07/15/2024
This morning as I read my morning devotional it posed a thoughtful question regarding the Holy Spirit. This is a question that those who diligently seek God and holiness undoubtedly ask themselves as their journey matures. It asked: "If the church is making advances on the lines of deep spirituality - if we are praying people, and if our people are hungering after holiness, why do we have so few mighty outpourings of the Holy Spirit?"
“Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.”
Galatians 3:5-7 ESV
I have heard pastors and congregants alike discuss this very question, but I believe Pastor E. M. Bounds helps us understand this as he proposes...
"We have cultivated other things, to the neglect of the work of holiness. We have permitted our minds to be preoccupied with material things in the church." – E. M. Bounds
In contemplating this mystery today, I was led to recall a friend's marriage. He and his wife were happily married out of college, but despite the deep love they had for each other, jobs, and children drew the majority of their attention. On the rare occasion when they escaped together... the passion they once experienced every day would return, but when that brief interlude was over, they fell back into the distant relationship they had cultivated over time. My friend would occasionally ask "do you think she still loves me?"
Our faith and holiness are much the same as my friend's marriage, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (the passion) is pushed into inactivity by day to day busyness. This off putting can be either personal, or as a church. So how do we open ourselves up more completely to the movement of the Holy Spirit, and what will we experience.
We open ourselves up through prayer, and faithful contemplation on Godly things. We should confine our busy thoughts of worldly matters and physical things to a small portion of our time and concentrate on spiritual subjects. So many of us carve a few brief minutes from our busy day for prayer, when in fact we should be allocating a slice of time from our busy day of prayer and meditation for the worldly things. Scripture puts this very simply...
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:8-9 ESV
Then, once our priorities are in order and we are open to the Holy Spirit, there will be an outpouring. The relationship that incorporated the passion of our conversion will return to us, just like the passion in my friend's marriage returned through attention and togetherness. We will be re-infused with the fruits we so long to experience.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:22-25 ESV
This morning, whether it be for our church, ourselves, or our relationships, let's ask God to lead us into a closer walk with Him and to pour His Holy Spirit over us. Let's thank Him for the holiness He has graced us with, and the gifts provided through the Spirit. Let's ask that the outpouring of His Holy Spirit on us begin in earnest today, and touch every nook and cranny of our lives. Let's pray that He helps us reorder the priorities of our daily lives and that we give them over to Him.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the passion we experience in our faith, and the relationship we have with you. Keep this passion fresh and new in us every morning Father as we begin our days praying, and worshipping you. Rejuvenate the love we have for you, and rekindle the excitement we felt when we first believed. Let your Holy Spirit fill us each day Lord, and set our focus on the spiritual things of faith over those that we often believe are necessary, but in fact are far less important; things we work at in our lives and churches but contribute little to our relationship with you. Keep us close to you Father, and make us righteous and holy in all we do. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who created all things for us, and who focuses your attention on us. Holy are you, and it is your desire that we become righteous and holy as well. Pour your Spirit over us Lord just as you breathed him onto the apostles in the upper room. Let him comfort us as we await the return of your Son Jesus. Help us as we accept him, call upon him, and yield ourselves to the transformation He brings to us in prayer, and faith, through an understanding of you and your Word. Today as we pray to you we ask that you renew the passion of faith within us, and refocus our thoughts and prayers on you in so doing. Let us be moved in righteousness, find renewed passion and love for you, and be made more holy in our relationship with you. Let our belief, our faith, and our passion, be perfected in you, and make us worthy of eternity with you.
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV
“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”
John 16:7 ESV
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Philippians 4:8 ESV
Amen!
Rich Forbes