Immersed in the lifestyle of Jesus. Immersed in the practice of the early church. Now for the third immersion – immersed in the Holy Spirit.
What??? A Church of Christ minister speaking of the immersion of the Spirit? How can that be?
Listen to what Jesus says:
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give food gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” – Luke 11:11-13 (NIV)
Has the church failed to ask for that which we need – the Holy Spirit? Have we used our human strength to nullify the working of the Spirit of God in our congregations? Have we used our intelligence so much that we have puffed ourselves up to the point that we do not realize our weakness and how much we need to ask the Holy Spirit to indwell our churches once again?
If so, is it any wonder that people are leaving dissatisfied with the church? For if the church is not empowered by the Holy Spirit, then the church has nothing to offer other than the things the world offers. If Christians are not guided daily by the Holy Spirit and teaching others to live under the guidance of that Spirit, the church is weak and ineffective in producing Christ-like followers who make a difference in the world around them.
So what does it look like to be immersed in the Holy Spirit? Should we expect the miraculous manifestations that the early church experienced? Would it bother you if I said, “maybe”? I don’t believe that those manifestations are common or necessary to prove that one is immersed in the Holy Spirit, but if God chooses to work in that way, should I stand in opposition to that?
Here is what I have in mind when I speak of Christians and the church being immersed in the Spirit. We must begin to be spiritual humans and not merely humans. We must begin to think about spiritual matters. We must realize what the Bible clearly teaches – that the things of the world don’t matter while the Spiritual matters are of everlasting importance. Being immersed in the Spirit means that we practice keeping in step with the Spirit, as Paul urges the Christians to do in Galatians 5:25. Being immersed in the Spirit means that the church and the members of the church develop the fruits of the Spirit in their lives – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Before you write this off and say that this is just pious talk or unnecessary, let me ask you one more question. How much time do you spend seeking the Holy Spirit? Have you asked God for the Holy Spirit like a child asking your parent for the food you need to survive? Or are you sitting idly by thinking that mere church attendance is a sufficient demonstration of the life of Christ?
Life as I know it is best when we do our best to keep in step with the Spirit. I have not fully realized what this means, but I am growing and maturing – and God is faithful to give us good things when we ask… so I’m learning to ask.
What??? A Church of Christ minister speaking of the immersion of the Spirit? How can that be?
Listen to what Jesus says:
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give food gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” – Luke 11:11-13 (NIV)
Has the church failed to ask for that which we need – the Holy Spirit? Have we used our human strength to nullify the working of the Spirit of God in our congregations? Have we used our intelligence so much that we have puffed ourselves up to the point that we do not realize our weakness and how much we need to ask the Holy Spirit to indwell our churches once again?
If so, is it any wonder that people are leaving dissatisfied with the church? For if the church is not empowered by the Holy Spirit, then the church has nothing to offer other than the things the world offers. If Christians are not guided daily by the Holy Spirit and teaching others to live under the guidance of that Spirit, the church is weak and ineffective in producing Christ-like followers who make a difference in the world around them.
So what does it look like to be immersed in the Holy Spirit? Should we expect the miraculous manifestations that the early church experienced? Would it bother you if I said, “maybe”? I don’t believe that those manifestations are common or necessary to prove that one is immersed in the Holy Spirit, but if God chooses to work in that way, should I stand in opposition to that?
Here is what I have in mind when I speak of Christians and the church being immersed in the Spirit. We must begin to be spiritual humans and not merely humans. We must begin to think about spiritual matters. We must realize what the Bible clearly teaches – that the things of the world don’t matter while the Spiritual matters are of everlasting importance. Being immersed in the Spirit means that we practice keeping in step with the Spirit, as Paul urges the Christians to do in Galatians 5:25. Being immersed in the Spirit means that the church and the members of the church develop the fruits of the Spirit in their lives – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Before you write this off and say that this is just pious talk or unnecessary, let me ask you one more question. How much time do you spend seeking the Holy Spirit? Have you asked God for the Holy Spirit like a child asking your parent for the food you need to survive? Or are you sitting idly by thinking that mere church attendance is a sufficient demonstration of the life of Christ?
Life as I know it is best when we do our best to keep in step with the Spirit. I have not fully realized what this means, but I am growing and maturing – and God is faithful to give us good things when we ask… so I’m learning to ask.
Thank you brother for unpacking these thoughts in the manner you have to this point. I am enjoying this line of thinking as one coming out of the daze and desiring the Spirit of God to lead me in a life that will honor Him. To Him be the Glory! Living in the Shadow of the King, Jeff Procter
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed this series. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteJeff - thanks, brother, for the kind words. I'm not an expert on this and don't know where all this leads...but I'm willing to chase it because I believe the future of the church is bright if we are willing to begin engaging scripture and our current age.
ReplyDeleteClint - thanks for the encouragement. I'm working on the last one I have planned. Should be done sometime tomorrow.