At the very least, I have been ignorant of the Holy Spirit. I dare say I have been fearful of the Holy Spirit. This may also describe you as well.
I grew up in churches, like perhaps you did, where the Holy Spirit was referred to as the Holy Ghost (thank you King Jimmy) and there was silence or a downplaying of His nature and work as God.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. Jesus even said that God is Spirit and those who worship Him must do so in spirit and in truth. The Holy Spirit is God, the third Person of the trinity. He is God and One with the Father and the Son. And His work in this world is both needful and powerful.
Jesus said the Holy Spirit would come to comfort His followers, to dwell within them, to guide them into all truth, to convict the world of sin, and to empower them to be His faithful witnesses. The Spirit also, as Paul teaches, prays for us. He hears our prayers and intercedes to the Father on our behalf for at least two reasons. First, because He knows the language of the Father. Paul says the Spirit's utterances are speech we do not understand or know. Second, because we don't often know what to pray and the Spirit prays not just for what we ask but for what we truly need.
Tragically we have forgotten the Holy Spirit and His power and work in the mission of God. We have tried in our own power to advance the gospel. We have sought to muster the strength to accomplish His will. But in all of this our power cord was plugged into ourselves and not into God.
In Zechariah 4:6 we are told that the word of the Lord declares, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." Jesus likewise told His followers to wait in Jerusalem for the Spirit to be given into the world, to be placed within them, to empower them for the mission of displaying and declaring the gospel, and to send them into the world for God's glory. The Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) came down and rested upon each one.
What I pray for Refuge Church, for the individuals in particular and for my own life as well, is for the Holy Spirit to blow. In the words of Jim Cymbala, I'm asking God to blow a Fresh Wind and a Fresh Fire across our hearts. For some this creates anxiety because this kind of talk seems like things will get out of control. I pray things get out of control--out of my control and into His.
Rest assured, though, that the Holy Spirit doesn't blow to create disorder and chaos. The Holy Spirit was hovering over the earth at creation and He was active in creation, which was a very orderly and perfect work.
Take a Daniel moment:
1. Give thanks for the Holy Spirit.
2. Celebrate the Holy Spirit as God and His work in the world.
3. Ask the Spirit to guide you into truth, convict you of sin, empower you to fulfill God's mission.
4. Pray for the Spirit to blow fresh and new, giving you and Refuge a renewed fire and passion.
5. Let go of the reins and let things get out of control--out of yours and into His.
I grew up in churches, like perhaps you did, where the Holy Spirit was referred to as the Holy Ghost (thank you King Jimmy) and there was silence or a downplaying of His nature and work as God.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. Jesus even said that God is Spirit and those who worship Him must do so in spirit and in truth. The Holy Spirit is God, the third Person of the trinity. He is God and One with the Father and the Son. And His work in this world is both needful and powerful.
Jesus said the Holy Spirit would come to comfort His followers, to dwell within them, to guide them into all truth, to convict the world of sin, and to empower them to be His faithful witnesses. The Spirit also, as Paul teaches, prays for us. He hears our prayers and intercedes to the Father on our behalf for at least two reasons. First, because He knows the language of the Father. Paul says the Spirit's utterances are speech we do not understand or know. Second, because we don't often know what to pray and the Spirit prays not just for what we ask but for what we truly need.
Tragically we have forgotten the Holy Spirit and His power and work in the mission of God. We have tried in our own power to advance the gospel. We have sought to muster the strength to accomplish His will. But in all of this our power cord was plugged into ourselves and not into God.
In Zechariah 4:6 we are told that the word of the Lord declares, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." Jesus likewise told His followers to wait in Jerusalem for the Spirit to be given into the world, to be placed within them, to empower them for the mission of displaying and declaring the gospel, and to send them into the world for God's glory. The Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) came down and rested upon each one.
What I pray for Refuge Church, for the individuals in particular and for my own life as well, is for the Holy Spirit to blow. In the words of Jim Cymbala, I'm asking God to blow a Fresh Wind and a Fresh Fire across our hearts. For some this creates anxiety because this kind of talk seems like things will get out of control. I pray things get out of control--out of my control and into His.
Rest assured, though, that the Holy Spirit doesn't blow to create disorder and chaos. The Holy Spirit was hovering over the earth at creation and He was active in creation, which was a very orderly and perfect work.
Take a Daniel moment:
1. Give thanks for the Holy Spirit.
2. Celebrate the Holy Spirit as God and His work in the world.
3. Ask the Spirit to guide you into truth, convict you of sin, empower you to fulfill God's mission.
4. Pray for the Spirit to blow fresh and new, giving you and Refuge a renewed fire and passion.
5. Let go of the reins and let things get out of control--out of yours and into His.
