"The RE-Inforcer"

May 30/04, Pentecost; Acts 2:1-20 / various

Wind and Mystery

"A sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting." (Acts 2:2) No, I'm not talking about last weekend in the Mitchell area. There, a powerful tornado damaged dozens of homes and lifted at least one roof right off. Closer to Blyth, a pig farm saw the roof of a shed torn right off, and a big steel granary tossed around like a toy. Awesome power in the elements was unleashed in a destructive way. But the "sound like the blowing of a violent wind" recorded by Luke that Pentecost was not a tornado, but a different kind of power: the arrival of God's Holy Spirit. A power intended to help humans, not harm them.

Mystery, confusion, and misunderstanding have surrounded the doctrine of the Holy Spirit over the centuries. If the balance found in Scripture's teaching about it is twisted or exaggerated, the resulting conflict and division can be very damaging to a church - tearing its unity apart like the roof off a house or shed in a tornado. J Oswald Sanders observed, "It is stark tragedy that the doctrine which is intended to produce 'the unity of the Spirit' becomes a fruitful source of disunity."

Let's be praying for God to increase our understanding as we review what the Bible teaches about the Spirit's ministry in our lives. We don't see the wind itself, but we see the leaves and limbs it blows and the clouds and rain it drives along. So perhaps the best glimpse we can get of the Spirit is by noting His effects in believers' lives.

1. Repentance

The first objective of the Holy Spirit is to lead a person to repent. Jesus said in Jn.16(8), "When he [the Spirit of truth] comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment..." Repentance involves acknowledging our true condition before a Holy Creator as desperate, lost sinners, unable to save ourselves on our own steam. We see this following Peter's preaching in Acts 2(37) as people are "cut to the heart" and cry out to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" The Spirit shows us the big picture, where we stand relative to God's glorious standard, compelling us to acknowledge our need of a Saviour.

2. Rebirth

A major role of the Holy Spirit is rebirth or regeneration, making us "born again / from above". God's Spirit brings renewal in our lives when all is depraved and desolate. Is.32(14f) says, "...citadel and watchtower will become a wasteland forever, the delight of donkeys, a pasture for flocks, till the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest."

When one of Palestine's most esteemed Jewish teachers sought out Jesus by night, the Lord told him point-blank he needed the Spirit's re-birth. Jn.3(5f), "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit."

About this new start Paul writes in Rom.8(14f), "...those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'"

On this mystery AW Tozer writes, "How can one personality enter another? The candid reply would be simply that we do not know...We place a piece of iron in a fire and blow up the coals. At first we have two distinct substances, iron and fire. When we insert the iron in the fire we achieve the penetration of the fire by the iron. Soon the fire begins to penetrate the iron and we have not only the iron in the fire but the fire in the iron as well. They are two distinct substances, but they have co-mingled and interpenetrated to a point where the two have become one."

3. Release

With the new birth comes a new freedom, the release of the weight of guilt from our sins. Rom.8(1f) says: "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." Paul writes in 2Cor.3(17), "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom"; and in Gal.5(18), "But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law." Henry Blackaby talks about Jesus being our Way, Truth, and Life (Jn.14:6) then tells of a Saskatchewan farmer friend who became his "map". Previously Henry had had to write down complicated directions in order to find the farmer's place. But one day when the farmer came with him in the car, Henry didn't need a map; the farmer took him a completely different way and told him just where to turn each time. Having Jesus inside through the Spirit releases us from slavish adherence to a code of laws, trying to "keep track"; the Spirit instead guides us each step, with resulting freedom from legalism, and righteousness by "points".

4. Redirects

While there is new freedom, this is not anarchy or lawlessness. The Holy Spirit begins to redirect believers according to God's ways. It's not being out of control, but moved by God as He said back in Ezekiel 36(26-27): "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh [in a good sense, none-hardened].And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws."

In Acts 2(4,11), note what the apostles were speaking about when given this temporary ability to communicate in other languages: they were "declaring the wonders of God". That was their focus, the subject of their announcement - God's greatness. The Spirit changes our focus away from our own wants and woes to what God's doing, positively.

1Cor.12(3) offers a test for the genuineness of the Spirit's working: "...no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, 'Jesus be cursed,' and no one can say, 'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit." Anything that's authentically 'Holy Spirit' brand will honour Jesus. The Spirit makes Jesus' Lordship "real" to us, helping us submit to Him and realize we belong to Him, He's Boss. Is.44(3,5) says, "I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants...One will say, ‘I belong to the LORD’; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand, ‘The LORD’s,’ and will take the name Israel." The Spirit helps us be conscious we truly are God's children.

Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, said: "To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be filled with Christ.The Holy Spirit came to glorify Christ.Therefore, if I am filled with the Spirit, I am abiding in Christ...And if I am controlled and empowered by Christ, He will be walking around in my body, living His resurrection life in and through me." Redirected to Jesus' honour and control.

5. Reassures

There is an assurance or inner "witness" that comes through the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote (Rom.8:16), "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children." This is God's way of reassuring us, God's "hand on our shoulder" so to speak. Jesus promised back in Jn.14(17,20), "But you know him [the Spirit of truth], for he lives with you and will be in you...On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you." The Spirit makes Jesus' presence real to us. 1Jn.(3:24;4:13) comments, "Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them.And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us...We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit." KNOWING, being sure of something, was very important to John and others in the late decades of the first century: not just the head "knowing" of complicated mysteries like the Gnostics, but experiential "knowing", being aware and sensitive to Jesus' presence, step by step, especially when going through persecution.

When a businessperson wants to feel secure about a big transaction such as a real estate deal or rental agreement, they often require a deposit so they can be sure the other party will carry through. Similarly, the Holy Spirit is our "down payment" on eternity with the Lord. Paul writes (2Cor.1:22) that God "set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."

6. Reveals

One of Jesus' names for the third person of the Trinity is "the Spirit of truth". This suggests the Spirit's role of conveying God's truth to believers, revealing Him and His will. Jesus said (Jn.14:26a, 16:13) that the Spirit will "teach you all things" and "guide you into all truth". 1Cor.2(10,14,16) describes the Holy Spirit's ministry of revealing God's "secret wisdom" to Paul and the other apostles: "...God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God...We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us...The spiritual man makes judgments about all things...we have the mind of Christ." Wow! What an insight!

We see a practical application of this in Acts 13(2): when the church at Antioch is spending time worshipping the Lord and fasting, "the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." We're not told how the Holy Spirit "said" this - whether it was perceived simultaneously by some or all - but the message got across. God was revealing the next stage in the church's missionary expansion, just as plainly as if there had been an audible voice.

The medical section of Time magazine once cited a man who went to a psychiatrist complaining that he was always hearing radio broadcasts. Thinking to humour him, the psychiatrist asked what he was hearing right then. The man replied that he was hearing Rudy Vallee broadcasting from the Steel Pier in Atlantic City. After much questioning, the doctor discovered that the man worked in a glass bottle factory and had gotten some silica crystals in dental cavities. The combination of the silica, saliva and some bridgework in his mouth had literally transformed him into a walking crystal radio receiver! The psychiatrist referred the patient to a dentist who gave his teeth a thorough cleaning, filled the cavities and redid the bridgework. As a result, the patient 'went off the air', was able to concentrate, and lived happily ever after.

There's a parallel here in the realm of faith. When we're filled with the Spirit, we find ourselves tuned into the heavenly frequency - receiving God's broadcasts, instructions, and song in our hearts.

7. Reminds

Jesus also said in Jn.14(26b) that the Spirit would "remind" the disciples of (or, bring to their remembrance) "everything I have said to you." The Spirit has a memory-jogging function. The Bible is a special collection of books inspired by God, the whole volume is "God-breathed" through trustworthy writers. The Spirit inspired its composition (2Tim.3:16); He also illuminates us when we read it. As we meditate on it and memorize it, we're storing up the Word of God which is living, active, and piercing like a sword (Heb.4:12). The Spirit can then draw on and bring to the surface of our consciousness that stored-up supply in times of crisis when we need wisdom or a word from the Lord in a hurry. Then God does not seem so distant, we hear His voice speaking to us afresh. The Spirit highlights God's words on the page of the Bible and sends it in a fresh 'eternal email' to our hearts.

8. Reinforces

The Spirit strengthens God's servants in order to accomplish His purposes. We see this back in Judges 6(34): "Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him." A few chapters later (Judges 11:29), "the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah" who got moving and "advanced against the Ammonites." The Spirit coming upon them gave them "get up'n'go". In 4 places in John's gospel, Jesus referred to the Spirit as "Counselor", or Helper; literally, "paraclete", 'one called alongside to help' (Jn.14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7) -- perhaps like a tow truck or mechanic or ambulance in an emergency, someone you call on when your own resources aren't enough. Jesus tells the disciples solemnly (Jn.16:7), "It is for your good that I am going away.Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." Before His death, the disciples drew strength and leading from Jesus; after Pentecost, the Spirit would be Jesus' 'replacement' in a less space-bound way, helping them through tough situations, providing strengthening and reinforcement.

Paul wrote (Rom.8:11,26), "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you...The Spirit helps us in our weakness." Providing reinforcement. Before Pentecost, the risen Lord cautions the disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they "have been clothed with power from on high"; He said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses..." (Lk.24:49; Ac.1:8) Power for His purpose. God did not give us a spirit of timidity, Paul wrote to Timothy (2Tim.1:7), "but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

9. Reforms

The Spirit's effect on a believer's life traditionally has been understood in two forms: fruit of the Spirit and gifts of the Spirit. The fruit (singular, like an orange with sections) has to do with character qualities; the gifts (plural), with particular skills or abilities. In Galatians 5 Paul has just been warning his readers against the deeds of the flesh: sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry, discord, ambition, envy, drunkenness, etc. He says bluntly, "You can't live like that and inherit God's Kingdom!" Instead, the fruit of the Spirit is: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Gal.5:22f) Nine shining qualities that sum up Jesus' own style. God's destiny or goal for us is to become conformed to the likeness of His Son (Rom.8:29) -- reflecting Jesus' characteristics in our own life.

Similarly, Eph.5(18) counsels, "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit" - making music in our hearts and always giving thanks to the Father. Note that it's a command - BE filled with the Spirit, grammatically "keep on being filled". Once Billy Graham visited a very large and influential church. His guide told him that unfortunately one of the officers in that church had repeatedly gotten drunk, and so they had to discipline him and put him out of the church fellowship. Billy Graham asked, "How long has it been since you put somebody out of the church for not being filled with the Spirit?" His guide looked startled. Mr Graham continued, "The Bible says, 'Don't get drunk with wine,' but the very same verse says, 'Be filled with the Spirit.'" Billy's point was, the positive command to be filled with the Spirit is just as binding on us as the negative command not to get drunk with wine.

10. Refurbishes

Besides the "fruit" or qualities, are the "gifts" or abilities. Note the fruit is for all, but not the gifts; different individuals will have different spiritual equipping and ministries. Back in Is.61(1-3) the Lord's Servant announces, "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor...to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives..." and so on. The ANOINTING is an equipping to DO the Kingdom. Jesus quotes this as applying to Himself at the outset of His ministry (Lk.4:18ff). God retools or refurbishes us so the church can administer His love and caring to all kinds of individuals. One list of spiritual "gifts" is in Rom.12:6-8: "If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully." Other lists of gifts are found in 1Cor.12(8-10) and Eph.4(11). The main point here is to discover your gift and start employing it for Christ's Kingdom; often the discovery comes as we "try out" various aspects of ministry. Your gift will energize and fulfill you. And we're different in the Body, God puts it together in such a way that the important bases get covered.

An Ordinary Woman Impresses Mrs.USA

You might suppose the woman who won "Mrs USA 1994" would have high self-esteem. But Sheri Rose Shepherd's glittery crown was a mirage, for she hurt inside. Living Light News reports Shepherd was born in Hollywood to a beauty queen mother and emotionally explosive father. Shepherd says her mother "was very broken - even though she was very beautiful physically, she had a lot of insecurities and battled depression." To deal with the pain in Grade 8 when her parents divorced, Shepherd turned to drugs and food. A teacher told her she'd never amount to anything and classmates called her "the beached whale". This ridicule drove her to become obsessed with attaining physical perfection. She recalls, "I couldn't get thin enough, my hair could never be long enough, I couldn't find clothes that could make me feel content, I couldn't find makeup that would cover up my insecurities." Although she was crowned Mrs USA at age 33, Sheri's spirit was starving for attention, and she had developed an eating disorder. After four years of that she was going to kill herself with sleeping pills, but discovered a Christian couple who, she says, "led me to the greatest crown of all -- not a crown appointed by man, but the crown of life appointed by God."

The woman in particular impressed Sheri, who says, "Her life made me believe. I saw her praying on the phone, serving people...She didn't have the money I had and she didn't have the physical attributes, yet her whole life was so meaningful and peaceful, so driven by purpose." The woman directed Shepherd to the Bible; she realized and accepted that the Creator of the universe not only wanted to have a personal relationship with her, but made this possible through Jesus Christ.

Shepherd's latest book takes Bible passages and translates them into love letters from God. She says, "We need to have the ability to believe God's voice in His word about who we are. Secondly, our lives need to be driven with a divine purpose." That purpose, she says, is defined by the unique gifts God has given us. The mother of two adds, "If you're looking for ways to use that gift on a daily basis, you'll begin to feel a godly confidence that's so powerful you won't be nearly so affected by your physical appearance."

God's Spirit is ready to shape our inner person in a way that reflects the most beautiful person of all time - Jesus. Trust the Counselor and discover His crown! Let's pray.