Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?  No, but until then we see it in ourselves. Peter spoke the truth by revelation of the Spirit that Yeshua was Messiah.  A few moments later he spoke the words of the enemy, suggesting to Yeshua a will apart from God’s, even contrary to Yeshua’s central purpose.  Not until the impartation of the Holy Spirit, did the disciples begin to sense and move in the Spirit. It is true for all believers throughout history.

A well-spring bubbling up into eternal life has been opened for mankind.  The desperate, weak, and perishing come and drink of the water of life. They eat true bread and true drink, which is the body and blood of Messiah Yeshua.  They receive saving grace and are filled with Holy Spirit.  Of course, this is a description of what happens in the Spirit. The Spirit is invisible, but for His sound and effect.  He is God, an infinite eternal person. This illustration is lost on the natural rational mind.

Every temporal physical aspect of our humanity exists for God’s glory.  Our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made and in time we raise voices in praise. The Spirit transforms praise to worship. The Spirit moved Peter to respond to the lame beggar saying, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (Acts 3: 6). The Spirit’s words have power and truth.  Peter stood up before more than three thousand people, quoting Joel, David, and explaining what had happened in the natural by God’s will and the gospel of Yeshua.  The people were touched in their hearts by the Spirit and came to faith in their Messiah.

We may not see mighty miracles flowing as a consequence of our obedience to the Spirit’s leading.  In fact, many believers do not believe the Holy Spirit is the same today as He was in the first century.  Scripture says that God does not change and is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Ps. 55: 19; James 1: 7; Heb. 13: 8).  It is by faith that believers are obedient to the Holy Spirit.  When we allow unbelief through our natural human reasoning, rationalization and presumption to be more important than the truth of God’s word, we can be assured that we will not be pleasing to God, nor obedient to His will.  God led the Hebrews out of Egyptian slavery with a mighty hand working miracles over and over again in their midst. They saw that the promised land was good, but in unbelief they rationalized they could not defeat the nations and giants in the land. God did not accept them, nor bring the victory He intended, instead they wandered in the desert forty years until that generation had died. Joshua and Caleb who had expressed faith lived and entered the promised land.

Soul reasoning and rationalization is contrary to faith and scripture.  It quenches, limits, restrains, and thwarts faith and obedience to the Holy Spirit.  Do not blame God, who is almighty, unchanging, rich in love and mercy and promising abundant life, when we fail to do  the works He did when He was on this earth.  “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.  And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14: 12-14).  Start where you are by hearing the Spirit’s voice, confirming it in scripture and choosing the path of obedience.  God may lead you to show kindness, forgiveness, and blessing in the face of adversity, rather than raise the dead. Walking in the Spirit is done in surrender and submission to God, rather than in our own strength, imagination and presumption.

There is great power released in faith whether we see it or not.  Paul said, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms…” (Eph. 1: 17-20).