Holy Spirit Week

Holy Spirit Week




How did the coming of the Holy Spirit revolutionize the people of God?

What were the changes for Jews? The coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost was the very moment when everything changed. For the Jewish believer in Jesus the Messiah, the Law and the Prophets were fulfilled and a New Covenant was the new order. Imagine how they must have felt when 4,000 years of history, 4,000 years of promise, was finally fulfilled and 50 days after the ascension of Jesus, a new way of living was proclaimed. The first adjustment they had to make was how He came. Not as a political king who would establish an independent nation freed from Roman rule, but the suffering servant who would establish His Kingdom in men’s hearts. Another challenge for the Jews was letting go of what had been established–the way of sacrifices and obedience to the law, to a life lived in the Holy Spirit. How lost many of them might have felt. But for some, how liberating this must have been. However, there was often the temptation for the Jews to return to the law, even after accepting Jesus as their Messiah. Apostle Paul addresses this in his letter to the Galatians; "How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?" Galations 3:3.

Jesus their Messiah, fulfilled the law. He disclosed in His parables and discourses, the very heart of the law. He exposed the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Sadducees who lived a sham. As the Branch, they had the advantage over the Gentiles as many Jews were eyewhitnesses. They had a foundation. They knew who they were . . . But for many, the New Covenant was very hard to grasp. "Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse peoples’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God." Hebrews 9: 11-14.

What were the changes for the Gentiles? The Good News to the Gentiles was the news of Life itself. Having no foundation in the Jewish camp, they lived either by the influences of renown philosophers (which created seekers amongst them), or by the way of life rampantly pagan in New Testament times. The good news brought by Paul, Barnabas, Timothy, Silas and others, was not a "change" in Covenant as it was for the Jews, but a change in lifestyle. Defining was was good and righteous was the foundation that had to be laid first. Then layered on top of that was the truth that this is accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. This is the great emphasis of all of Paul’s letters. Defining this truth in every way he could, Paul showed by his way of life, and through letters just what this power was, and what it was capable of doing. While the Jew’s temptation was to slide back into the law, the Gentiles temptation was to slide into licence. " . . . throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created be like God–truly righteous and holy." Ephesians 4:22-24.

What are you equipped, called, inspired to do, with the help of the Holy Spirit? Having inherited a bent toward art from my mother, and a passion for detail from my father, I love to create beauty and order in every place God sends me and everywhere I live. But I consider this is more of a natural gifting. My first encounter with God at a very young age, was through a fresco located in the foyer of our Lutheran chapel in Los Angeles, California. As I stretched my little neck upwards, on my left was Paradise. There were Adam and Eve, various saints, lion and lamb, and a park-like beauty that stunned my senses. On the right of the mural hell was depicted. While I avoided looking at this side, I peeked. Demons, fire, smoke. The sins of their lives represented by gold coins in their eyes and ball and chain on their feet. But in the middle, standing on the head of a huge serpent was a Viking-like Jesus. Oh, He was wonderful. My little heart went pitter-patter over this wonderful being. It was not until college that I began to understand I could know this Being and that He could relate His heart to me, through the Holy Spirit. In Campus Crusade for Christ, I learned about the work and function of the Holy Spirit; "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. There is no law against these things." Galatians 5:22.

It’s been a long journey since then! I married at 24 and in all truth, much of the ministry Tom and I have been involved with was serving his passion. Now that we are older, I find I have some space to find my own place. What would that be? Maybe not much more than what I have discovered since my first week in DTS in 1973. Hearing God’s voice. In a real way, it is this that has been the underlying passion of my life, even though it’s not as consistant as I would like. This "point of passion" has primarily taken the form of intercessory prayer. After this school I hope it will include teaching the Bible. I have taught in the past but usually about my own experiences. Now I see the greater need is to impart to others what I have learned of God’s character and a greater understanding of God’s Story so that we can see Him, and know Him better through His Word. So we can know how to live, how to love, how we are to do everything. Especially learn how to revere Him as Prophet, Priest, and King.

I would like to see growth in many areas of my life. But in light of what is written above, I would like to be more courageous–especially in branching out in giving to others both in hospitality and in even Bible study. Especially, and over all, having a greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit in my daily walk with Him. "And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear." I John 4: 17-18