I feel like I have to play for both teams when it comes to the topic of the Holy Spirit. This whole week Jesus has brought about events that are far beyond my own knowledge and way of doing things, but the stories come through a person that I deeply trust. I trust her by her fruit (Matthew 7:20). She is rooted in the Word. It is how we know God, His character, His fruit, His voice. So, why must I feel a fight between my intellect and following the Holy Spirit? Instead of t-shirts for the Twilight movies, I feel like I have to choose a TEAM BIBLE or a TEAM HOLY SPIRIT. Selah.
So here I am. What I really want to do is wear them both. I think Jesus does. If I believe the scriptures, I must believe the work and miracles of God with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and all its gifts. I also find myself on the outskirts of radical Christianity wanting to play along but feeling the need to appease my mind. I want to see Jesus Christ's authority established here on earth with hearts turned, the blind healed, the dead raised (literally!). So my restrictions on Him were soon discovered.
Allow me a marriage of intellect and Spirit:
First Corinthians 14 instructs good and orderly worship for the purpose of edification of the body. It is good in the Bible's eyes that this occurs! Good and orderly meets gifts of the Spirit! I don't think I need to expound upon this.
"Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy." (vs. 1)
But the verse I get caught up in is this:
"So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?" (vs. 23)
Now the wisdom here is very sound. Non-believers will think we are out of our minds if we begin with things that are out of the ordinary or make that our main goal, but I believe that is possibly why Paul emphasized a "fitting and orderly way" (vs. 40) I also find it wise that Paul emphasized love as the motive which propels these gifts (1 Corinthians 13:1).
The reason my mind has clashed with the idea of the Holy Spirit was simple: FEAR. What I found was a fear that worship will get out of MY control and what could people think? As if I have to feel in control at all times because it's MY job and God "needs" my help. But how pompous do I have to be to imagine that I am in control of worship anyway? It's the Spirit that is in control (John 4:24) and if the Spirit is in control, don't we think He tests the motives of the hearts in the room (Proverbs 16:2) and will then move in accordance with the Word of God? Because He wrote the Word, He does want order! He does want peace! And He also wants to MOVE through gifts of the Spirit so He can nourish and edify His bride, as well as reach those that are seeking. His purpose will play out in worship, we need only do what we are called to.
He won't push you to go farther than you'd like, but His love is oh, so good. I pray He can move as far as He wants with me.
I repent of my distrust in your Holy Spirit and in your character and my own need to feel in-control. Help me to trust you and your movement of the Holy Spirit in worship and prayer in the name of Jesus! I continue to trust your Spirit is not proud or rude or self-seeking, but it contains every fruit. This is INCLUDING gentleness. That means you won't push Yourself upon me, but thank you that you were waiting for a proper time to demolish my pride and now I relinquish control. Come and move. You are welcome here Holy Spirit.
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."--Ephesians 3:16-19
So here I am. What I really want to do is wear them both. I think Jesus does. If I believe the scriptures, I must believe the work and miracles of God with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and all its gifts. I also find myself on the outskirts of radical Christianity wanting to play along but feeling the need to appease my mind. I want to see Jesus Christ's authority established here on earth with hearts turned, the blind healed, the dead raised (literally!). So my restrictions on Him were soon discovered.
Allow me a marriage of intellect and Spirit:
First Corinthians 14 instructs good and orderly worship for the purpose of edification of the body. It is good in the Bible's eyes that this occurs! Good and orderly meets gifts of the Spirit! I don't think I need to expound upon this.
"Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy." (vs. 1)
But the verse I get caught up in is this:
"So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?" (vs. 23)
Now the wisdom here is very sound. Non-believers will think we are out of our minds if we begin with things that are out of the ordinary or make that our main goal, but I believe that is possibly why Paul emphasized a "fitting and orderly way" (vs. 40) I also find it wise that Paul emphasized love as the motive which propels these gifts (1 Corinthians 13:1).
The reason my mind has clashed with the idea of the Holy Spirit was simple: FEAR. What I found was a fear that worship will get out of MY control and what could people think? As if I have to feel in control at all times because it's MY job and God "needs" my help. But how pompous do I have to be to imagine that I am in control of worship anyway? It's the Spirit that is in control (John 4:24) and if the Spirit is in control, don't we think He tests the motives of the hearts in the room (Proverbs 16:2) and will then move in accordance with the Word of God? Because He wrote the Word, He does want order! He does want peace! And He also wants to MOVE through gifts of the Spirit so He can nourish and edify His bride, as well as reach those that are seeking. His purpose will play out in worship, we need only do what we are called to.
He won't push you to go farther than you'd like, but His love is oh, so good. I pray He can move as far as He wants with me.
I repent of my distrust in your Holy Spirit and in your character and my own need to feel in-control. Help me to trust you and your movement of the Holy Spirit in worship and prayer in the name of Jesus! I continue to trust your Spirit is not proud or rude or self-seeking, but it contains every fruit. This is INCLUDING gentleness. That means you won't push Yourself upon me, but thank you that you were waiting for a proper time to demolish my pride and now I relinquish control. Come and move. You are welcome here Holy Spirit.
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."--Ephesians 3:16-19
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