but no longer - now it confesses its rights!

Let me ask you a question:

How many of us would serve Jesus if He offered nothing but Himself? No healing. No success. No prosperity. No worldly blessings. No miracles, no signs, no wonders. What if - once again we, like our brothers and sisters all over the world have to do every day, had to take joyfully the spoiling of our goods? What if - instead of clear sailing and problem-free living, we faced shipwreck, fears within and fightings without? What if - instead of painless living, we suffered cruel mockings, stonings, bloodshed - being sawn asunder? What if - instead of our beautiful homes and cars, we had to wander about in deserts in sheepskins, hiding in dens and caves? What if - instead of prosperity, we were destitute, afflicted, and tormented? And the only better thing provided for us was Jesus? How about you - would you sign up?

Very few of God's people pray anymore! They are too busy "working" for Jesus to spend time talking to Him! The average minister in America has become so busy doing "Kingdom work," that they have little or no time left to pray. The average minister says that he prays less than five minutes a day - and they admit that most of that is only in preparation for preaching a sermon! There is time to visit, to build, to travel, time to vacation, to attend meetings, time for recreation, reading, watching TV or videos, counseling - but no time to pray!

Preachers who do not pray become promoters. They become frustrated building contractors. When they lose touch with God, they eventually lose touch with their people and with their needs. Preachers who don't pray have egos that spin out of control. They want, and demand, their own way. They substitute sweat for unction (anointing). Or as my friend, Guy Chevreau says, "That flap instead of soar!"

Evangelists who do not pray become stars, storytellers. They lack humility, so they manipulate crowds through emotional gimmicks. The cry of pastors all across this country is, "Oh, God, where can I find an evangelist or minister who doesn't care about money, or who is not promoting something? One who can bring the Presence of God down and make Jesus Christ real! Oh, God - give me a praying man to bring my congregation to its knees!" The shame of this generation is that we have too many "talented men of God" and only a few who have touched God in prayer.

There is even less praying in the congregation! Statistics show that the average Christian in America prays less than five minutes a week - and that includes saying grace over his, or her meals! Now don't misunderstand what I am trying to convey, I'm 100% for getting prayer back in our public schools! But that's not God's real problem! His problem is getting prayer back in our heart, homes and churches! What is most on His heart is getting His own chosen people to pray! And you are a phony if you fight for school prayer and neglect secret-closet praying yourself! Until the prayer meetings are more well attended than PTO meetings, or political think-tank gatherings, we are just spinning our wheels!

Do we pray? Oh, yes! When we need something. We have the formula down pat - "in the name of Jesus." All we need Him for is to counter sign our petition checks before the Father.

You would not even believe how often I hear people say, "Buddy, you just don't understand. This is such a busy age - I have no time to pray. I'd like to, but I don't have time." No! It's not lack of time; it is a lack of desire. We make time for what we really want to do. Look at our Christian young people! Wasting hours of time playing video games, listening to Christian entertainment, searching for excitement, goofing off, bored, restless, looking for some action! But no time to pray! No time for Jesus! Oh, God! Somehow! Some way! Bring this generation to its knees. Not just the Lord's Prayer, not just the pledge of allegiance, but a daily communion with Your Son, Jesus!

Our Savior, who has the care and concern for multiplied universes, billions of galaxies, has the time to pray just for you and me - everyday, all day long! He takes the time to intercede for you and me before the throne of God (Heb. 7:25), and we dare to say that we do not have time to pray to Him!

We work feverishly for a Jesus that we ignore. We will go anywhere, do anything, in His name. But we will not pray. We will sing in a choir. We will visit the sick and the prisoners. We will teach a children's church  or Sunday School class. We will give money towards "worthy projects." But we will not pray. We will counsel the hurting and needy; we will stay up all night to comfort a friend in need, but we will not pray. We will give prophetic words at the local restaurants or shopping centers, but we will not pray! We will fight corruption! We will crusade for morality! We will stand up against nuclear weapons! But we will not pray!

Most of all, we don't pray because we really don't really believe it works. Prayer is a bloody battleground! No ego in the prayer room! It is where victories are won! A place to die to self! A place where a holy God exposes secret sin! No wonder Satan fights his hardest to try and hinder prayer! A praying man sends a shudder through hell! That man or woman is marked because Satan knows prayer is the power that crushes his kingdom. Satan is not afraid of power-hungry saints, but he trembles at the sound of a praying saint!

As another friend of mine, Billy Godwin, used to say, "What if the Bible were really true? What if when we prayed like He told us to do, He really answered and we got the things that we asked for? What if there was really more to the Christian walk than just going to church and not cussing much until you die?"  Almost every Christian knows what to say when asked if they pray. They are quick to express the fact that they value prayer highly. But in the same breath they admit that they don't pray. It's OK to talk about it, just don't ask me to do it!

If we really believed in prayer, if we really believed, like Billy said, that God would really answer our petitions when we obeyed Him and prayed, there wouldn't be enough obstacles or hindrances that would keep us out of the prayer room!

Jesus Is Made a Stranger In Our Midst - When We Want His Power More Than His Purity!

Reader Harris, an Englishman and director of The Pentecostal League of Prayer, once challenged a congregation on this matter of power and purity. He said, "Those who want power, line up to my right. Those who want purity, line up to my left." The congregation lined up 10 to 1 - for POWER!

In the book of Acts, Pentecost was synonymous with purity more than power. Peter told the council at Jerusalem what God did at the house of Cornelius, "God...giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us...purifying their hearts by faith."  (Acts 15:8-9)

Who is the man or woman of God who has power? Is it the one who can heal the sick and raise the dead? Is it the one who can best talk in tongues and prophesy? Is it the one who draws the most people and builds the greatest church? No! The one with the power that God is most interested in giving - is the one with the purity! "...the righteous are bold as a lion... (Proverbs 28:1)

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' (Mat 7:21-23)

Lawlessness is doing what you want, what is important to you, instead of what God wants and what is important to Him!

The prophet Malachi prophesied of a supernatural purge coming to God's house.

"Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," Says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness.  (Mal 3:1-3)

This is a dual prophecy. He speaks of Jesus' first coming, and also of His second! He will come again suddenly, as a thief in the night. But first, He will purify His Church.

We are not ready for the coming of Christ! Is this the Church triumphant? Covetous, divorcing, depressed, worldly-minded, grasping for materialism and success, competitive, lukewarm, adulterous, rich and increased with goods, unaware of spiritual blindness and poverty, pleasure-loving, recreation-minded, consumed with sports, politics, and power - is this the spotless Bride that Jesus is coming for? Simply coping, filled with fear and anxiety, satisfied only to have good health and happiness?

The Word of God proclaims that Jesus is coming back for an overcoming Bride! A Bride without spot or wrinkle! A people whose affections are set on the things of His heart! A people that love the Lord their God with all of their heart, all of their mind, all of their soul, and all of their strength! A people with clean hands and pure hearts. A people who are looking, waiting, crying out for His coming - not so that they can escape problems and trials, not so that they can go to heaven, but so that they can be with Him whom they love more than life itself. If we want to be with Jesus then, we will spend most of our time with Him now!

The question is no longer, "What can my faith get me? What miracle will He perform for me?" The question now is -"How shall I stand before Him when He appears? How shall I make it at the judgment?" "... who can stand when He appears?" (Malachi 3:2)

The question is no longer, "How do I feel - or, how do I get happiness? How do I get the desire(s) of my heart?"

The question now is-"Can I withstand that moment when I stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ? How can I withstand when I've lived so carelessly, so selfishly, so neglectful of His great salvation?" In fact, the central issue now has nothing to do with this world at all. At issue is this-"HAVE I NEGLECTED CHRIST IN THIS MIDNIGHT HOUR?"

I recently heard Mike Bickle, Director of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Missouri, tell of two separate occasions, once when he was around 19 and once when he was about 23, where He had a prophetic experience (the same one, twice, several years apart) in which he found himself standing before the Lord Jesus Himself. Mike says he intuitively understood that he was at the end of his earthly life, at the Bema seat, the judgement seat of Christ. The Lord looked at Mike and said, "Saved, but what a wasted life!"

Mike tried to reason (argue) with the Lord about how much he had done "for the Lord." He argued that he had read the Bible more than most people he knew. He had prayed some, he even fasted a little. He had been a good husband and father. He children were married to Christians, and were serving the Lord. His church had done well, people were getting saved regularly, people were being filled with the Spirit, they were seeing people healed when they prayed for them. His church members testified that they were growing as a result of sitting under his teaching and ministry. (BTW: All of the things that he argued with the Lord about have since happened just like Mike "knew" about them ahead of time.)

But the Lord couldn't be intimidated or moved off of His righteous evaluation. Mike, as all of us do when we receive the Lord, had been presented the golden opportunity to walk as a son of God, and not be limited to just living his life as a "mere" man (1 Cor. 3:3). We are all called to more than being "naturally" successful in business, ministry, and family dynamics. The God of Genesis chapter one said that we could be empowered by Holy Spirit, who is God Himself, to do mighty exploits, signs and wonders. We can pray and the uncreated God promises to answer our prayers. We can affect the destiny of nations. To live at any level, when God has made this available to us is a gross sin, and unacceptable in God's eyes.

The Lord is giving a clarion call to the Body of Christ to wake up and join into partnership with the Almighty God. Everyone that is truly in relationship with Jesus will end up on His page eventually. But the grace of God is such that we don't have to wait until He physically returns to get there. Sovereignly He is moving by His Spirit to bring many sons to glory, before that great and terrible day. Why? Because He loves us too much to allow us to squander our lives and inheritance away.

The purge is beginning in the pulpit already! "...He will purify the sons of Levi..." (Malachi 3:3) God is accomplishing it by "turning up the heat " Because of His great love towards us, He is going to make things so hot, so fiery, so intense, God's men will be driven to their knees or they will be driven out of the ministry! This is the fire of the Holy Ghost! It is the fire of persecution. It is the fire of tribulation. The fire of unbelievable hardships, ridicule, gossip, financial problems. He is going to shake everything that can be shaken! He is going to shake, and scrub, and burn, and purge - and purify! He is going to sovereignly remove everything in our lives that hinder our love for Him!

Again, it has already started. Statistics show that the average "life-span" of a new ministry in America is five years or less! And most of the men and women that drop out, never come back. They are relegated to the ones who when you witness to them about your faith in Jesus and in what He is doing in the earth, are heard to comment, "Been there, done that. I used to be into fasting and prayer and reading the Bible and all...but now I am busy doing other things."

No man or woman of God will escape the purging! God is determined to get all the dross and filth out of us. He, not the devil,  will shake everything that can be shaken, He will remove everything that hinders our whole-hearted love and passion for Him and His Beloved Son! Not because He is mad or sad, but because He burns with a holy jealously towards us. He will not stand idly by and watch us destroy ourselves, our families and our world!

The purge will then spread from the pulpit to the pew! Get ready, saints! God is getting ready to expose all sin, all adultery, all foolishness! The Holy Ghost is going to reprove us of sin. How can you play games when God puts you in His crucible and turns up the fire? Your Holy Ghost baptism is going to have some fire put to it now!

Malachi said-"For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up..." (Malachi 4:1)

God also promises to bring down all of the strongholds of the enemy! He is going to once and for all let the devil and the world know who truly has the power!

If God is about to do all that the prophets predicted He would - WHAT A GLORIOUS FUTURE JUST AHEAD!

• A purged, purified ministry!

• A Church that God is calling back to repentance and holiness.

• A people washed, cleansed - offering praises in true righteousness.

• A revival among our young people! Drug strongholds coming down! Alcohol and divorce no longer prevalent among God's people.

• The sound of worshipful prayer-intercession filling the stadiums of the nations!

• A people of God who will discern between the holy and the unholy!

• Everywhere, God's people turning again to the Word.

• A tested, tried people, once again devoted to the Person of Jesus Christ!

• His Person being lifted up to draw all men to Him!

• Jesus Christ no longer a stranger in our midst, but CROWNED - PRE-EMINENT!

• A Pentecostal anointing that truly exalts the name and power of Jesus Christ, the Lord of all.