I come from a tradition that didn't emphasize the Spirit's work except as extra power we used to avoid sin. But the more I study, the more I realize that sin-avoidance only one small part of what the Spirit is about. The "Third Person of the Trinity" as the Spirit is called by theologians, is the mind
and will of God living in each of us. Notice Jesus' words in John 14: the Spirit "leads into all truth" (John 14:17), is actually God-in-us (same verse), brings Jesus to be "in us" (John 14:20), presents the mind and will of Jesus to his followers and "he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you" (John 14:26). That's an intimate, and very important, set of roles.
If you have a friend or business associate who is this involved in your life, how constant is that relationship? You'll be communicating many times every day, in every possible way: phone, fax, email, text, Facebook, face-to-face; and spending as much energy as possible to understand that person, to strengthen that bond (now, read that again in terms of your husband or wife...). The Holy Spirit gives us that communication with God. He does not draw attention to himself -- Jesus said the Spirit would not "speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard" in John 16:13 -- but it is the Spirit's work, prompting and reminding and illuminating us, that tells us the heart of God. So it's natural for Paul to describe this relationship as "fellowship" in 2 Cor. 13:14.
Romans 8 tells us that "The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you...For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children." There is a non-physical, soul-level connection between us and our Creator. When the Holy Spirit activates that connection, drawing us to God, we experience a yearning for God, and a growing love for him, that we did not recognize before. And that connection, drawing us to respond in love, draws us to do the will of God. James tells us to avoid the spiritual adultery of being a "friend of the world," because God is drawing us like a lover to himself: "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us." So we ought to be responding to God's constant call, hearing his Spirit's voice singing to us, and in contrast, turning a deaf ear to the lure of sin.
So how can we be more aware of this constant communication? By taking time for silence and stillness; prayer; studying the Bible; by fellowship with other Spirit-led people; and using the other spiritual disciplines to ask God intently for direction at every opportunity. By daily practice, we can recognize the guidance of the Spirit. Being guided by him should become habitual rather than occasional. I need that habit more than I have it, and my guess is, so do you, dear reader. So let's continue the journey together, following the lead of the faithful Spirit of God.
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2 comments:
Excellent post, Mark. It compliments the blog that I will post tomorrow on the same subject of the Holy Spirit. Your post deals with how the Person of the Holy Spirit goes beyond just helping overcome sin. It is a constant companion as well. That is also what I will post tomorrow. It will be for the unbeliever (and dare I say, the professing Christian who does not have the Holy Spirit)who is seeking help, strength and cleansing in his life in order to be truly free.
I will print this and keep it with my files. Thanks.
Peter, thanks for writing. Do you want to give me the address of your blog? I'd like to see what I can learn from your perspective.
I have to say, though, that the Holy Spirit, who is God and is thus omnipresent, is "in" everyone, although his work may not be apparent to us from the outside. Jesus ascended to "fill the entire universe with himself" (Eph. 4:10). In Jesus "all things hold together" (Col. 1:17) and it was the Father's plan "through [Jesus] to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." (Col. 1:20).
Given that information about the Father and Son, we would also have to say that the Spirit is also everywhere and holds everything (including everyone) together. But it is obvious that not everyone lives "in accordance with the Spirit" (Rom. 8:5). That's not God's failing, but theirs. Our freedom (all of Romans 8) comes from resting in Christ, not in our own efforts (Mat. 11:28-30). So we are continuing to learn to surrender our will and our agenda to God so he can direct us. In that surrender is real freedom!
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