Good Morning Friends,
Today we explore our belief in the Holy Spirit and the mysterious power of God and how it is manifested in our world. First in Genesis we see the Holy Spirit as the mode of God’s act of creation as a word and wind and breath, and in holding all things together and in later chapters and books through the power of God possessing Israel’s heroes, inspiring rulers and prophets and transferring power from one leader to another. In the Book of John, we see a more richly developed doctrine of the Spirit. Like Genesis it starts out with an echo of the creation story but then turns the focus on the story of John the Baptist and the hope of our new creation in Christ following repentance and acceptance of Christ as our means of salvation. In the Book of John, it is clear that Christ is fully human but is also possessed of the Spirit as the Son and envoy of God as the firstborn of a new creation and our hope to share in this new creation. And the wonder of it all is that Christians can experience a new birth of the Spirit after Christ’s work is accomplished, and Jesus is glorified. When the Resurrection and Ascension has taken place, the gift of the Spirit is bestowed on Christ’s followers by his creative inbreathing, as an anointing, somewhat like the anointing of Jesus at his baptism, empowering them for their mission…our mission of forgiveness and judgement in the context of loving God, loving others and making disciples. And if we do it well we will be as a new Temple for the Holy Spirit to reside. Then the Book of Acts links the work of the Holy Spirit in Jesus as the same Spirit which would now empower Christ’s followers and the church itself to repent and participate in the Baptism of the Spirit that John the Baptist prophesied that Jesus would bring. It tells us how to act given that we believe. Although Jesus seems far removed from the people of earth following the Ascension, the Spirit supplies the personal link which makes it possible for the works of Jesus to be continued in his name by his followers. I would suggest to you this morning that this spiritual influence is more than a force born out of our thoughts and feelings but that sometimes it can be a tangible palpable force that can be applied to the work we have been given. But how a person’s faith is influenced in the Holy Spirit is a bit of a mystery. Now you might be pondering on this day about spiritual influence and how we have been persuaded and have hope that others are persuaded to believe in the love of Jesus and God’s redeeming power of Peace and Love. So, I ask you to consider if you have been called into Christ’s service and if not why not. So, Is The Holy Spirit Gently Influencing You To Convert Others?
Scripture: Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20 (NRSV)
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Genesis 1:1-3 (KJV)
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 14:26 (KJV)
And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
John 20:22 (KJV)
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:38 (KJV)
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Psalm 51:10-11 (KJV)
Message: Influence has been defined by some as the power or capacity of producing an effect without apparent exertion of force or direct exercise of command. Influence is viewed as a non-coercive power. And this power or capacity of causing an effect in indirect or intangible ways may need some brain science to connect the dots. But science and the spiritual do not always connect in the way we might expect. Spiritual health and physical health are not the same. Think of Jesus in the wilderness and on the Cross. The thing is that God is full of surprises, and so too the universe God created is full of surprises as well. The reality is that the Holy Spirit is at work all over the place in our lives now. This is not limited now to a special day. Those who are call by God are shaped by the Holy Spirit as a joining Heaven and Earth in a Temple of the Holy Spirit in churches all over the place. So spiritual influence is a bit like the Holy Spirit in a way, for it focuses on emotions and changes people from within. This sways thoughts, perceptions, choices and values. As a result, this influence also has the power to change behavior and what we believe. You have heard it said that the Holy Spirit both convicts and comforts. This is about the commissioning of the church to call the world to account and be led by the Holy Spirit. We see this played out in the life of Jesus who pours out this Spirit in abundance for those who believe and hopefully also in the places where we live and worship. As Christians we soon realize that to influence others is both a privilege and a great responsibility. We are to be a catalyst illuminating and preserving our experience of God with the flavor and insight of the peace and love we share with others. Here we need to treat our ability to influence others with holy respect, as God will demand an account from us regarding the redemptive influence we exercised on others. The reality is that we can be part of an experience that is good or evil and the nature of the reality may not immediately be obvious. We can be tricked and double crossed. You see, we are exposed to all sorts of things and the length and strength of what we have in our environment creates an effect that can be a toxin or a tonic. Friends, only when we are filled with the Holy Spirit can we live under the influence of a redemptive power that can give us an abundant life and love that influences people for Kingdom purposes. So, allow the Holy Spirit to become a compelling force in your life to produce effects on your actions, behavior, opinions, and lifestyle in ways that guide the attitudes, character, habits and dispositions of others. Overcome the power of the world. Begin doing things that are pleasing to God. Watch actions and behaviors and seek to conform them to the truth in the Spirit of Truth. Jesus taught that personal goodness is more valuable than personal greatness. Friends, we are to be God-centered not self-centered. Choose wisely and learn to love for the sake of the Great Commission. Be committed. Know that the Holy Spirit was sent to help us.
And So, while it is not our responsibility to convert unbelievers, it is our responsibility to speak the good news of salvation through the Spirit of Jesus Christ and help to lead people to a decision with God’s help to be disciples. While evangelism is typically viewed as mostly a human endeavor, the Holy Spirit actually plays a bigger role in evangelism than we do. Ultimately it is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit to turn people’s hearts back to God, which is the essence of evangelism and connection with repentance. The Holy Spirit is responsible for softening hearts and in the process causing growth. Furthermore, it is also the Holy Spirit’s responsibility to give us the words to defend the gospel. However, our responsibility is to know God’s Word, so the Holy Spirit has the truth within us available to use. We are to be like an instrument in God’s hands. The more knowledgeable we are in the truths of God, the more useful we are to God’s Spirit for evangelism. If you want to be good at evangelism, the best thing you can do is to improve your understanding of the kingdom of God by knowing the Bible thoroughly and be ready to be used by God when called. It is only when the Holy Spirit opens our hearts, minds, and souls that we can call Jesus Lord with full acceptance of what that commitment means. So, a pastor alone cannot do this without the help of the people in the pews who have been gifted with the Holy Spirit. And this reality should bring us all to our knees in prayer.
Pray the Holy Spirit gives us the boldness to be used by God. Pray in preparation for our use by God that we encounter people in our lives who influence us for good through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Pray that we excel at having a good influence on others too. Pray that we realize the importance of having good influences in our lives including scripture. Pray we recognize the patterns of influence in our lives and the nature of their effect on our soul. Pray we are surrounded by the kind of influence that makes our life more complete. Pray we are surrounded by the kind of influence that prompts us to do the right things. Pray that we are connected to the greatest power in the universe in thought, mind and actions. Pray that our nurturing overcomes our nature. Pray that we are influenced by the Holy Spirit to mature in the faith. Pray that the Word becomes integrated into our very being. Pray we realize that God is in charge and that we are not. Pray regardless that God uses us to accomplish the divine will. Pray we are salt, and light influenced by the greatest love and power in the universe…God. Pray that we have the assurance of Christ’s indwelling presence. Pray the Holy Spirit witnesses to the reality of Christ’s incarnation, with the water and blood of his death and of the sacrament of our own baptism the new life our belief in Christ makes possible. Pray that we all give more personal attention to training laypersons so that as time goes on, they can lead audibly in prayer, bring another person to decision, speak and witness in a meeting, lead a meeting and conduct small groups that multiply the effort and affect positive change. Pray we do not box the Holy Spirit in church forms and church routines that give no chance for creative breakthroughs that the church and this church so desperately need. Pray that we realize that the Holy Spirit is the final authority when it comes to the Church. Pray that the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. Pray that the Holy Spirit helps us to believe that we can join in the creative work of God.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 