Good Morning Friends,
The third member of the Trinity is more than an influence, but we rarely explore the personality of what scripture calls the Creator of the World. I have always considered this person of the Trinity to be more of the Sustainer and Inspiration of life…a breath of fresh air to fuel the fire that does not consume. Typically, we consider the work and ministry of this Spiritual Presence to include guiding us with the right words to say and the leading, revealing, birthing, renewing, and discerning… things that enlighten us to the truth. The mission work here is as a witness to life and as an agent of comfort and conviction for the sanctification of people. Prophets were empowered, the dead were raised, intercessions made, and people instructed by this same person who gives life to our mortal bodies. The very writing of the Bible is a product of the work and power of how ideas and people are nudged in history by the Helper and Advocate to Glorify Jesus. But you may wonder why Jesus did not stay around in the flesh. The question is kind of asked in John and answered in part in John, but I think is experienced in our lectionary passage from Acts. So today we ask a very relevant question on our journey from Passover to Pentecost. Why Has God Been Revealed In The Person Of the Holy Spirit?
Scripture: And when an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, the apostles learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country; and there they continued proclaiming the good news. In Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet and had never walked, for he had been crippled from birth. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. And Paul, looking at him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And the man sprang up and began to walk. When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates; he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifice. When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, “Friends, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to follow their own ways; yet he has not left himself without a witness in doing good—giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.” Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.
Acts 14:5-18 (NRSV)
They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.”I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you
John 14:21-26 (NRSV)
Message: Jesus could have revealed himself to the whole world and taken over the world but that is not how God planned it out. Jesus wanted us to experience the fullness of life and was teaching us how this is done. He revealed himself to the disciples teaching them that they were to live as he lived…in obedience of the Father. If he had revealed himself to everyone, they would have been obeying him for all the wrong reasons. Just look at what happened to Paul and Barnabas in today’s passage from Acts. Still Paul and Barnabas obeyed. They realized that there is only one God. So, from the story of creation to the end of Revelation, it’s difficult to turn a page that doesn’t deal with God’s call for obedience. It is a central theme and is related to today’s question. You see, the way of obedience is often ignored or dismissed because it confronts our sin and challenges our lives. But the obedience of God is not exactly like obedience of people. We are to obey, not because we must or because we need to, but because we want to. The whole thing is not a power trip for God. It is to increase our enjoyment of life through the Holy Spirit. Obedience is the evidence of God’s love.
Obedience is not a requirement of salvation but a confirmation of God’s love that calls us into the presence of the divine and transforms us. It is understandable why the events in Lystra and Derbe turned out the way they did. You see, everyone who is united with Christ expresses that union with Christ by living like Christ, by walking as he walked. That is why he gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit, so we could walk in unity. That is what Paul and Barnabas were doing and it is what we are to do as well.
And So, God will be who God will be. Amazingly sometimes we might be blessed to manifest this presence in such a way that miracles occur. Still, as is portrayed in the storyline from Acts, there is much confusion on the role of the Holy Spirit and the risk of being seen as being more than we are. Regardless, the examples of work shared show that the Holy Spirit’s mission is very wide, and deeply involved in human affairs and the birth of the Church and our own personal sanctification. The Holy Spirit’s ministries break the time barrier of the centuries between Christ’s redemptive work and second coming, so we might know God as a living being, not just an historical one. Indeed, we are saved by the Father through the work of the Son, and that salvation is sustained by the Holy Spirit which helps us to remember the reason we worship. Jesus promised that the Spirit would teach His disciples and bring to their minds the things He said while He was with them. We see this happening in today’s text and the same can hold true for us. The writers of the New Testament were moved by the Spirit to remember and understand the instructions Jesus gave for the building and organizing of the movement of Holy History, the doctrines regarding Himself, the directives for holy living, and the revelation of things to come all involve the Holy Spirit. Moreover, the Spirit verifies and testifies to the fact that we are children of God, that Jesus and the disciples who performed miracles were sent by God, and that the books of the Bible are divinely inspired. By giving the gifts of the Spirit to believers, the Spirit witnesses to us and the world that we have been adopted into the family and belong to God to glorify Jesus. But first we must trust.
Pray we have the strength to obey. Pray we obey the command to love. Pray we obey for all the right reasons. Pray we understand that love and obedience are yoked together across time. Pray therefore we are abiding in Christ, walking like Christ, and living like Christ would have us to live. Pray our obedience is not forced, burdensome or painful. Pray our obedience does not spring from fear, selfishness, legality, self-praise or custom. Pray that our obedience be easy, natural, and pleasant. Pray we realize that some things that appear of earthly good and benefit to society may not benefit a person spiritually. Pray we believe in only one God. Pray we realize we are not God.
Pray we realize that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is progressive, personal, truth-centered, and Christ-centered and Christ-glorifying. Pray we are guided in the truth. Pray we trust Jesus. Pray we are empowered to live out the teachings of God’s Word.
Pray the Spirit of the Lord indwells each of us. Pray the Spirit of wisdom and understanding… the Spirit of counsel and might…the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord instruct us. Pray we remember what Jesus has taught us. Pray we learn to walk in dependence on the Spirit. Pray we are filled with peace. Pray we learn to love and be loved.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 