God In Different Form

   Many people have a fixed idea of what God, or Jesus, must be like and anything different is rejected. This has robbed so many of really knowing God.  When God chooses to manifest in a different way, they are left saying "Oh no...it can't be God".  I knew a little scrawny fellow in the Army who in civilian life was a DJ. He was a little ol' nerd but when he spoke, out came this booming, deep bass voice. I often thought about what a shock his listeners might have if they were to see him in person.   Their reaction might be similar to that of believers who encounter God in a way different from their expectations.

    How about today?   Could you, or your church accept Jesus the wine maker?  How about Jesus who walked on the water in the midst of a storm causing the disciples to think He was a ghost?  Or, how about a burning bush, a snake on a pole, a rock in the desert, a cloud by day, fire by night and a staff in the hand of Moses?  He came as a baby to those expecting a king.  To Joshua, He came as the Captain of the host of the Lord and to Mary at the tomb, she thought He was a gardner.  To those disciples on the road to Emmaeus, their eyes were "holden" at first and they did not recognize Him (Lk. 24:1-16).  To the disciples on the day of Pentecost He came like fire and then new wine.  Isaiah saw Him seated on a throne, high and lifted up.  John saw Him and said His eyes were like a flame of fire.  To some He was healer to others a deliverer and to others a master of the wind and waves.  To us, right now, He has come a Holy Spirit that is willing to dwell in us and fill us to overflowing.

   How many of those different manifestations could you accept?  Eventually, only accepting God as you have predetermined Him to be, or as you have previously seen Him to be, is going to rob you and cut you off from the Spirit of God.  The Spirit comes as He comes. He decides.  One way He comes is to blow upon you, grab hold of the tongue, bends our knee and say,  "Call Him Lord".   He comes and grabs our tongue, gives us an utterance and says "Praise Him in a tongue you did not learn".  Over the years, I have heard so many confess their love and hunger for God, only to see them pass up the chance to touch and know God, missing manifestation after manifestation, since it was not what they had in mind.  Sad indeed!  

    For me, I want God to be God and manifest as He wishes.  However, I have to confess, I would love to see the wine-maker anointing re-appear, on TV, in the First Church of The Fridgedaire and at the next great prayer conference, and denominational general confab.  Come on now, wouldn't you love to see the bottled water they might be drinking on the set of the big national Christian TV network suddenly turn to wine?  With everyone there getting drunk and the host, Sister Dodad's pink wigs fell off,  make-up smeared, mascarra running like a black river, one false eyelash comes unmoored and the men on the set, their ties come off, shirts came out of their pants, hair taking on that wind-blown look and their suit coats up over their head.  Wait a minute, that sounds like some church services I have been in!