are recharging with the Holy Spirit. That indicates a need for meditation on our part. You will also note that the Lord didn't indicate that this required a long protracted period, as He still met with the disciples on the same day. The cautionary was no longer given, which indicates to me that He had returned from meeting with God the Father. In verse 21 He commands them back into the spiritual battlefield. In verse 22 He gave them artificial respiration in the form of the Holy Ghost, before sending them out. Did they need it? Yes, in verse 10 we see that, having seen an empty tomb, they returned to their homes. Only Mary cared enough to worry about what had happened to the Lord's body. The disciples felt that the game was over, and were interested only to the point of checking to see if Mary had told them the truth. They needed recharging. What a charge they got in verse 22. But the sentence doesn't end in verse 22, it ends in verse 23. Matthew 16:10 and Matthew 18:18 help some to explain the meaning of John 20:23 in that we see that the true subject is the leaven of the Pharisees ( sin through worldly doctrines ). In Matthew 18:18 we see that whatever we do it is interconnected with a like action in heaven, and therefore we need be extremely cautious in our actions to be sure that we are properly guided. Hence, the need for the Holy Spirit. In I Corinthians 4:18 through the end of I Corinthians 5 we see also this discussion of leavening, possibly a little more plainly. Especially in Chapter 5:6-8, "Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.". You will note that this portion of scripture is not talking about actions for the unsaved but rather for spiritual disease, ( read that dis ease ), within the ranks of the Lord's army. If we take this knowledge back to John 20:23 we see that we need to approach the throne, as we did 199 _____________________________________________________________________________ originally, ready to turn with renewed vigor into the battle, restored and recharged by the Holy Spirit. Lord, anoint me daily with fresh oil! We need to direct our attention on mundane every day tasks through the Holy Spirit, as well as our attention on tasks that we consider set aside for holiness. In essence, we need to consider The Holy Bible as our cookbook for everyday living rather than as a Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday evening spiritual primer! Yes, it is that, but it can be so much more, if we'll just let it. If we will only treat the Bible as our guidebook to everyday living, while listening to Holy Spirit guidance, we should need less trips to the breathing aid station. With less trips for aid we can be more effective in our military service, and not be in jeopardy of malingering. You say, but, I'm not sure that the Holy Spirit talks to me. We have been told that Elijah was no different from us, and in I Kings 19:9-17 we see that he was directed by a small still voice: "And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life to take it away. And he said go forth and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a small still voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life to take it 200 _______________________________________________________________________________ |
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