What have been the extraordinary moments in your life?
When it comes to the Holy Spirit I usually end up with more questions then answers. When does he show up? How do we know when he is here? Are we limiting him in our lives by generalizing his presence and his gifts?
As I think back on my life, there are moments more extraordinary then I could have made them on my own. The moments when I experienced my call into ministry for a couple. The turmoil within when God was trying to move me out of my comfort zone and the peace when decisions were made. When I stand up to preach and the hearts of those listening to me are moved. There have been conversations when just the right words came, teaching moments with students when clarity comes in a way I had never thought of it before. A voice suggesting I wait and watch the clouds clear from obscuring Mt. Hood until I experience and amazing snow covered view.
But are these moments really Holy Spirit inspired or just great moments of human experience. The moments of the Holy Spirit in the bible seem so much more dramatic. tongues of fire dancing on peoples heads while they talk in different languages, a strong man carrying city gates, pulling down pillars, and slaying an army with the jawbone of a donkey. Not to mention being transported great distances instantly like Phillip or Ezekiel.
I don't know about you but I have never experienced any of these kinds of things. So am I, are we experiencing the spirit filled life Jesus promised us?
In Luke chap 1 we have several moments of people being filled by the spirit. When Mary is visiting Elizabeth she is filled by the spirit and begins to recite praise to the Lord for what he is doing in both the births of John the Baptist and of Jesus. Later Zachariah is also filled with the spirit and gives similar revelry of praise to God for the messiah who is coming. It is promised John the Baptist will be like Samson with the same vows and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth.
I find myself filled with hope when I read these expressions of the work of the Holy Spirit filling the moments of these individual's lives. The reason why? Because the expressions they gave when filled with the Holy Spirit, even those of John the Baptist calling for the repentance of sinners and preparing the way of the Lord, match my Holy Spirit experiences.
Moments when I have found my self in the revelry of praise and worship, moments when the spirit of God has given me comfort, and moments when God has given me words to speak in public and private conversation. These stories confirm our Holy Spirit experiences as believers and I find great joy in this. We are spirit filled new creations in Christ just as Jesus promised us we would be. The comforter has come, the teacher and reminder of all things Jesus taught, the one who places words in our mouths to enable us to give and answer when we have none. The Holy Spirit is alive and well in our lives!
Today I pray we would be as those moved by the wind. I pray others around us, though they cannot see the wind, they will see its effect in our lives. May you and I be Spirit filled today!
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