As I've said in a previous article, Jesus didn't say or do anything that was optional for his followers. Everything he said and did must be taken seriously--and applied in real life and ministry. Like his use of God's finger in ministry. According to him, it's one proof that you are a genuine Kingdom person and what you bring people is God's Kingdom, not man's.
But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. [Luke 11.20]
Photo by Pars Sahin on Unsplash.
Proof of Kingdom Citizenship
One proof that someone is really from God's Kingdom is his use of God's finger in ministry. That's clear in the passage above. You may try to hide or deny the fact with your theological manipulation, but if you're honest you'd easily see it. Because Jesus drove out demons by God's finger, "then the Kingdom of God has come..." he concluded. Unless ministries use God's finger, it cannot represent God's true kingdom. Man's "Christian" empire probably, but not God's kingdom.
The Pharisees and their followers could not drive out demons. They didn't know how. They could not represent God's kingdom and yet had the temerity to say that Jesus (because he drove out demons) was using Satan's power in ministry. A true ministry from God knows the difference between God's finger and Satan's tricks. Most churches today cannot discern what is of the kingdom. Anything they cannot understand or does not agree with their doctrines they label as demonic.
Proof of Authenticity
A lot of religions and churches preach the Gospel, but is it the genuine Gospel of the Kingdom? Or is it bible passages filtered to the designs of their denominations? There's one proof that it's the true (unadulterated) Kingdom of God that has been brought to people--if it's through the finger of God. If it's through God's supernatural move.
Traits of God's Finger
How do you use God's finger in ministry? First, know how to identify it and it's solely through the Word and revelation of the Holy Spirit. If you do not have the spiritual gift of discernment to differentiate what is and what's not of God, you cannot use God's finger in ministry.
The apostle Paul was highly commended as a servant "of the most high God!" by a slave girl in Acts 16 but he wasn't flattered one bit. Paul knew it was the demon in the girl giving the commendation. He rebuked the demon using the finger of God. Then the Kingdom of God came in the midst of the jail where he and Silas were thrown.
The slave girls' praise seemed okay. It appreciated the evangelism efforts of Paul and company. We often get commendations like that and we think that as long as it's about God's work we're being appreciated, it's good. Anything that sounds spiritual and tickles the flesh is good to us. If so, you cannot use the finger of God because you lack discernment.
Even Jesus turned away from the crowd when people appreciated his ministry and "believed" in him. Physically, having crowds join you looks good. But Jesus had spiritual discernment. And this enabled him to use God's finger when needed.
24But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them, for He knew them all. 25 He did not need any testimony about man, for He knew what was in a man. [John 2]
Genuine spiritual discernment is a requisite to using the finger of God in ministry, as reflected from the context of Luke 11. Remember, the Pharisees and their followers could not drive out demons (the finger of God alone can) because they could not discern what spiritual power Jesus was operating in.
Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
In other words, if the Pharisees claimed they derived power from God when driving out demons (but they couldn't), are they saying that Satan's power was better, since Jesus was able to drive out demons and they say he was using Satan's power? You see how lost the Pharisees were?
Second is seeing Satan defeated. People see with their very eyes how the kingdom of darkness is defeated. It's not just a hyped claim of a bible verse or whatnot, but supernatural things happen right before their eyes.
"I drive out demons by the finger of God," said Jesus.
It's not just "I teach you how demons are shooed off by the finger of God." An actual demo happens. Church today has had too much of seminars and lectures on philosophies, formulas, strategies and theologies but no demonstration of supernatural power.
4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. [1 Corinthians 2]
When God's supernatural power is displayed, it means his finger is at work, and his Kingdom is brought in people's midst, It's not the presence of a denominational church with its nice programs that is brought to the people but God's Kingdom with supernatural power. Satan is defeated.
17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” [Luke 10]
Surrendering to Jesus
Jesus is: “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other Name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” [Acts 4]
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