The Fruit of the Spirit

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”  Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

Can you imagine a world full of love, joy, and peace—people living together with patience, kindness, helping one another with gentleness, and working together with self-control? What would that be like? In a word, it would be paradise, which is what Adam and Eve had together with God before sin. 

This is the abundant life that Jesus wants us to have in him (John 10:10). Now, how different would this world be if Jesus’ church was full of the fruit of the Spirit—if all throughout the Lehigh Valley his disciples were known for love, joy, and kindness? 

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)

Unfortunately, that has not been many people’s experience when they think of Christians. Our friends and neighbors see people who claim they follow Jesus putting their hope in the things of this world. Yes, we might belong to a church, but our hearts are chasing power and glorifying ourselves. 

“Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:8

The fruit of our lives show that our hope is not rooted in Jesus. Our fruit shows that we are connected to what is temporary and self-centered.

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Luke 6:43-45

A tree full of apples cannot claim to be a peach tree. A lemon tree cannot fool you into believing it’s an orange tree. In the same way, we are known by our fruit, so how can we bear the fruit of the Spirit that Paul is describing here?

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5

We must embrace that Jesus is the vine, and we are his branches. It is vital that we stay connected to him, that we know how loved we are by him, and that our value comes from him.  He wants to be close and intimate with us. As we spend time in prayer, reflection, and reading his Word, we know him more. The Holy Spirit transforms us, and his fruit becomes apparent to everyone.

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18

Our Heavenly Father is an amazing gardener. As we know him more, he prunes us, opening our eyes to what he wants to remove to make us even more fruitful.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” John 15:1-2

In his love, he changes our desires, making us to be more like Jesus day by day. Our desire becomes to be with the one who loves us most, not as a duty or obligation. As we abide in him, the fruit of the Spirit begins to grow in our homes, neighborhoods, and workplaces, drawing the hungry and hurting to the eternal fruit of his perfect love.

 (For Further Reading on the fruit of a Spirit-filled life: John 6:63, Romans 15:13, 1 Corinthians 12:3-13; 14:12, 2 Corinthians 13:13, Galatians 5:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22, 1 John 3:23-4:6; 4:12-15, Jude 1:18-21)

Walking in the Spirit

“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4:24

The first time this verse really spoke to me was during my junior year of college, in a book I was reading called “Worship Matters” by Bob Kauflin. The book was given to me by a friend because I had just stepped into being worship team leader for Cru and was incredibly apprehensive. 

As it is geared towards worship leaders and teams, the book uses this verse to discuss worship music selection. To sum up the author's point briefly: songs that are musical masterpieces but shallow (or lacking) in theology are nothing more than pleasant melodies. Songs that are theologically rich but musically lacking are, well, tedious, to put it nicely. The sweet spot is the song that is both theologically rich and musically moving. That is worship: Spirit-led, driven by truth. Worship like that has power.

Spirit-led, truth-driven worship doesn't just exist in a church service on Sunday morning. Off the stage and outside of the industrial park where Riverbend resides, our lives are a song of worship—even more so than inside the four walls of a church building. So what does it look like to live a life that worships in Spirit and in truth?

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:16-25

The truth is, as we follow Christ, we are called to die to our flesh and its desires. Verse 19 says that the acts of the flesh are obvious; however, based on the amount of hatred, discord, and selfish ambition present in God’s greater Church today, perhaps they are not so obvious. It may, in fact, be that the truth of repentance hasn’t intertwined with the gift of the Spirit in our collective hearts.

If we focus solely on the law, we become ensnared in trying to earn our own righteousness, which we can never obtain. Instead, we are called to walk with the Spirit—taking the fresh fruits that it offers, even when acts of our flesh feel more gratifying. What a beautiful song our lives would be to daily die to our flesh and grasp the fruits of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. What freedom is found in the fact that the acts of the flesh can’t exist with the fruit of the Spirit. You cannot have fits of rage when you are gentle; you cannot be drunk when you have self-control; you cannot hate when you love.

Walking with the Spirit, rooted in the truth, draws us to lives of worship and leads us, united as one chorus, to the One.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one

body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 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

Will you join the chorus of God’s body in Spirit and truth? Or continue to pursue the solo of the flesh and self-righteousness?

What does your life-song sing?

(Further Reading: Romans 7:6; 14:17; 15:30, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19-20, Galatians 3:2-6, Ephesians 4:29-5:4; 5:15-21; 6:17-18, Philippians 3:3, 2 Timothy 1:14)

Further worshiping:

“And now my lifesong sings” by Casting Crowns

“Before the Throne of God” by Shane and Shane

The Work of the Holy Spirit

Last week, we looked at Pentecost, a time we remember as when the early church received the gift of the Holy Spirit, the promised gift Jesus mentioned before his death (John 14:15-31). This gift is not just something we apathetically accept, only to stick on a dusty shelf and move on with our lives. The Holy Spirit is needed, active, and working in and through us in various ways as believers.

The church at Corinth was established by Paul on one of his missionary journeys. By the time 1 Corinthians was written roughly 20 years following Jesus’ death and resurrection, the Corinthians’ focus is completely broken—the entire culture there, but even Corinthian believers within the church, had succumbed to focusing on their own power, eloquence, appetites and glory. In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul offers the church at Corinth a perspective shift. Prior to writing Corinth, Paul had been imprisoned in Philippi and run out of Thessalonica, among other attacks—he very well could have been feeling empty of physical and emotional strength.

And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,

what no ear has heard,

and what no human mind has conceived”—

the things God has prepared for those who love him—

10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.

13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for,

“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?”

But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2

Paul knows his need for the Holy Spirit to work in and through him. He knows his weakness; it is in his weakness the Spirit will have the leeway to work most powerfully, and God will get the glory, not himself (v 4-5). The Holy Spirit is our interpreter, revealing God’s truth to us as he is God in us (v.10, 12; 2 Peter 1:21). He searches our hearts, he teaches us that we may understand spiritual truths (v 13).

He is also our helper. As we come to understand the brokenness inside of us and come in contact with the brokenness in this world around us, we are bound to meet moments where our heart feels heavy in our chest and our mind cannot grasp the words we need to even form a prayer. In these moments, the work of the Spirit is intercession before the throne of grace on our behalf. There is a peace and comfort in knowing the Spirit is taking up the task on our behalf. Since he both lives in us and is God, who better to connect our hearts to the Lord? 

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Romans 8:26-27 

The Spirit helps us through the sanctification process.

But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:16-18

In some translations, v. 18 use of contemplate is translated as looking in the mirror at. Mirrors in this time were not the glass reflective pieces we know now but were polished metal. In order to see one’s reflection, the mirror had to be held closely, and even then, the reflection was far from perfect. Even as we hold close to the Lord, we can never have a perfect representation of God this side of eternity; however, the Holy Spirit’s sanctification work in us transforms us ever closer.

The Holy Spirit, given to those who call on Jesus Christ as their Savior, cleanses us.

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7

The Holy Spirit dwells in those who recognize their need for Jesus Christ as their Savior. Just as we recognize we could never do enough to earn our salvation, may we remember it is not by our own power that we are sanctified. Thanks be to God for the gift of the Holy Spirit who works in and through us for his glory!

(Further Reading: Romans 5:2-5; 15:16, 1 Corinthians 6:11, 2 Corinthians 3:3-9, Galatians 2:22, Ephesians 3:4-5; 14-19, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Peter 1:10-12, 2 Peter 1:21, 1 John 5:6-8)

The Gift of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost)

Last week, we discussed the promises God made throughout the Old Testament and the Gospels to send the Holy Spirit. Today, we look at the fulfillment of that promise. Acts 2 records the moment when the Holy Spirit came down to fill Christ’s followers. God chose the time of Pentecost, or the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot), to send his Spirit down. It was one of three festivals a year where all of Israel was gathered in Jerusalem.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 “‘In the last days, God says,

    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

    your young men will see visions,

    your old men will dream dreams.

18 Even on my servants, both men and women,

    I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

    and they will prophesy.

19 I will show wonders in the heavens above

    and signs on the earth below,

    blood and fire and billows of smoke.

20 The sun will be turned to darkness

    and the moon to blood

    before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

21 And everyone who calls

    on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

This prophecy from Joel 2 and the many others like it are amazing, considering the ways the Spirit worked before Christ. He would fill special people—kings, prophets, leaders, artisans—for specific tasks for a limited amount of time and then leave them. The idea that your average person, that all people, could be filled indefinitely with the Spirit was unprecedented. But that day had come. Peter continues,

22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him:

“‘I saw the Lord always before me.

    Because he is at my right hand,

    I will not be shaken.

26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

    my body also will rest in hope,

27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,

    you will not let your holy one see decay.

28 You have made known to me the paths of life;

    you will fill me with joy in your presence.’

29 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord:

    “Sit at my right hand

35 until I make your enemies

    a footstool for your feet.”’

36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.  Acts 2

Peter explains to those witnessing this amazing event that it is through Jesus that his disciples were given the gift of the Spirit, who enabled them to proclaim the good news of Christ in every language represented there. He tells those there—and us today—to repent (turn away from our sin) and be baptized in Jesus’ name in order to receive the Spirit.

In Romans 8 (a passage I would recommend reading as a whole), Paul speaks a lot about life with the Spirit.

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.  Romans 8:14-17

This gift of the Spirit is a mark of our standing as sons and daughters of the Most High God. When we receive his Spirit, we are adopted into his family.

Each and every one of Christ’s followers has the Spirit working in us. Go back to The Spirit Before Christ to see just how amazing that is. The Holy Spirit manifests himself in each person differently, as Paul explains to the Corinthians.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.  1 Corinthians 12:4-13

This gift that we’ve been given is truly amazing. And this gift that we can live empowered through is a seal or mark of a future gift we’re awaiting.

In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13-14

Our inheritance that Paul mentions here is the inheritance of eternal life with God. He states that when they heard the “word of truth” and believed, they were given the Holy Spirit. Paul says believe in the Word, Peter says repent and be baptized—we are then given the gift of the Spirit until the end. There is no incantation to say, and God is not withholding any part of himself from us. We have full access now. Asking God to fill us or to come down on us or to give us more of him is a nice idea, but it’s wholly unnecessary. The better ask would be for him to tune our hearts and minds to his will and work.

I pray that we understand the magnitude of this gift we’ve been given through Christ, that we open our eyes and ears to the will of the Spirit in us. May God tune our hearts and minds as the Spirit works in us so that he may work through us to accomplish his will.

(For Further Reading: Romans 8:1-13, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; 5:4-5, Galatians 3:13-14; 4:6-7, Ephesians 1:16-20; 2:18, 1 Thessalonians 1:4-6; 4:8, 1 Peter 4:14)

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

A Tale of Two Couples

You’ve probably heard of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities. Well, this is a tale of two couples and how it taught me about God’s provision for my life and family. When we were a young working couple, Dave and I had a slightly older couple who came into our lives and supported us. They were surrogate grandparents to our children as they were born. They were our late-night counselors when work stress became overwhelming. They welcomed us into their social circle and taught us what hospitality looked like. And then, when we were very dependent on them, they shared the news that they were moving to Georgia. In my inner being, I panicked. How would we make it without being able to jump in the car in an emergency and drive a couple miles to their home to get hugs and courage in the face of a storm? Who would hug our kids and laugh with us as they grew and challenged us? What kitchen table would we linger and “do life” at? It seemed like an unfillable hole.

What I didn’t realize was that God already knew, and He was already putting circumstances in place that would bring another couple, also a bit older, into our world. He would connect the dots and provide for us in ways we couldn’t have asked or imagined. This second couple brought seasoned engineering knowledge, a love of nature and the outdoors, and a faith in God to the friendship. They worshipped at our church, but we didn’t really know them. We shared some mutual friends. And shortly after the first couple moved, the husband in this second couple became the godfather for our youngest child. God provided and continues to provide.

That was the story that was unfolding in John 14. Jesus was preparing His disciples for His departure. In that preparation, He promised to send the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised that even though He was leaving, He would not leave his disciples alone, unsupported, unguided, unprotected. That provision extends to us too.

“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you…All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:16-18, 25-26

In the Old Testament, long before Jesus walked the earth, the prophet Isaiah told of a future time when not just an elect few were given the Spirit, but all people of faith would receive Him and that God’s Spirit would stay with each believer. He would not come and go.

“I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.” Isaiah 44:3b

In Isaiah 59, the prophet describes people’s sinful, disappointing behavior. And then God describes how He will come and work His righteous way, including using Isaiah to speak His word. It doesn’t end with Isaiah; He says, “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the Lord.” (v. 21)

And in Ezekiel, scriptures provide this beautiful promise,

“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.  Ezekiel 11:19-20

We will have this “new spirit” because God’s Holy Spirit will be IN us. At Christmas we often rehearse the scripture Matthew 1:23 “and they will call him Immanuel (which means “God with us”).” Immanuel, God with us. That’s what Jesus was—God with humanity, God come to earth.  The Holy Spirit also is that--God with us, literally in us. In the Old Testament, the prophets promised. In the Gospels, Jesus promised. In Acts, the promise was kept (Acts 2:4). The Holy Spirit comes—a gift to each believer for the rest of time. God dwells IN us. All humans are made in God’s image. When we accept Jesus and become a Christian, God, in the form of the Holy Spirit, comes to dwell in us.

He is our comforter, our advocate, the revealer of truth, and convicter of sin. He is our helper and guide. Those who do not belong to Christ have no “interpreter” to guide them to know and understand God’s Word. They do not have One who will intercede for them with God (Romans 8:26). The Holy Spirit is God’s seal on His people. He is the One who gives us our story of who we are in Jesus.

God has kept His promise to us in sending the Holy Spirit. Each time a promise from scripture is kept, it communicates to a hurting, disillusioned humanity that our God—three-in-one, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—can be trusted and is truly dependable.

When your world feels unpredictable and untrustworthy, remember that you have GOD in you. The Holy Spirit dwells in each believer. It is your greatest hope to live your day fully in God’s power, seeing the world through His eyes, bringing His kingdom to your community in all that you do and in the ways that you embrace your circumstances. You don’t have to do anything more than believe. The promise has been kept. God is with you. You are never alone. You are never unseen.

Holy Spirit have your way. Guide. Comfort. Sustain. Assure. Equip. Empower.

(For further reading: Joel 2:28-29, Ezekiel 36:26-27, Matthew 28:18-20, John 15:26-27, Acts 1:4-8)

The Spirit before Christ

We often associate the activity and work of the Holy Spirit with the New Testament church era, and this makes sense – the scope of the work of the Spirit was certainly a bit different in the Old Testament. Grudem’s Systematic Theology states that the work of the Holy Spirit is to “manifest the active presence of God in the world, and especially in the church” (Grudem, 1994, Ch. 30). In the Old Testament, God was manifest in many unique ways outside of specific mention of the Holy Spirit. These are the glorious displays of his presence which would have been jaw-dropping to see, the “theophanies”, or physical ways in which God and his glory was present: a hip-popping wrestler, a burning bush, an angel or commander, a quiet voice, the fourth man in the fire in Babylon, heavenly fire leading his people or filling his temple. All of this most crucially leading to him embodied as a craftsman from Nazareth. 

Today, in the church age, the primary way that God is manifest is through the Holy Spirit, poured out on all people (Joel 2, Acts 2). The breadth of the Holy Spirit’s work in and through people undoubtedly changed at Pentecost. But his objective has not. What we sometimes miss as we are caught up in “What exactly can the Spirit help us do?” and “Can some people have more of the Spirit than others?” is that the Spirit is working to bring about evidence of God’s presence, not evidence of our greatness. As Spirit-filled believers, we would do well to look to the Old Testament to see whom God filled with his Spirit, situations where his Spirit is mentioned, and for what purposes. He is working those purposes through us even still. 

The Spirit works for the purpose of displaying beauty worthy of the Creator: 

“See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Exodus 31:2-5

The Spirit works within people for the leading of his people (as only he can): 

I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you [Moses] and put it on them [Israel’s leaders]. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone. Numbers 11:17 

The Lord replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man who has the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him. Numbers 27:18 (CSB)

The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you. 1 Samuel 10:6-7 [Saul anointed]

So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah. Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul,… 1 Samuel 16:13-14a [David anointed]

The Spirit’s presence was a protection in difficult times (and whose absence was a crisis): 

(concerning Israel and the exodus)

Yet they rebelled
    and grieved his Holy Spirit.
So he turned and became their enemy
    and he himself fought against them.

Then his people recalled the days of old,
    the days of Moses and his people—
where is he who brought them through the sea,
    with the shepherd of his flock?
Where is he who set
    his Holy Spirit among them,

who sent his glorious arm of power
    to be at Moses’ right hand,
who divided the waters before them,
    to gain for himself everlasting renown,

who led them through the depths? Isaiah 63:10-13

Do not cast me from your presence

or take your Holy Spirit from me. Psalm 51:11

The Spirit provides guidance (both in wisdom and physically):

Teach me to do your will,

for you are my God;

may your good Spirit

lead me on level ground. Psalm 143:10

The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. Ezekiel 37:1

The Spirit reveals the word of God:  

And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him, and he took up his discourse Numbers 24:2-3

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners, Isaiah 61:1

They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Zechariah 7:12

For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21

May we read these words and find boldness that he who worked these things for Israel has now been poured into us, for the flourishing of his church and the manifestation of the presence of God in this world (Joel 2:28). 

The Holy Spirit at the Beginning

In the weeks leading up to Pentecost, we will be exploring the Bible for what it says about the most elusive part of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. Many don’t understand his role or may think of him as some mystical power or force, but the Bible actually says a lot about the Spirit throughout both the Old Testament and New. We hope that you will embark on this journey with us to discover this very important and active part of the triune God. Let’s dive in!

The first mention of the Spirit is in Genesis, which shows us that the Holy Spirit has been present from the beginning of all time.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2*)

Not only was he there, but Job says he played a role in the creation of humanity.

The Spirit of God has made me,

and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. (Job 33:4*)

Two Hebrew words are both translated as spirit and breath, depending on the context.   רוּחַ (roo’-akh) is translated as Spirit here, but in other verses it is translated as breath (e.g., Genesis 6:17). נְשָׁמָה (nesh-aw-maw’) is breath in Job 33:4, where he alludes to Genesis 2:7, but it, too has been translated as spirit in other passages (e.g., Proverbs 20:27). Each time we see the Spirit of God mentioned in the Old Testament, it is רוּחַ (roo’-akh).

Then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7*)

From these passages, we can logically say that the Holy Spirit is the one who gave humanity life at the beginning. In the New Testament, a main attribute of the Holy Spirit is his life-giving nature—not just the first breath of life with Adam, but also eternal life with Christ.

The Spirit is the one who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. (John 6:63*)

I hope you join us as we explore more of the roles the Holy Spirit has played throughout God’s Word. Next week, we will discuss his work throughout the Old Testament.

For further reading, see Job 32:8, Romans 8:10, & 2 Corinthians 3:6.

*All verses are from the Christian Standard Bible (CSB), bold and underlines added.

Not by Might

Throughout Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter, we shared a reflection series called Return to Me: A Pause for Lent. We had opportunity to, like David, invite God to search our hearts for anything that has caused a breach in our relationship with him. This inspection is heavy work, but it’s also redemptive. Confession and repentance feel painful, but they are a kindness and gift from our loving Father, an invitation to return to him.

This is not, however, work that we do on our own, in a vacuum. The heart-searching of Lent and the salvation offered through Jesus’ death and resurrection on Easter meet in the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, God himself, lives in us, works in us. Beginning April 17th and leading up to Pentecost, we will share a new series on the Holy Spirit. In the meantime, we are honored to share the work that the Holy Spirit is doing in one of our own, Kyle Lara, as she laid a struggle before the Lord and he has begun to redeem it.

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Recently, I took my son to Skate-Away, and I'm grateful to have the experience of doing something like this with him. It doesn't get lost on me how fleeting and special this time is for us.  But it also isn't lost on me that if I hadn't given up alcohol for Lent and if I’d indulged in all the regular St. Patrick's Day "shenanigans," I would be too hungover and tired to even think about taking my son skating. And that would lead to feeling guilty for not being intentional and present with my family, ultimately leading to depression, anxiety, and shame.

Life without alcohol has been awesome, and I can say that as someone who genuinely enjoys the taste of beer.  It's given me a perspective that has completely changed my relationship with alcohol, and for that alone, I feel very blessed.  I keep thanking God for His grace and mercy because if it wasn't for Christ in me, I'd most likely be boastful about the success I have had with how many "dry days" I have had in a row.  There's a word for that, you know?  It's called "striving," and it's exhausting. I know this because of how hard I've been on myself when I wasn't successful at giving it up for longer than a week. I would probably be prideful in my ability to abstain as if willpower had anything to do with it.

The truth is, I am nothing and have nothing without Jesus. It's only because of His selfless and generous gift of salvation that I am not only forgiven of my sins but loved even while wading in sin knee-deep.  When you are loved here, in the wade pool, in a place of disdain for yourself and your actions, it changes you. This is the love of Jesus.  It's transformative. It's a type of kindness that leads to repentance, ultimately leading to a new way of life.  I could stay in this moment forever, because in this moment is a deep understanding that God can, does, and will forgive me.  He has given me more opportunities than I can count to choose Him again and again. See, this is His goodness, the kind that chases you down every day of your life.  This is His kindness and love for you. And this is His desire for my life.  How do I know that? I know that because I'm still here.

As I laced up some rental skates to follow my son around a roller rink for a few hours, it's not without the deep knowing that His Spirit goes with me.  It's His Spirit that is even making this moment possible.  Giving up alcohol for Lent has made it crystal clear that the flesh is weak.  My flesh loves St. Patrick's Day, green beer, and bar hopping; it hates early mornings, headaches, and hangovers.  But when we ask the Holy Spirit to lead us through the temptations of indulgence, I found that the Spirit of the living God is willing to carry me.  And I believe that it's in these moments—when I am surrounded by what truly matters and living joyfully without the one thing I thought only amplified my joy—that allows Christ to be most visible in me.  I am showing up fully present without alcohol on my breath and without regret in my heart.  It hasn't been without temptation and teeter-totter thoughts. It has been challenging and lonely at times. But it's also been incredibly rewarding.  I'm only able to show up because God loved me to this place.  This is the place where fullness becomes tangible:  full of His love, full of His peace, full of His Spirit willing to lead and love me forward. A place where filling myself with the light and love of God I've received can be shared with anyone else who wants to be here, in "this place" with Him too.

Lent 2022: Holy Spirit's Indwelling

Editor’s Note: Lent is a season of personal reflection. As Advent provides a time to prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Lent offers us time to reflect on our sin, and the need for our Savior’s death and resurrection on the cross.

This year, our weekly reflections have focused on the mercy of God. In His goodness, God has displayed mercy towards us from the start. He knew sin would enter the world and created a means to have right-standing with Him. As we each spend time remembering God’s mercy and His pursuit of us—from our sinfulness and need, to the institution of sacrifices for the Israelites, culminating with the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, we remember that God has been always kind, always just, always loving, always merciful.

As this Sunday is Easter, we wanted to spend some time focusing on “what next”? Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again. So how now do we live in light of his work on the cross? In God’s mercy, He has not left us alone. After Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, God sent the third person of the trinity, the Holy Spirit, to be our constant companion and advocate. Even before his death, Jesus knew this was the plan and shared that promise with his friends in the upper room.

Holy Spirit’s Indwelling

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.  Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.  On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you”.

John 14:15-20

Reflect: 

1.     Describe the sense of comfort that this passage gives to you.  Imagine Jesus’ voice saying these words to you, “[fill in your name], I will not leave you. I will come to you.  Because I live in you, [your name], you will also live.”

2.     So many scriptures contrast the life of the orphan and the life of a beloved child. Especially in our current world crises, we see images of orphans. What one or two specific things is Jesus asking you to do, knowing that you are not an orphan, but you have the Holy Spirit in you?

Paul describes the reality that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit brings in Romans 8: 1-2, 6-11:

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death…The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”

1.     This scripture is both convicting and invigorating in its contrast of the flesh and the Spirit. What do you notice about the differences?  In your own life what do you notice when your flesh is more obvious?  What do you notice when the indwelling spirit is in evidence?

2.     Both the passage in John 14 and Romans 8 talk about Christ giving us life.  What does that mean to you, especially if your own physical body is failing?  Or someone you know is declining physically?

Prayer:

A prayer adapted from “Every Moment Holy, vol. 11” by Douglas McKelvey 

“Oh Lord, you have appointed us to live in these very places, in these unsettled times. It is no surprise to you that we are here now, sharing in the turmoil. You have called us to be salt and light, to be your agents of forgiveness, salvation, healing, reconciliation, and hope.  And in these holy vocations, you have not left us helpless. You have not left us at all. Your Spirit indwells us.  Holy Spirit, equip us now for your work, this day. To all you have prepared for us, to the new and next, we say Yes.”

Additional scripture: Consider reading the verses above in their full chapter context (John 14 and Romans 8). You many also want to read and think about Jeremiah 31: 31-34