Quite honestly, I'm reading it with a much conviction as the Holy Spirit is speaking some very important truths into my life that I've put to the side or have neglected in my life.
One of the things that has awakened in my soul is how dependent the early church was upon the Holy Spirit for all their decisions about the church. What was common with them - is very uncommon with many of us today.
Look at the references to the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts:
But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? (Acts 5:3 ESV)
But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” (Acts 5:9 ESV)
And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” (Acts 5:32 ESV)
“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. (Acts 7:51 ESV)
And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. (Acts 11:12 ESV)
And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). (Acts 11:28 ESV)
So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. (Acts 13:4 ESV)
For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: (Acts 15:28 ESV)
And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. (Acts 16:6 ESV)
And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. (Acts 16:7 ESV)
And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” (Acts 19:2 ESV)
Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” (Acts 19:21 ESV)
And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, (Acts 20:22 ESV)
except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. (Acts 20:23 ESV)
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. (Acts 20:28 ESV)
The problem with mentioning the Holy Spirit - people start thinking about tongues and gifts, etc.
In life, it's important that we discover who is a person is before we see what they do. It is the same with the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is a person. This is important. He is not a it.
He has a mind
He has a will
He has emotions
He comforts
He speaks
He teaches
He can be grieved
He can be insulted
He can be resisted
Notice what this verse teaches us about the Holy Spirit...
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion/ fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14 ESV)
The word "communion" - (Greek word - Koinonia) - 3 Definitions:
1. Fellowship
2. Partnership
3. Intimacy
1. Fellowship - "may the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you."
(defintition): companionship, sharing
We need to talk/ communicate with the Holy Spirit.
And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. (Acts 20:22-23 ESV)
This was an ongoing conversation. We need to have companionship with the Holy Spirit.
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. (Acts 8:26 ESV)
Notice that the angel "SPOKE" to Philip.
And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” (Acts 8:29 ESV)
Notice... they knew they Holy Spirit so well - they could distinguish between an "angel" and the "Holy Spirit."
You need to know the "voice" of the Holy Spirit.
What was common with them is NOT so common with us today.
2. Partnership
For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. (1 Corinthians 3:9 ESV)
We need to be working togetther with the Holy Spirit.
Partnership goes a little deeper. It is a close mutual association.
John Bevere gives an example of picking up Dr. Youngi Cho from Korea in his car from the airport. His pastor had warned him to not talk to "Don't talk to Dr. Cho." John just drove and cried. He felt the presence of God strongly. He finally turns to Dr. Cho and says - "God is in the car." Dr. Cho... "I know."
He had a close mutual association with God.
Some churches - the Holy Spirit shows up out of obligation. But there are some churches that actually love the Holy Spirit's presence. I want to be that pastor. I want to be that church.
3. Intimacy
It is fellowship - but deeper.
The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you. (2 Corinthians 13:14 MSG)
Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? (James 4:5 NKJV)
The Holy Spirit "yearns" for you - consistently.
Human beings can be fickle. I can wake up my wife at 2:30 and guarantee that she is not yearning with me. The same goes with me.
The Holy Spirit yearns for me with jealousy. If I was to be unfaithful to my wife - she would be jealous. It is the same with the Holy Spirit.
Look at the previous verse.
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4 NKJV)
For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: (Acts 15:28 ESV)
In order to have intimacy with someone - you need to seek the personality of those you want to get to know.
Example - our kids have differently personalities. We have to adjust the way we communicate in order to get somewhere with them.
You need to get to know the personality of the Holy Spirit.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30 ESV)
Grieve (gr. luprete) - you only grieve when you are deeply in love.
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. (Ephesians 4:29-31 ESV)
We grieve the Holy Spirit in so many way like - speaking harshly to a son or daughter that the Holy Spirit love's deeply.
And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. (Matthew 12:32 ESV)
Why would the Father feel this way? Because He is tender and sensitive.
If there is a person in the OT that reminds us of the Holy Spirit - it has to be King David. There is no man that was feared as much as David on the battlefield.
But... when you look at him personally - he was filled with tenderness and emotions. He cried all the time.
It seems that women are more sensitive to the Holy Spirit then men. The reason... they are more like the Holy Spirit. We as men dwell with him with understanding.
I've been around the church for a long time - and I have to be honest - there is a lot of wierdness out there in regards to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not wierd. People are wierd.
We can't misrepresent the Holy Spirit. We need to reintroduce the Holy Spirit to our lives and to our churches.
What are your thoughts?
What are your thoughts?
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