The Spirit of the Old Testament

Today, once again, as I seek to understand the Holy Spirit, I feel that I have been missing something.

Surely, the Holy Spirit plays an important role in the New Testament, but what about the references to the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament?

²⁵ “Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will now restore the fortunes of Jacob and will have compassion on all the people of Israel, and I will be zealous for my holy name. ²⁶ They will forget their shame and all the unfaithfulness they showed toward me when they lived in safety in their land with no one to make them afraid. ²⁷ When I have brought them back from the nations and have gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will be proved holy through them in the sight of many nations. ²⁸ Then they will know that I am the LORD their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind. ²⁹ I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the people of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD.” (Ezekiel 39:25-29)

This morning's readings in Ezekiel helped to remind me that God has worked through His Spirit in many ways, even before sending His son.

Scripture speaks of the Holy Spirit as working in creation:

“By the word of the Lord were the heavens made,and all their hosts by the breath (spirit) of His mouth” (Psalm 33.6).
Empowering God's servants:

‘the Lord took some of the spirit that was upon him [Moses], and put it upon the seventy elders, and when the spirit rested upon them they prophesied’. (Numbers 11:25-26)

These are just a few from

http://www.angelfire.com/ok/bibleteaching/hsinot.html

But I do feel that if we miss this, we are misunderstanding God. God was not distant or absent throughout the whole Old Testament. He sent His Spirit to empower, strengthen, deliver, create, and protect. But now, that Spirit is sent to all of His children, who believe in Him.

However, perhaps understanding is not the hard part. We must be truly open to the Holy Spirit in order for that Spirit to make a true difference in our lives. We must call upon the spirit to search our hearts and change our thoughts, to cleanse us and lead us not in our own ways, but in God's way. We are continually called not to be self-seeking. In a world where that brings rewards, it is so very difficult to seek the interests of others (friends, family, brothers and sisters at church, neighbors, enemies) instead of our own interests.

So we need to pray continually...

Come upon me, Spirit of the living God. Melt all hardness of heart. See if there be any harm in me, and lead me in your way- forever. Use me for your own purposes wherever you are sending me now. Amen.

The Spirit of Atonement

In this past year, I feel I've only begun to understand the incredible blessing and gift of the Holy Spirit. But on Sunday in church we were presented with an interesting atonement story that seemed to clarify the role of the spirit in reconciling us to Christ.

Though it is not posted yet, I recommend you check the page within the next week to hear the sermon. It was very much a blessing to me:

http://www.shalommennonite.org/worship/sermon

Dan recounted a couple theories of atonement, which he called stories, but his 'story' suggests the importance of the holy spirit as a part of the process of reconciling us to the Lord. While most churches don't dismiss the Holy Spirit, sometimes we may 'downplay' its significance in atonement.

Today's scripture reading... actually from last week... is a prayer that also recognizes deeply the work and importance of the Holy Spirit in our lives. And I hope that you may make it yours this morning.

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

As "the Lord's holy people" (v. 18), we have been atoned for, and God has sent His holy spirit to dwell in us. In fact, this verse outlines a few of the important roles that the Holy Spirit has in our life. The Holy Spirit strengthens us (v. 17), fills us (completes us) and allows us to know God (v. 19), and empowers us to do the Lord's work (v. 20).

In fact, verse 19 does seem to suggest that the Holy Spirit allows the atonement and reconciliation process to be complete. I read the book, "When People are Big and God is Small," which commented on our tendency to make God small, relate-able to us, human almost. But God is so much more than anything human. It's hard to imagine an incomprehensible God who is big and indescribable and uncontainable. But only in doing so can we keep God God.

Only in doing so can we truly honor and worship the Lord our God, recognizing, "Here O Israel, the Lord your God, the Lord is one." And this tendency to make God understandable may be our need to pray that the Holy Spirit help us to to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (v. 18-19)

Free to Be ...

Free to Be...

Love One Another

Free to Be Truly Loving

After leading a study of Roman's, the idea that we are "free" from the law is less than new to me. But this morning, I heard this freedom in a new light. We are freed from the ties of obligations and can open ourselves instead to be truly loving, not just as someone 'enslaved' or 'on the job'.

¹ It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

² Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. ³ Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. ⁴ You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. ⁵ For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

⁷ You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? ⁸That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. ⁹ “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” ¹⁰ I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. ¹¹ Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. ¹² As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

Life by the Spirit

¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. (Galatians 5:1-15)

Many religions are based on good works. Certain sacrifices, ceremonies and good deeds are necessary in order for you to be 'right with God'. This would lead to us doing good things, but without the love in our hearts. Since we are free from the law and lists of obligations, we are free to 'serve one another humbly'... most importantly 'in love'. Love must come from the heart, not from a list of shoulds, but from the desire to express our sincere faith through love.

Praise God that we are no longer confined by the law, but we are free to love the lord our God with heart and soul and mind... and love our neighbor as ourself!

Free to be Weak

We are also free to lean not on our own good works and our own goodness (because then we might boast), but we are free to lean on the Holy Spirit who guides us through our struggles, trials, and difficulties. We are free to be weak, and lean on the strength we have in Christ.

It hardly seems like a blessed... free to be weak? But freedom to be weak, imperfect children of the living God, is a freedom to be real and genuine instead of putting a fake 'front', we call out to God for guidance and counsel and help. And then we see how strong God truly is!

The new song by Matthew West called "Strong Enough" speaks to this point.

Well, forgive me
Forgive me if I'm wrong
But this looks like more than I can do
On my own

I know I'm not strong enough to be
everything that I'm supposed to be
I give up
I'm not stong enough
Hands of mercy won't you cover me
Lord right now I'm asking you to be
Strong enough
Strong enough
For the both of us

Well, maybe
Maybe that's the point
To reach the point of giving up

I can do all things
Through Christ who gives me strength
And I don't have to be
Strong enough
Strong enough

The story on his webpage talks about a young girl named Haleigh who had just started school at Columbia and was in a terrible accident during a break. She has now gone through 13 surgeries, 3 years later. She lost her health insurance and was unable to continue with school. Her response to her mother inspired this song. (http://www.matthewwest.com/2011/03/30/strong-enough/)

Matthew West describes that in his concerts, his audience always reaches their hands out to God during the end of the song when he sings "I can do all things, through Christ who gives me strength." He believes people can relate to the song in the own personal struggles they are facing.

And it is comforting to know that we don't have to be strong enough... and to remember that Christ is strong enough. As Paul attested, our faith in Christ Jesus enables us to boast in our weakness and praise God for His strength!

Free to Be New

In fact, as I sit here listening to K-Love this morning, I'm reminded that our whole faith is about being free. We are free from our past mistakes... free to be given a new name and be defined by Christ.

In another of my favorite songs by Jason Gray called "I am New".

It is this kind of freedom that opens us up to love completely... and to love unconditionally, not only certain people in certain circumstances when they do certain things or belong to certain groups or look/act a certain way. No... we are called to love all our brothers and sisters... just as Christ loved us.