Monday, February 9, 2009

Experiencing God

The Creed affirms that "We believe in the Holy Spirit" and, of course, all Christians do. But often the Holy Spirit is a "dull, oblong blur" that is relegated to a doctrinal category, not a living reality. And yet New Testament Christians had a rich and full experience of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Consider what we should expect the Holy Spirit to bring to the life of a follower of Jesus:

  • The Holy Spirit gives birth to faith. Jesus told this to Nicodemus:

Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:5-6)

Because we are naturally dead in our trespasses and sins (Eph 2), we need a miracle of the Holy Spirit to make us alive to Christ. This is what he does when he births faith in our lives. Faith is the first cry of a new believer in Jesus!

  • The Holy Spirit pours out love. Paul tells us this in Romans:

"… God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Romans 5:5)

We experience the feelings and assurance of God's love through the power of the Holy Spirit.

  • The Holy Spirit overflows in hope. Our prayer last Sunday was for abounding hope though the Holy Spirit:

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." (Romans 15:13)

Faith, hope, and love are New Testament essentials. They are also experienced realities. I want more faith, hope and love in my life – and I am betting you do to! How can we have a greater experience of God? Pray! Pray with passion! Pray with earnestness! Pray with desperation. As Paul shows us – pray for the god of hope to fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope!

The well wisher of your soul's happiness,

Pastor Tom

No comments: