There has been a deep conviction that has governed my thinking for over twenty years. We must bring the Word and the Spirit together. Speaking generally, it seems to me that there has been a “silent divorce” in the church between the Word and the Spirit.

Take those on the Word side. Their emphasis is: we must earnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints; we must get back to expository preaching, to the doctrines of the Reformation that once turned the world upside down – justification by faith, sovereignty of God; and until this happens, the honor of God’s Name will not be restored. What is wrong with that emphasis? Nothing. In my opinion, it is exactly right.

Take those on the Spirit side. Their emphasis is: we must get back to the book of Acts where there were signs, wonders and miracles; prayer meetings resulted in the place being shaken; if you got into Peter’s shadow you were healed; lie to the Holy Spirit and you are struck dead; and until this kind of power returns to the Church, the honor of God’s Name will not be restored. What is wrong with that emphasis? Nothing. In my opinion, it is exactly right.

The problem is that this “silent divorce” means that almost wherever you go, it is one or the other. Not only that, neither side admits to a problem. You can’t tell Word people they don’t believe in the Holy Spirit. You can’t tell Spirit people they don’t believe in the Bible. The great gulf is fixed and neither appears to desire to humbly learn from the other, speaking generally. What is needed more than anything in the world is that we see it is not one or the other that is needed but both – simultaneously.

Today’s disciple-makers must take fresh aim at raising up followers of Jesus that are deeply rooted in the ways of God revealed in the Scriptures and who obediently follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. This will result in spontaneous combustion – and then the honor of God’s Name will be restored.