11/07/2021
Have you ever met someone that you have never known before, but have instantly recognized as a Christian? Before the first word was spoken, or introduction had been made, was there something that drew you to them as if your meeting had been planned all along? What is it that occurs at such moments? As certainly as we have physical appearances that our eyes recognize, we also have spiritual presences that one’s spirit recognizes in another. Do you believe this?
“And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.”
Luke 1:43-44 ESV
If we listen and see with our spirits, and not simply with our ears, and eyes, we will know one another by the love within us… the love of God that He has placed there, and made known to us through the Holy Spirit, and the name of Jesus. Others who do not believe, or are now being called, can see this too as we show outwardly our love for one another, and glow with the glory of God.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.””
John 13:34-35 ESV
We love one another in Christ, and in Him our spirits have been given a name, just as Abram became Abraham, Saul became Paul, and Jesus was given His name. So we call out in greeting to one another by using that one name which is greater than all others… Jesus. Our spiritual selves, having been renamed at the moment we first believed, glorifying God through it.
“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
John 20:30-31 ESV
We glorify God through the name of Jesus, and that glory becomes evident in us. In this way others can see the evidence of our faith, and when one child of God meets another, their spirits come to know one another without introduction by once having spoken His name in our confession that Jesus is Lord, and now by radiating God’s glory.
“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11 ESV
A few years ago I was in Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C., and it was incredibly crowded due to a fierce storm that was delaying all flights to the North East. As I waited for my flight home to Nashville, I saw a black man in the crowd who was traveling with a woman, and I couldn’t shake the thought that I knew this man somehow. A flight was called and several seats became available so I took one, and looking up I saw that the man and his companion were directly across from me. I couldn’t help but look at them as I tried to determine how I knew him, and noticed he was looking at me in the same way. Finally, I asked him if he worked for my company, at which the woman, with an African accent, quickly spoke up and told me that this could not be possible because he was a pastor. So we chatted for a moment, then I excused myself to get in line for my flight.
My plane was a smaller commuter aircraft and as I made my way to my seat I noticed it only had two seats on each side of the aisle. Then something amazing happened. I looked up and there was the woman I had been talking to, and her seat was directly across that aisle from mine, however a man was already sitting in the far seat next to her. Then, the pastor appeared and he took the window seat to my left. At this I looked over to the woman and asked if she wanted to switch seats with me so that she could sit next to her husband. She relied “No… you need to sit there!”. (emphasizing the word “need”)
As the plane took off I introduced myself to the pastor and asked him about his church. He told me he pastored a large Ethiopian church in Nashville, and with this our conversation began. He was a Southern Baptist pastor, and I asked how he had received his calling, then described my life with the Lord. We talked like two long lost friends, and as we neared the end of our flight I asked if I could anoint him with oil, and pray for him. He leaned his head over towards me and said he would like that very much… so I anointed him in the name of Jesus Christ, and prayed for him, his church, and his calling. Time had passed so quickly, and the landing instructions were being announced, so we exchanged email addresses, and I told him that I would see him in the baggage claim area. “I have no bags” he told me, “my son has already picked them up”, so I said goodbye and left to get my own bag.
Little did I know that our encounter wasn’t through yet. As I stood by the luggage carousel, I saw the pastor walking towards me. I said “I thought you didn’t have any bags?” To which he said that he just wanted to see me one more time, and then said “When we first met we did not know each other, but our spirits knew one another.; my spirit knew your spirit, and yours knew mine.” So we stood there together until my bags came, shook hands with a quick embrace, and went our ways. This is how I met Pastor Habte Adane, and I have never seen him face to face again.
On the drive home I was thanking God for the blessing of having met this brother in Christ, and I heard the Lord’s voice as he asked me to pray for pastor Habte. I quickly said I would… then the Lord said “not just now, or tomorrow, but everyday… for the rest of your life.” Hearing this I paused, and then solemnly answered “I will Lord!”, and pastor Habte remains in my daily prayers to this day.
Spirits recognize spirits, just as our eyes allow us to physically recognize one another. Sometimes we meet spiritually to deliver a quick blessing, or to anoint one another, sometimes for a time of prayer, or to deliver words of encouragement, but every once in a while the Lord calls us to something far greater… a lifelong calling that will require great faith, commitment, dedication, sacrifice, or possibly, suffering. When this happens to us are we prepared to hear, respond, and obey, with spiritual fervency? Is the name of Jesus enough to call you to not only recognize another believer, but into action?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for calling out to each of us who believes by giving us new names in Jesus that allow our spirits to know one another through Him. Help us Father to recognize your voice as it speaks your will to us, to answer it in obedience, and to glorify you in so doing. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who calls out through your Holy Spirit, and gives us the spiritual eyes to see, ears to hear, and faith to obey. Praised be your name for every encounter we have where our spirits recognize the spirits of others, and we praise you for revealing your will for us in those moments. Merciful are you Lord for leading us in ways in which we can serve you, and your children, as we glorify you. Hear our prayers Holy Father as we pray them in the name of Jesus, asking you to forgive us our sins, and transform us measure by measure into the image of your Son Jesus Christ. Wash us and purify us Holy Spirit so that we will be seen as worthy when we are judged by God. Lift us up in spirit as we recognize the Lord’s voice, and seat us at His table where we can worship, and glorify Him, forevermore…
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Ephesians 4:1-6 ESV
Rich Forbes